To think this woman was taking the piss?

[AngeloMysterioso]

In a supermarket car park with two DS’s, 2yrs and 11 months. It’s pretty busy (half term round here) and the car in front of me takes the last parent and baby space, leaving me to park in a regular space opposite and squeeze baby and toddler out of the car and into the trolley which outs had to put in the road.

Fair enough I guess, first come first served and all that, until I see the woman getting out of the car with a girl who looks about ready to sit her GCSE’s, who both saunter into the shop.

As it happened, we were both getting back to our cars at the same time, and I asked her if she was aware that she had parked in a parent and baby space. She said she was, but her car is too big for a regular space and she didn’t want it to get scratched. The car in question was a shiny black Jaguar 4x4.

AIBU to think this woman was entitlement personified?

There’s a chance I reminded her that the space is for parents with children, not parents with children and people with big cars, and if she’s so concerned about scratches she needs to learn to park her ridiculous car properly or get something smaller.

Could sil with injury order online?

No, I prefer to have a word. I spoke firmly but politely to two women in a parent & child space years ago in M&S. Got a mouthful of abuse back. They weren’t laughing though when I reminded them that not everyone will have a polite word. Some will just run a key straight down the side of the expensive car.

I have a friend whose dad did that years ago after a parking confrontation - before there were cameras everywhere…It is pretty stupid to think that you can engage in anti social behaviour and everyone will just accept it. Sooner or later someone won’t.

Here is the post.

Under the terms and conditions displayed it doesn't always specify an age. I could park there with my mum, she's 85 and cannot walk far though does not quite qualify for a blue badge.

So many older people in this position. I'd like to see p&c places replaced by over 80s places for those exactly like your mum, don't qualify for a blue badge but struggle to walk the length of a big supermarket carpark with all their shopping.

P&C spaces are absolutely unnecessary imo, if you can't get a dc out of a car how do people manage in the many carparks that don't have them?

No, they are not, they are for children up to the age of 13.

The woman in this scenario was unreasonable because of the reason she gave, but parents with other children are allowed to use these spaces. I once got a load of abuse for parking in one with my autistic 8 year old.

Where we are it clearly states something along the lines of “with children under 5, using car seats or push chairs” and I think that’s the way to go.

because people need to be told rather than be expected to have common sense or manners, obviously.

Sometimes I have to stand and wait for the car next to me to leave because I literally can’t lean over to clip them in safely with so little room to open the door. Or like the time when I was heavily pregnant, I had to wait for someone to move because I couldn’t fit in the space between cars (and no I don’t have an enormous car)

The other one that really fucks me off? If your kids are old enough to sit by themself in the car, you don’t need a P&C space either

We got a car with sliding doors. Makes getting the kids in and out so much easier. Highly recommend to anyone who finds themselves struggling regularly.

I thought this was me before you said you'd approached her. I had surgery a week ago and myself and teen went to supermarket. I NEVER EVER do this, but rather than take disabled, I took a paren and child space. Felt bad, but didn't want to walk far. I went to the pharmacy only. Had my answer ready for anyone who asked me.

Your answer is nonsense. I'd have told you that you should have taken a disabled space because you didn't need the width of double doors (parent and child space) you needed proximity to the entrance (disabled space).

Why are you saying "no, they are not, they are for children up to the age of 13"?

When you've confirmed what I said, "up to age of 13", is up to the point of before being a teen. I still use parent and child spaces and my eldest is about to turn 12yrs old, she's autistic and still in a car seat.

ETA some do specify they are for parents and toddlers though, by the way.

I'm afraid people no longer seem to give a shit, whether it be P&C, disabled or whatever- the other day there were non electric cars parked in electric car spaces too- it's seems it's dog eat dog these days.

You seem very sure about that. Some have no age limit. Best to read the conditions on the sign, if there are any. Particularly before you go off shouting at someone.

And at best, it's a courtesy extended by the supermarket and landowner. It's not something backed up by legislation like the blue badge scheme. You are required to comply with any parking terms and conditions displayed, but that's it.

At the motorway services the other day the entire row of parent and baby spaces were taken up with dog owners and their precious pooches! Thanks for making me and my one year old park in a more dangerous part of the car park so your "sweet man" could poo closer to the building. Twats!

I see people parking in the parent and child bays all the time who just can’t be bothered to park further away or have big cars that they don’t want scratched and it absolutely makes my blood boil

At least you were polite/calm when you spoke to her. My local Aldi often has all parent spaces full and not a single child is in the shop I’ve noticed. Usually pensioners who don’t have a blue badge. However I parked one day with my 11 year old in the parent space (they aren’t parent and baby/toddler, they are parent and child spaces and 11/12 are children). As some said many say up to 12. Anyway as I got out of my car a woman pulled up and screamed at me ‘where the f*is your child?’ Cue my child getting out so I pointed at her. She then continued to scream at me abusively about how she’s sick of not being able to get her toddler out of their car seat on regular spaces because of people like me. More expletives used. My child looked horrified. I calmly explained she could have just asked nicely and I would have moved. I did move. But I didn’t have to as I have a child - who by the way has form for flinging doors into the next parked car. But there was no need for the abuse. She was seriously unhinged. When I came back from my very quick shop, only needed a couple of bits, there were 3 free parents spaces.

I understand the frustration. I had a baby and toddler once. However these aren’t legally entitled spaces like disabled spaces and no one’s breaking the law. I’ve seen the families with kids in using them where one parents has stayed with the kids whilst the other has nipped to the shop. Surely they don’t need the parent space either as they aren’t getting their kids out? But no one would think to challenge them. What about the parents with older children who have hidden disabilities such as autism and adhd and who might be a flight risk? Some manage to get blue badges but not all do. But they need to use those spaces for safety and not to be judged because their child wasn’t in a pushchair or car seat. And the woman who screamed at me didn’t did so before she saw if I had a smaller child or not.

It’s just complete nonsense and victim blaming - ‘oh you should expect this because you dared to leave the house with different needs to somebody else’. The spaces are owned and offered by the supermarket specifically for adults with children. If that doesn’t apply to you, then go to the ‘I drive a large car but can’t drive it category’ I.e the back of the carpark.

It’s the same as saying disabled people should never venture out the house because it may slightly inconvenience someone else. Just pure intolerant bullshit.

They would be fined for taking a disabled space with out a blue badge. My disabled mum has been fined when she forgot her blue badge despite her wheelchair hoist and please leave space for my wheelchair sticker being visible. The lady did the right thing I’d say as you can’t be fined for parent spaces.

This is what is going wrong with the world! No one cares anymore, no respect for others. It was a clearly marked P&C parking space and the other woman didn't give a toss. If attitudes don't start to change and we don't respect and care about each other then we might as well be animals in the wild!
Change begins at home, with parenting skills! Teach our children respect and the next generation just might be a bit kinder and more tolerant!

Oh come on.

Is this something you do? Looks like it.

I always park far away as I'm fit and able and can always do with the extra steps. Like most folk, really.

I'm sorry but she had a child with her so I think she had every right to use that space.
I will continue to use the parent and child spaces for as long as I see necessary. My youngest is between 5-10.

It does bug me when I see a lone man/woman use the spaces though.

Bit of a reach there.

I actually park at the far end of car parks to get my steps up and get a minute of fresh air on the walk.

Not really like most folk as people tend to park as close as possible to the shop and cars thin out as you move away from the doors.

But go you for parking like a normal ⭐️

Why??

Do you have her Blue badge?

How to abuse the system!