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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to get really cross with people who park in parent and child spaces at the supermarket?

25 replies

obsessivereader · 30/03/2010 17:58

I've just been to the supermarket and struggled holding onto my 3yr old, my handbag, nappy bag and shopping bags whilst trying to squeeze my baby's car seat out of the tiny space between cars cos a young couple with no children took the last parent and child space.

The complete lack of regard really gets my mad up and there's never any way to regulate it. I've tried scowling but never actually confronted anyone for fear of being attacked or having something done to my car.

AIBU to want the supermarkets to do something?

OP posts:
Original poster
obsessivereader · 30/03/2010 18:00

Ooops - got all cross while ranting and forgot to put "without children" in my title!

OP posts:
activate · 30/03/2010 18:01

park further away from the doors and you can take up two spaces

PersonalClown · 30/03/2010 18:01

Do you happen to be a newbie?

paisleyleaf · 30/03/2010 18:02

Welcome to MN

brogan2 · 30/03/2010 18:02

Good luck!

LadyBiscuit · 30/03/2010 18:04
Biscuit
PersonalClown · 30/03/2010 18:04

Shall we take bets on when and who will mention Disabled spaces??

Tiredmumno1 · 30/03/2010 18:10

Personal clown

Right i think we have establised this a million times. P and t spaces are a luxury not neccesity (did i just spell that wrong). Just park further away.

If there are no disabled spaces left they have priority to take a p and t space. And people without kids and do it are just plain ignorant and fucking lazy. So chill out . Does that cover it.

Tiredmumno1 · 30/03/2010 18:10

Personal clown

Right i think we have establised this a million times. P and t spaces are a luxury not neccesity (did i just spell that wrong). Just park further away.

If there are no disabled spaces left they have priority to take a p and t space. And people without kids and do it are just plain ignorant and fucking lazy. So chill out . Does that cover it.

Tiredmumno1 · 30/03/2010 18:11

established sorry

Original poster
obsessivereader · 30/03/2010 23:09

Fairly new! I take it this topic has been covered before!

Yes, I know they're a luxury and yes, I normally park further away but just at the mo, my hips are killing me (after effects of spd) and I struggle to carry the baby seat with baby in it to the trolley park.

Having one of those days and this was the last straw so needed to rant!

OP posts:
outnumbered2to1 · 30/03/2010 23:13

rant away!!!! and welcome to MN!
people who use P&T spaces with no kids are just lazy bastards or as one woman told me "I have a bigger car so i need a bigger space" I had to bite my lip from replying your fecking fat arse takes up enough of the car park.... but was in hamilton asda - not the safest place for a spat

FlyingFig · 30/03/2010 23:17

I find it easier to park further away from such ignoramuses, whilst also teaching my children that it's OK to make your way from one side of the car park to the other. Even with a trolley.

outnumbered2to1 · 30/03/2010 23:19

i now park as far away from the P & T spaces as possible. Usually in the last row next to a trolley park and pile both kids into the trolley then accidently bump the car that stole the last P & T space and has no kids in it just some lazy fat arse.... (sorry off at a tangent there..... need more coffee i think)

Vallhala · 30/03/2010 23:22

Sometimes I wonder how I coped when I went shopping as a lone mum with a C/S delivered baby, a toddler and no car.

And as for how my Grandmothers coped with husbands working very long hours, no car and 5 and 13 children respectively, in the days when it was necessary to make shopping an almost daily event is beyond me!

outnumbered2to1 · 30/03/2010 23:25

yeah but vallhalla in Grandmother's day there were no supermarkets on the edge of town - only the local butcher baker and co-op and usually within walking distance and all the kids piled into the big pram - well that what my mum did with all of us (she had 5 kids under the age 7)

MrsSawdust · 30/03/2010 23:32

Yanbu. It astounds me how many people use the p&t spaces without children. In my local Asda's p&t spaces I have often seen white work vans with grungy workmen getting out, no kids. And taxi drivers, no kids. And parents with older kids who think 'toddler' applies to their teenager.

I can't be arsed with the whole charade. I park at the very far end of the carpark, right next to a trolly bay. No problem.

Yes, supermarkets should do something to enforce the parking rules, or just get rid of p&t spaces, because they're an absolute farce as they are.

Vallhala · 30/03/2010 23:35

Agreed, outnumbered, and I admit that the Nanny who had 5 had a husband who was a butcher!

However, I'm not quite as old and when mine were babes I did cope without a car, taking my 7 week old babe and 20 mo toddler to the edge of town supermarket without a car.

Look at it another way... if you take your DC to, oh, I don't know, a zoo or whatever other large place in a car, where either there are no P&C parking places or there is a lot of competition for them, you still manage don't you?

Disclaimer: I have nothing against cars, I love them, the faster and more Italian the better!

foxytocin · 30/03/2010 23:37

OP, go to the SlingsandBackpacks topic further down in Products I think and start a thread.

Slings are excellent for taking babies to well everywhere in and this way you wont have to lug a baby carseat anywhere.

I have spd postnatally too so I know your pain.

yes, and take up 2 spaces somewhere else if the oinks won't let you have one nearer the door.

foxytocin · 30/03/2010 23:38

Granma sent the older kids to the shops, Valhalla and she stayed home.

swanandduck · 31/03/2010 10:10

At my parent's local shopping centre the parent and child spaces are right at the door, while elderly people are expected to park further away and struggle back to the car with heavy bags of shopping. I think this is a disgrace and have seen other supermarkets who also put the P&T spaces right at the door, meaning old people can't park there. I have also seen couples park in P&T spaces and the Mum goes into the supermarket while the Dad stays in the car with the kids. I have also seen parents with children well past toddler stage use them.

I think it is this type of think that makes people feel negatively towards P&T spaces and just ignore the sign.

swanandduck · 31/03/2010 10:11

'Thing' not 'think'.

Original poster
obsessivereader · 02/04/2010 19:42

I too love my sling once its on, just find it a faff to tie if I've not done it at home before setting off. Hey ho - sling and other end of the car park for me in future then!

OP posts:
lincstash · 02/04/2010 19:53

The problem is the definition of 'child'.

i have a child, a 22 year old son, ergo i am entitled to park there.

mintyfresh · 02/04/2010 20:11

Topic has been covered before but doesn't make it any the less of an annoyance when you really do need to be that bit closer to the store so YANBU.

Have had friends who have laid into people for parking in P&C spaces without kids but what's the point - if they had any consideration they wouldn't be parking there would they! Not worth the tirade of abuse you would get back really...

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