Mother and Child Parking spots ?

[birol]

In the supermarket parking lots these days there are new reserved spots :

Mother and Child parking

Pregnant Woman parking


Are we becoming little be too politicially correct ?  Where is father and child parking spots ?  If the same child comes to the supermarket with his./her father he/she has to suffer ? SInce when walking extra 50 feet become a suffering ? Fathers do not take their children to the supermarkets or malls ? How small is the child supposed to be ? WHy do we have to have reserved parking spcaes for children (with parents) anyways ? For all I know little rascals are mostly overweight anyways and could use a few extra steps. Oh yeah, the ones who are in strollers, they could easily be pushed in their strollers, My wife sued to walk/stroller carry two children to the mall right through a huge parking lot when we were in Saudi Arabia, under 110F sun ! Nothing happened to any of them because of it !

And I also thought that pregnant woman should be walking as much as they can, unless their doctor says NOT to, in which case they can easily get a temporary disabled parking permit.

Now if I saw signs which said Parent and small child parking, I would probably let it go, pregnant woman, not really. I guess woman are the major shoppers and retail industry is catering to them at the expense of man.

I always park at mother and child parking spaces when I am with DD, and if people give me a look, I mumble to myself loudly "HA ! Mother and child parking, Children have parents and that includes a father, what a sexist sign !" and walk away ....


Man oh man, I was really upset about this eh off the soap box now

[B-flat]

Why not send your message to the store or mall manager with your complaint? (Next time just print up something and attach to sign:  "Father" and Child parking.")  I hate these modern day slip ups that alienate people.  All we have around here is "handicapped parking."

[Kelly]

I think the ones at my grocery store say "Shoppers with small children" or something like that.   There are 2 handicapped spots, then a cart coral and then 4 of these spots ~ in two rows that face each other.  (did that make sense?).  There are also other handicapped spots.

Politically incorrect or not, I'm all for having spots for "shoppers with small children" ~ it puts me closer to the door and I don't have to worry as much crossing the parking lot with all the chirren in tow.  People drive in parking lots like they were still on the road!"

I agree with b-flat ~ offer the store an alternative wording.  Maybe they'll surprise you!

[angelsmom10]

I thought this was heading for a joke.  We only have handicapped also.  Although, in some areas with crime the way it is, it could make sense.  
 
Although my big pet peeve is those who park in handicapped spots and are not.  My father had a handicapped sticker because of his emphezyma and chronic heart failure (had to pull over 1 time because he had trouble breathing and he couldn't even turn a screw because it took his breath away), but he never used it was he always felt there were others who needed it more.

[griffsmom]

SInce when walking extra 50 feet become a suffering ?

Good point, birol. I never cease to be astounded by the driver who will wait on someone going to their car, loading their purchases, putting their shopping cart up, and then slowly, ever so slowly, getting into the car, buckling the seat belt, putting the car in reverse and finally backing up, when the driver could have parked a few spaces further back and probably already have been into the store by now. But they just don't want to walk the extra 20 feet. :confused: :rolleyes: :screwy:
 
Worse yet are those cars that will see me (when I'm by myself) with all my packages, and a small child and wait on me IMPATIENTLY! I'm trying to get Griffin into his car seat, buckle up his seat belt against his resistance, put the stuff in the car, and the people are honking at me to hurry up!!!! I just want to scream "HEY BUDDY!!! DO YOU NOT SEE ME STUGGGLING BY MYSELF WITH AN UNCOOPERATIVE 3 Y/O AND ALL THESE GROCERIES? THERE'S ANOTHER SPACE JUST FOUR SPACES BACK. THE WALK'LL DO YOU GOOD!!!! ":swear: Instead, I just move a little slower.   :Z
 
Whew. Well, I'm glad to have gotten that off my chest. Thanks for listening.

[campingboaters]

In our area, we have the "pregnant mother" or "SHOPPERS with infants or SMALL children" spots at a couple supermarkets and at the "R Us" stores.  
 
