What is with childless people parking in family spots!!!

[Asher09]

I have a toddler and a baby - so thats 2 car seats and a double pram. I genuinly need a fair bit of space when parking and recently I've seen so many people without children parking in the family spots - its so frustrating!

Surely family spots are there for a reason - they're closer to entrances and allow more space to get in and out. Its so helpful to a parent!
When inconsiderate people park there without thinking it leaves me driving around with a screaming toddler and a crying baby trying to find a decent spot where I have some room - some car parks have such narrow spots its impossible to get my kids in and out without hitting a car.

I've caught some people in the act, and have confonted them 'Hey I think you've left your kids in the car' but no one thinks they sre doing anything wrong or should move.

I think family spots should have the same rules as disabled spots. Just don't know how that would be implimented.

YABU. It’s a convenience not a necessity. It’s not good to leave babies in car seats like that either, better to get them out the car and into a pram or carrier.

Maybe the childless people who pay the same price for their groceries as you do, want the same convenient parking. Just because your world revolves around your child, doesn't mean anyone else is interested.

I'm a mum, used those spaces when ds was little but and appreciated them, but I can also see how unfair they are. Infertile? Go park in a distant corner ! Should the supermarket also reserve large parking spaces for those who have Range Rovers or Bentleys?

We have recently moved and our local supermarket spaces are simply too small for my slightly-larger family car. My youngest DC is 10, but I always park in a child parking spot, as otherwise wouldn't be able to fit into 'normal' parking space.
Similar with our nearest shopping centre- the designated parking was built in the 80s and my car simply doesn't fit in there.
The car is Mercedes CLK

Why don’t you park at the far end of the car park where there are usually plenty of empty spaces?

Nothing is going to happen as legislation isn’t going to change to give parents a legal right to a parking space when they can park in the far end of the car park where it’s usually empty.

In an ideal world, you'd be justified. But we're not in an ideal world and we haven't been for some time. You can choose to contest it (you'll get your arse handed to you by some imbecile who gives no fucks) People are so aggressive now, it's ridiculous.

"Meadowfinch · Today 03:52

Maybe the childless people who pay the same price for their groceries as you do, want the same convenient parking. Just because your world revolves around your child, doesn't mean anyone else is interested.

I'm a mum, used those spaces when ds was little but and appreciated them, but I can also see how unfair they are. Infertile? Go park in a distant corner ! Should the supermarket also reserve large parking spaces for those who have Range Rovers or Bentleys?"

This is the most ridiculous comment I've read yet. There shouldn't be bigger spaces to help people get young kids out of cars in case infertile people think it's unfair?
I mean being infertile is unfair for sure (and I can say that with some confidence since it took me years and 6 rounds of IVF to conceive my twins) but I'm pretty sure that not using parent and child spaces is not something most people worry about. Just like they probably don't worry about not having a reason to use the playground in the local park. And "go park in a distant corner"?? What? The reason p and c spaces are closer is so you don't have to walk across a busy car park with young kids for safety. Although I actually do think maybe putting them further away from the entrance would stop quite so many dick heads who don't need that parking in them.

Thats exactly what my DDIL does as her car is big. Back of the carpark, end of a row. When she takes her mum, who has painful mobility issues (but no blue badge) she drops her by the entrance, then parks up.

Blue badge holders are most certainly NOT inconvenienced just as much as parents. Their inconvenience is far greater and generally permanent.

As a parent, once parked, you pop one of your children in the boot (unless you have a saloon car) then get the other one. A wheelchair user needs the extra space otherwise they cannot get out.

I have a BB. I can walk just not far in general and only a few steps to the loo and back for example on a terrible day. I struggle with smaller spaces as I need the door fully open to get in and out of the car.

Comments like this suggest you do believe the two to be on the same level.

I go to the shops very rarely. I went to Sainsbury’s over a year ago and parked in the P&C with my BB. Some woman screamed at me and continued to do so even when I explained I had a BB, leaving me in shaken and in tears.

Of all the ways you could have added to this conversation, you choose to question why my kids are crying and screaming in the back?

I never said they would stop crying if I got a p/c space. I was simply highlighting my whole experience... which sometimes involves them crying and me looking for a space that has enough room to get them out - surely YOU have enough compassion to understand that that can be a stressful situation for some parents!?!?!?

Telling me to 'shop online' is absolutely ridiculous and ignorant. You assume I'm exclusivey speaking of supermakets, when I'm not! This happens at my shopping centre too - which also happens to have a gym, cinema, drs, dentist, restaurants etc - so theres a WHOLE lot of people that come there and a whole lot of inconsiderate people who take up p/c spaces when they simply don't need to.

