Baby-Space Rage
And so it was that I found myself driving round Tesco's car park in the dark, in the lashing down rain, complete with The Boy and a sick Kid.
All I wanted to do was park close to the store, go in, buy Calpol, nappies, baby-wipes and milk.
I circled the block of baby-spaces near the main door. Round and round I went, watching cars pull out and others in front of me nab the spaces. If it had been a normal day I'd have just parked closer to the back but it was really busy, dark, chucking it down and The Kid had a temperature of 38.5. I just wanted a dam space. I have a baby, that's what the spaces are there for.
The worst part about it was two of the people who got a space didn't even have kids!! The drivers were perfectly able bodied, single people who were just too selfish and bone stinking idle to park further away!!
In the end (after 15 minutes) we got a baby-space and nipped in and out of the shop. The Kid has since had his Calpol and is now asleep but for how long I don't know.
The Kid being ill tonight meant this was the time I needed one of these spaces the most, but at any time adults minus children using baby-spaces is infuriating.
I watch them park and saunter into the shop, while me and my brood continue to search for a space, contort ourselves through the two inches the doors have to open and if the weather's naff we all get soaked.
I often imagine what I'd say to these lazy folk should I bump into them in the shop. I also spend far too much time wishing I were a witch with the ability to put curses on them on and their cars. (This is not a good side of me.)
Thing is, I wouldn't park in a disabled bay, not even when it's late at night and I could justify it by being the only car in the car park. My over-active conscience simply wouldn't hear of it.
I hate that people think they're entitled to use facilities that are nothing to do with them. It is self-serving laziness and it drives me round twist, and (quite literally) the car-park.
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Laura Yates - Brummie mum Laura Yates is a 27 year old mother of two from Kings Heath. She gives her take on family life in the city.
I completely agree the amount of time that Dan and I have done what you've done. Dan even got to the point that he shouted at a woman who parked in the baby and child and didn't have kids (apparently her kids were at home!) and another time a van couldn't park anywhere else (yeah right) but after Dan spoke up again the lady stood in a space as we circled yet again and gave it to us! Nice of her, but if she hadn't parked there then there wouldn't have been an issue!
You're definatly not alone.
:-)
Lisa
xx
Ps hope the Kids feeling better, Josh is poorly too. :-(
Absolutley!!! I have only one child who is 10 months old and before i had him i would NEVER have parked in a parent child space. I have asked people to move on several occasions as i have seen them park in a space they aren't entitled to. The thing people don't understand is it's not necessarily about how close the space is, it's more about how wide it is. This is how dents happen in peoples cars....you are trying to squeeze a child into a car seat whilst only being able to open you car door 1cm. Fine them!!! Make them pay the price of their selfishness....maybe then they may think twice!!!
There's these badges you can get, "Tesco Baby Club" or whatever it is, that you stick in your windscreen to enable you to park in the bays.
So, what happens to all the people who don't have those and park in the bays? Bugger all.
There's nothing to discourage you from parking in a P&C space in any supermarket. What do they care? No matter where you park, you're gonna come in and spend money aren't you?
And yes, I've actually shouted at someone who parked in a P&C space and got out and walked towards the shop.
Anyway. Solution: clamp anyone who doesn't have a P&C permit in the window, and donate the money from the clamp release to some children's charity or something. Result.
Oh come on, we've all faked a major illness or disability to get into a car parking space! I usually go with deafness, it has the added attraction of being able to ignore people who shout at you.
The P&C spaces should be usable by all after 6pm! Any parents who takes their kids out to the shops after that are terrible parents anyway!
[that was a joke don't flame!!].
In France, on the disabled spaces, there is a sign that says, "if you take my space, take my disability". Says it all...