While they are somewhat of an annoyance now that I "can't" use them, I have used them.  There is NOTHING like having to walk more than you have to when you are 9 months pregnant and just getting out of a chair (or car) is a chore.  And then, getting out to the market with an infant in an infant car seat is TOO heavy to carry for any length of time after you just gave birth -- not to mention if you have another small child in tow too!   Parking lots are VERY dangerous places for children.  I didn't use those spots unless I felt I really had to as there might have been others that REALLY needed those spots.
 
It's like the handicap spots.  While they might be empty most of the time, I would NEVER park in one in case someone (that really was handicapped) needed that spot.  
 
I think you were just ticked at the wording on the sign and you should complain to that store.

[AustinBoston]

Worse yet are those cars that will see me (when I'm by myself) with all my packages, and a small child and wait on me IMPATIENTLY! I'm trying to get Griffin into his car seat, buckle up his seat belt against his resistance, put the stuff in the car, and the people are honking at me to hurry up!!!!

That's when I decide I'm not done shopping, and leave the car to go back in the store.

Austin

[angelsmom10]

That's when I decide I'm not done shopping, and leave the car to go back in the store.
 
Austin

Been there done that .... just for meanness:Z .  Just love to piss off some people when they are so impatient

[birol]

I have to confess, it is the wording which ticked me off, I agree that sometimes those spots might come in handy, the way some children misbehave sometimes.

Our DS was known to throw himself to the ground at toy stores screaming and shouting trying to make us buy a toy.  We would just walk to the edge of the aisle, he couldn't see us but we could see him. it was a rude awakening that mom and dad had left him there while he was at the best part of his tantrum. We had to cure the tantrum this way twice, it was permanently cured the second time. Umm, he was around 3 years old or so, maybe 4, tops. I hope we did not cause him irrecovarable  psychological damage which will rqeuire him to have life long threpay and  counselling because of our extremely abusive behaviour  while trying to teach him what is acceptable behaviour :Z

[angelsmom10]

I have to confess, it is the wording which ticked me off, I agree that sometimes those spots might come in handy, the way some children misbehave sometimes.
 
Our DS was known to throw himself to the ground at toy stores screaming and shouting trying to make us buy a toy. We would just walk to the edge of the aisle, he couldn't see us but we could see him. it was a rude awakening that mom and dad had left him there while he was at the best part of his tantrum. We had to cure the tantrum this way twice, it was permanently cured the second time. Umm, he was around 3 years old or so, maybe 4, tops. I hope we did not cause him irrecovarable psychological damage which will rqeuire him to have life long threpay and counselling because of our extremely abusive behaviour while trying to teach him what is acceptable behaviour :Z

Maybe this could explain a lot....:Z;)

[birol]

Hey we did the best we could at the time live and learn .....

[griffsmom]

Been there done that .... just for meanness:Z . Just love to piss off some people when they are so impatient

my dh calls that "messin' with them"  my ds calls that being a "stink pot" :J

[griffsmom]

I hope we did not cause him irrecovarable psychological damage which will rqeuire him to have life long threpay and counselling because of our extremely abusive behaviour while trying to teach him what is acceptable behaviour :Z

Of course you did.  It's expected of you to do so.  I think it's even written down (Parental Duty # 43) in the Parent Responsibility Handbook that comes with all kids. :J

[Kelly]

Of course you did.  It's expected of you to do so.  I think it's even written down (Parental Duty # 43) in the Parent Responsibility Handbook that comes with all kids. :J

LOL ~ My philosophy is this ~
I'm gonna mess the kids up ... it just won't be in the same way my parents messed me up!  


"Parenting is like building a boat you will eventually launch.  The building process is gratifying , but so is launching the boat and seeing that what you've built can handle the seas."  Laurence Steinberg

[birol]

I like the way Kelly stated this !  

Here is to Kelly  :!

LOL ~ My philosophy is this ~
I'm gonna mess the kids up ... it just won't be in the same way my parents messed me up!  


"Parenting is like building a boat you will eventually launch.  The building process is gratifying , but so is launching the boat and seeing that what you've built can handle the seas."  Laurence Steinberg