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Original poster

Today I parked in mother & child space

231 replies

LoveLetters · 19/06/2015 15:13

I am 8 weeks pregnant with severe morning sickness. I went to Tescos to do a quick shop as I am feeling so horrendous and now I am pregnant I parked in mother AAnd baby as it is closer to the door. I had just got out of the car when a woman about 65 came storming up to me shouting where is your child to which I replied in my tummy. She kept ranting at me and I explained my morning sickness is awful and I just wanted to get in and out. After more ranting I got a bit fed up and told her in future maybe she should mind her own business and think before she attack someone. She then told me to F off and she was going to report me. So she headed off to customer service and reported me, after she had left I went and asked them what was their policy. To which they said there wasn't one and they apologised to me for her behaviour. They were then worried as I felt so ill I nearly passed out. Has anyone had this before?? I am now feeling extremely Ill and Just want to cry.

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ScrambledEggAndToast · 19/06/2015 19:24

No need for you to park there.

willbillycome · 19/06/2015 19:40

Have to admit I got bored of rtft so not sure if anyone has pointed this out, but our tesco quite clearly state their policy on their signs, "we've made more room for buggies, so please only park here with children under 5"
If the person at customer services said differently, that is one person not tesco.
Im not criticising the customer advisor, she very likely told the other woman she was right too and apologised for not having the power to do anything.
Park in them if you must, you obviously feel strongly that you have a right too, but accept a lot of people feel strongly that you don't.

Bejeena · 19/06/2015 19:47

I haven't read all the replies to see of anyone else thinks same but my instinct tells me that surely if you feel so sick you have to park closer then shouldn't be driving in the first place?

contractor6 · 19/06/2015 19:51

Parked at the Sainsbury's one, need extra room to get out of the car, and have spd. Wouldn't have a problem with pregnant lady with ms or or people with illness parking in them.

TerryTheGreenHorse · 19/06/2015 19:53

Why is is more selfish for the OP to park there than anyone else Confused

I'd rather get a baby into a supermarket than go in with morning sickness personally.

Hellohellohowareyou · 19/06/2015 20:12

To be honest when my HG was at its peak there was no chance I could drive, I just wasn't safe to so had to get people the take me to docs appointments. But some people don't have that choice. I find it hard to get worked up about people who park in them when they haven't got a child with them. Even now when I'm pregnant with spd and a toddler if there isn't one free then I park elsewhere. I wouldn't have the nerve to confront someone but that's just me.

Regardless I hope you feel better soon OP

Wantsunshine · 19/06/2015 21:38

I hope they move parent and child spaces to the back of the car park and make the huge. They are unnecessary and cause more trouble than they are worth. Bet they will be empty then. I never really bothered using them but the more posts I see like this makes me want to use them without my child and I have a 4 x 4 so I can guck everyone off! Disabled spaces however would never go near or disrespect the anyone that needs to use one

iniquity · 20/06/2015 01:22

I don't see why people get all precious about these parking spaces. If someone feels like they need to use them who am I to judge.
When my Ds was born I didn't have a car and took baby back on the bus with all my shopping
Now that was hard!

SilverBirchWithout · 20/06/2015 01:58

I have a bad knee (cartilage injury), find it hard to get of my car without opening the door, can barely walk and a grown-up child so qualify as a mother; would I be able to park in a mother and child space, I wonder?

Who is the moral arbiter of these parking spaces and what/if any law decides whose need trumps another's?

SilverBirchWithout · 20/06/2015 02:03

I have a bad knee (cartilage injury), find it hard to get of my car without opening the door very wide, can barely walk, and a grown-up child so qualify as a mother; would I be able to park in a mother and child space, I wonder?

Who is the moral arbiter of these parking spaces and what/if any law decides whose need trumps another's?

Just saying.

LovelyFriend · 20/06/2015 02:45

It's a pity you didn't manage to puke on her shoes op.

It's mainly white vans and taxi drivers in our local p&c parks. You're more than welcome to use them.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 20/06/2015 07:44

Sliver-yes you can use them, anyone can.

theaveragebear1983 · 20/06/2015 08:11

So because someone's illness is child related that's ok? It's tesco policy that's odd. I wouldn't be flaming the person for doing it, but it seems a bit pointless to have all the signs in the car park if they then don't enforce them. My kids keep me up all night with their bad dreams so I'm really tired on my way to work....can I use the p&c spaces when I pick up my sandwiches? It's the same when you see a parent in their 70s and their 40yr old child using them. As so many have said, it's actually the space to get the baby seat out safely that's important. If the stores put them in less desirable spots (ie right at the back of the car park) maybe they wouldn't be so enticing to other to use them unnecessarily. But the OP doesn't really deserve to be berated by a member of the public for this, and it's not really a serious crime is it??!

