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Parent and toddler parking

143 replies

mumbojumbo · 28/10/2003 20:01

I completely lost the plot today at my local M&S / Tesco in Camberley. I had been hunting a parking space for some time when I spotted a parent and toddler space become vacant. Before I could get there, another car nicked the spot. I noticed pretty quickly that it was full of adults (senior citizens). I have nothing against seniors but being 39+1 weeks pregnant with a 23 month old toddler in tow, the red mist decended! I went over and had a word with the driver to the tune of.....did he realise that this was a space for parents with young children.....the reply from one of the passengers was that they had someone who couldn't walk very far and there were no disabled spaces (no disabled badge either). Normally I'm quite laid back about this, but I did point out that I'm 39 weeks pregnant and I can't walk that far either.......!

OMG, I've never taken it out on someone before, it must be those pregnancy hormones again .

What got me even more incensed was I spotted another car with adults in and no kids hogging a parent and toddler space on my way out!

There, rant over feel much better now.

OP posts:
happycat · 29/11/2003 22:15

I was told by asda when I complained that they are only courtesy spaces only and other people's good will is relyed on not to park in them.I must say that a lot of people that do park in them are old codgers with disabled stickers as was the case when I complained.I had two babies under 18 months old and was really put out.

happycat · 29/11/2003 22:30

Toy r us at lakeside fines or clamps can't remember paople who park in their m&b spaces without babies.so why can't other places

Jimjams · 30/11/2003 12:53

jude- the local sainsbury's only has about 3 twin trolleys (although lots of baby + toddler) - the trouble is can't walk around looking for them as ds2 would drop to the ground/headbutt the pavement etc rather than walk across the threshold of a shop - it has to be in trolley. I am going to leave ds2 behind and take ds1 to sainsbury's this afternoon but it'll be too busy to practice him walking- I may try and get him across the threshold.

He does fit twin trolleys at Tesco etc- but he won't for much longer (he's 4- but wearing age 6 clothes today!) (and d2 is getting squashed) but I need to break the routine- and as usual I just don't know how to do it.

Jimjams · 30/11/2003 12:55

sorry ds1 would drop to the ground etc DS2 is a menace and tries to copy autisitc behaviour- but he just doesn't have enough frustration to quite pull it off. (thank god)

GeorginaA · 30/11/2003 14:06

Jimjams, apologies if you've already thought of this and there's some reason why this won't work, but does your local Sainsburys do home delivery?

I use ours extensively because I know my non-SN 2.5 year old ds won't cope with a long shopping trip and it's so much more stress free having it delivered. It's in the Christmas season now, so they've stopped doing the special offer, but they used to do free delivery on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday as well, so it didn't cost any extra to do that.

It's not perfect obviously, when they sub things or don't have something in stock, but a quick 15 minute visit around Tesco or Sainsburys to pick up a few bits they'd missed out I found much more manageable even if ds was in a shitty mood all the way around than a regular full shop.

I've probably not thought of some practical reason why that won't help though, so feel free to shoot me down

Jimjams · 30/11/2003 14:34

No they do- and I do use it at times. It's just that I see shopping etc as one of the most important parts of his education iyswim so I tend to try and take him as much as possible. We have come a long way- this time last year I couldn't have taken him to the local shops except in a buggy. Now he comes to get the paper with me most days- and providing it isn;t heaving will do a local Safeway shop and wait at the till (!!!!- big one).

Anyway shop today not too bad (although in the trolley again!) until we got home when I dared to leave the boot open after getting him out (I was emptying the car of shopping so it helps). Had that sinking feeling as I took him out as I realised I should have unpacked first of all.

hmb · 30/11/2003 14:42

Intersting that you say that, Jimjams. One of the teachers from my school has gone to work in a special school, and he still drops into the Prep Room for chats. He told me that they take their students to Asdas every week! They find it is essential as part of their education and development. Asdas know roughly when they are coming, and are cool about all the difficulties. None of the staff turn a hair at strops and tantrums any more. Get some odd looks from old baggages tho!

misdee · 30/11/2003 20:10

we used to have people from the local hospices/respite homes come in to do shopping at safeway, they always had a 'helper' with them to try and sort out their money and to make sure that one of the lad didnt buy too many sweets. we also had two nutters in wheelchairs (when i say nutters, i mean i'm sure they had souped up wheelchairs just to try and run u over when u're carrying ther're baskets, totally mad the 2 of them).

going back to the parent and child parking, i'm sure i read somewhere that disabled spaces are comulsory and p+t spaces arent.

Issymum · 07/12/2003 14:57

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at OP's request

Angeliz · 07/12/2003 16:03

Issymum, unfortunately i think he will! You made ME smile though!

Davros · 07/12/2003 23:48

Ho ho, brave! I remember the time I did a very rude w#+nker sign to a van driver who wouldn't wait for me to go through a small gap. Boy was he angry! Luckily it was too congested for him to chase after me which I think he might have otherwise done.

handlemecarefully · 08/12/2003 08:07

Issymum,

Very impressed by your quick witted repartee. I would have been rendered speechless

FairyMum · 08/12/2003 08:17

LOL Issymum! Go Girl!

Twinkie · 08/12/2003 10:25

Message withdrawn

handlemecarefully · 08/12/2003 10:33

Twinkie,

Love it!

I have a confession to make. To my shame, before dd, I used to occasionally park in mother and baby spaces (but never disabled) - I just didn't respect them, and couldn't see why mums with young children needed special treatment. I guess I was just plain ignorant. Of course now I have a small child I realise just why they are necessary and feel chastened and shamed by my previous behaviour!

I wonder if this lies at the root at a lot of the reason why people park in mums and babies spaces - perhaps many of the offenders just don't see it, and don't realise that you need a wider space to open the car door, and that you need to be nearer the entrance due to child's lack of road awareness...

dadslib · 08/12/2003 10:42

Message withdrawn

Twinkie · 08/12/2003 10:49

Message withdrawn

Tinker · 08/12/2003 23:48

HATE having to pay for trolleys - you have to dump your stuff in the car and then leave your child in there as well whilst you traipse off to get rid of the damn trolley.

Horrendous woman in Stockport Sainsbury's today - stopped next to parent & child space, made me reverse back up the ramp so that she could get in and then emerged sans child. Later, she drove off talking on her mobile phone. Grrr

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