When I start a thread about how to stop my kids crying and screaming in my car, I'll @ you!

@Asher09 you seem to be a very angry person, with this and your other thread you spend hours moaning on MN. Arguing constantly when people disagree with you. Use your tone wisely to park further away from the doors of wherever you're going, you'll find more space.

In the meantime, if you mention your toddler is screaming and your baby crying in the first post I'll take redone it's relevant, otherwise why mention it?

Very odd!

I quite often take my mum and DS shopping, he likes to go around with her and we shop separately. I arrive back to the car before them more often than not and have been confronted by busybodies on more than one occasion who do not like to be told they are wrong 😂

You mean people like @Asher09 🤣🤣🤣

Telling people with kids they should just suck it up and shop online is outrageous. But it's really not a surprise given the kids should be seen and not heard attitude of a large proportion of small minded people in this country.
There IS so much hostility to parents and young kids in the UK. Everyone accusing them of being "entitled" just because they would like to continue living their lives rather than hiding away.
Kids in a restaurant? On public transport? In a supermarket? Running on a path in the park? You better get ready for disapproval.

These threads always amuse me. Everyone clamouring to explain how they never needed a family space, people coped fine in the past, stop being so entitled etc. And yet we all know that each and every one of these posters would feel at least a twinge of annoyance if they had a couple of toddlers in the back and some bloke in a van took the last p&c space!

Sure, it’s not life and death, it’s not the worst thing in the world and it’s not comparable to the situation with disabled parking.

But it’s a legitimate gripe. Why should a mother have to struggle between closely parked cars while some berk swipes the last p&c space?

I don’t need those spaces any more as my children are older. Therefore I don’t use them. Simple!

As for all those people who think they’re so insightful with their ‘ooh they’re just a marketing ploy’ comments 😂No shit! Supermarkets are trying to lure you in and get you to spend money! Who knew?! You know all that food they put on the shelves? That’s to tempt you into spending money! Don’t be fooled!!

You don't know me to assume what kind of person I am and more so judge me based on my threads. I've seen your responses on my posts too and trust me I can start character bashing - but that not me.

I'll use MN how I see fit and you do the same but you're not obliged to read my threads nor post on them... you can just keep it moving. Thank you.

@Asher09 why mention the crying and screaming not relevant children .... 🤷‍♀️?

Again odd!

Oh and I'll use MN as I see fit, but it's funny to see mothers of small children that are so busy they post the entire day like every 10 minutes on average, arguing and arguing and arguing, because they've asked opinions and don't like the answers.

I already responded to another poster about the crying and screaming kids - you didnt read the whole thread before you posted - thats on you. Then when you did question it, I answered you and yet you're still questioning why I mentioned it in my post.

I'm thoroughly glad that you use MN how you see fit and respond how you like - you are making great use of this platform.

So f*cking what if there are parents on here who post the entire day bitching and moaning, responding, or even (according to you) 'arguing' - so what? Who made you the judge and jury of MN? They are using the platform how THEY see fit. You do not need to engage or even lose sleep over it. Stick to the topic but no need to start assuming peoples character.

There’s really no need for this. Why are you doing a background check on OP?!

Having small children is quite challenging. MN is supposed to be there as support. Maybe stop using it as a stick to beat OP? Just a thought.

@GreenAppleCrumble unfortunately Mumsnet is also a platform for sanctimonious people to look down their noses at others who find aspects of parenting of young children challenging. It's either "well it's easier than being disabled" well yes I'm sure it is but then so is lots of other stuff that people find difficult should we not let them talk about it? Or "I coped/ struggled so you should too" or "well I don't have kids, so therefore you're acting entitled (a favourite) to complain about anything kid related. What about me"
I'm really not sure why people are so lacking in empathy. There's always the option to just not get involved.

The OP is the one that started the comparison with disabled people on this thread by stating P&C spaces should have the same legal standing.

Not something people just came up with to have a pop.

@GreenAppleCrumble I'm not doing a background check! I commented on her other thread, it's in my list of threads 🙄

It's fine to use them if you need extra space to get your dog out the car though, right?

I actually do think family spots are necessary when you have young kids - but not right by the store. They could be placed further away, thus being less of an incentive for people who don't need them to use them - and just make sure there's a trolley park with kid seat trolleys by them. That would do me fine. I actually do struggle to get my kids out of my car from their seats in a normal space and I have parked up before opposite kid spaces waiting for a space to become free.

And when you park at the hospital, what do you do then? Make him walk halfway across the car park? Get him another BB to make his life easier. As pp have pointed out, he does not have to drive.