Lilydreams · 20/06/2015 09:39

I don't really care either way that you parked in a p&c space but thought I'd throw this little grenade in....

Unlike disabled spots p&c spots are not a legal thing and provided by big supermarkets etc just for courtesy- so really ANYONE can park there and there is nothing the shop/ police/ council/ anyone can do about it! Sure the shop could issue a fine but you wouldn't actually have to pay it as you don't have to pay any parking fines for private land- only council ones!

Its much the same that is nothing can be done if someone parks in front of your drive blocking you in- people tend not to out of courtesy or course some are more courteous than others!

Grin sorry feeling mischievous today.......[waits for backlash whilst giggling]

itsonlysubterfuge · 20/06/2015 09:54

My DH wanted to park in the parent and child bays when I was pregnant because it was really hard for me to get from the car to the door because of PGP, I used one of the stores wheelchairs to get around the store. However I refused to let him park in them, because I thought it was unfair and I didn't want to get yelled at. He says he still regrets not parking in them.

I also had quite uncomfortable morning sickness, I pretty much didn't eat for 22 weeks, this did not effect my ability to walk.

evelynj · 20/06/2015 10:13

Sorry you're feeling ill op & congrats on the pg. however your post does sound a little ott & unbelievable.

Your doc said you're going to pass out from dehydration & sent you off without giving you a drink?

Your tesco has 6 packs of water in the fridge?

Parent & child spaces are to give more room to open doors of cars & get out so yabu to park there s you don't need extra room. Maybe in later pg with a big bump.

You shouldn't risk yourself, your baby & the rest of us by driving when you're about to pass out. Even if you don't like tap wate it won't do you any harm if you are in need. If you're a little illogical & emotional due to hormones, maybe take a few days at home.

goodnessgraciousgouda · 20/06/2015 10:29

You shouldn't have parked there. It's like if you had the flu - being ill doesn't mean you are entitled to park in spaces set aside for other customers.

If you were so desperately ill that even walking across a car park left you on the verge of collapse, then you shouldn't have been driving.

Not sure why the woman was quite so angry about it, but on a general principle, you were in the wrong.

MaliceInWonderland78 · 22/06/2015 09:14

Double You honestly can't see a comparison between an injured leg and being disabled? Do you understand what the word "comparison" means. I'm not trying to be difficult or goady, but clearly my tongue was firmly in my cheek.

Also, It does affect me becasue as a parent with a toddler, my life is made more difficult due to people being inconsiderate.

You strike me as a professional offence taker.

Rebecca1608 · 22/06/2015 11:44

I don't see what the big deal about you parking there is. To be honest (i don't drive) but around 6/7 months of my pregnancy i had terrible SPD so bad some days i couldn't get out of bed. Whenever i went food shopping with my mum i used to ask her to park in mother & child spaces as there was no way i could walk the distance of a massive car park and then around the shop.

Bue · 22/06/2015 11:48

I'm just flummoxed by the tap water thing!

Sorehead · 22/06/2015 12:53

Not sure if it's actually enforceable but my local retail park has signs detailing t&cs for parking in their carparks. One item relates to p&c spaces, saying only people with DC under a certain age can use them. Failure to comply carries £70 fine.

I must admit, I get very irritated at people misusing p&c spaces. I'm not bothered about the distance from the store, but find the extra space to get DC out of the car very useful. I dread parking and having someone park so close I can't get DS in the car without moving it. So I'd definitely still use them if they were at the back of the carpark.

I think the lady was out of order in shouting at you, but agree with what's been said about your suitability to be driving if you were feeling that bad.

Hope you're feeling better soon- morning sickness is horrible!

NeophyteStarfish · 22/06/2015 21:38

Re. taking a risk with tap water - the water in the tap (in the UK) has to undergo far more stringent checks and measures than any commercially available bottled water.

Not liking the taste of it is another matter entirely and up to the individual, but if you were dehydrated and in need, tap water is the safest, quickest solution.

ReginaBlitz · 23/06/2015 00:41

8 weeks pregnant wow! Try being 8 months pregnant with 5 kids and having to walk miles to the door because some precious entitled idiot has taken a parent and child space, I really have heard it all now

whatsoever · 23/06/2015 01:00

If you don't want people to disagree with you, don't post about parking in a parent & child place when you don't have your kids with you.

It's not the way to win back pats on a forum full of mothers who can't find parent & child spaces very often. Most of whom have had morning sickness too.

newbian · 23/06/2015 05:37

Based on the reaction here, you'd think no one ever functioned before supermarkets came up with P&C spaces...

The real issue is that many parking lots in the UK are designed to pack as many cars in as tightly as possible, so that even if you don't have kids it's nearly impossible to get in and out of a larger vehicle in a normal space. So they throw in a handful of P&C spaces that are slightly bigger and now everyone thinks they are a special privilege.