I think some of the critism Gangle has received is rather nasty and uncalled for. Those of you writing the sanctimonious posts giving all sorts of advice have obviously forgotten those early days or are looking back with rose tinted glasses-pre-packed nappy bags -pah!!!!!
I seem to recall shopping with tiny babies involved dashing out at a moments notice and by the time baby(or babies in my case)were ready I was lucky if we were all buckled in correctly an hour later let alone changing etc before the off.
In any case if Gangle finds it hard so what. We all have areas in motherhood we find hard and just because you may find shopping easy with babies/kids doesn't mean we all have to. I still find it hard and I was 5 years ago taking classes of 30 5 year olds swimming/on trips pretty much single handed. In actual fact I'd gladly take said classes swimming anyday rather than take my 3 shopping for a weeks worth of food.
Everybody agrees disabled spaces are the priority. I live in Devon and all of the supermarket car parks quite rightly have masses of disabled(always empty)spaces in choc a block car parks. There are also p&t spaces. People needing disabled spaces are fully catered for so what is the problem with parents enjoying the benefits that p&t spaces offer?
I feed a family of 5 and spend a fortune in supermarkets so feel I'm entitled to enjoy the 1 and only perk of food shopping with 3 dc of 4,4 and 3. I will continue to do so until told otherwise, it makes my life easier. The supermarkets want families shopping in their supermarkets as we are the ones that they make the most money out of. It suits them to attract families and suits mums like me who find them useful.
So far when shopping 1 twin has bashed the side of a car with our car door and was told off by the owner(quite rightly).On another occasion twin no 2 nearly got run over when we were returning to our car parked the other side or the car park(my trolley was v heavy and over laden with dd,loo rolls etc, I couldn't steer and hold 2 extra pairs of hands). Both of these incidents wouldn't have happened if we were in a p&t space.
Most of our car parks are choc a block everywhere,there are no empty(other than disabled)areas. The only one that has a quiet area is a brand new Asda. It's fab and has 2 huge car parks and loads of zebra crossings and walkways.interestingly only 6 p&t spaces which I never use. This is because the spaces are bigger and it's safe to walk back to the car. This carpark is not owned by Asda and we get charged a fee which is refunded. If all supermarket carparks were like this we wouldn't need p&t spaces. As most supermarkets like to cram in as many cars as they can I can't see the day of them changing happening any day soon. Until that day happens when not shopping in Asda I will continue to use carparks with p&t spaces and avoid those that don't.
And on the subject of shopping via the net. I have to go into town to do errands once a week and do the big shop too as can't afford the petrol to do 2 trips. I also can't afford both the delivery charge of internet shopping and petrol into town. In any case I prefer not to do my food shop online as don't like getting green bananas and food with short shelf lives.
And re -'we never had p&t spaces in the 70s". My mother was a mother in the 70s. The last time she came shopping with me she remarked how much easier it was to go shopping then. Smaller supermarkets so a quicker trip,less fractious kids,less cars and emptier car parks.
I find it odd that people get so hot under the collar about this so much so that they feel the need to be nasty to other posters. As long as disabled people are catered for(and everybody feels they should be)any mum should feel able to use a p&t space that is provided by supermarkets on their property for mums without being judged by other mums. Isn't there something a bit more worthy to berate others on???