Expectant Mother Parking

[BetteTheRed]

Which I'd guess was as normal as otherwise.

All these problems circumnavigated if more kind able-ish-bodied people would just park an extra space or two farther away.

 

[Seeler]

Unlike handicapped parking - these spots have no legal standing. The businesses offer them as a curtesy, and as a help for mothers (fathers, grandparents, and other caretakers). I believe that they are on the honor system - use them if you feel the need. A healthy mother with a five-year old - no; a father with active two year old twins - yes. My children were a year apart - which meant that I was often carrying the baby while trying to shepherd a busy, inquisitive, independent toddler across a busy parking lot. I would have loved to have a designated parking spot near the door. A generation later - my granddaughter was a big baby (over 10 pounds at birth) and heavy. I didn't realize it that winter but I was suffering from bonchitus. Sometimes by the time I got her and the groceries to the car I was so exhausted I almost felt like crying. I really appreciated it when the store hired a young man to help at the grocery pick-up. He would always help me get to the car. It would have beeen easier for me and him if I could have parked closer.
I think they are a thoughtful way for businesses to make life easier for those who bear or care for young children.

 

[Lastpointe]

I was actully at my healthiest when pregant. Felt great

Moms with little kids is tricky.

But realilstically malls are full of malls with moms and little kids. nit sure how you could possibly offer close to the door parking for them all when the mall is most,full of them

 

[Tabitha]

Our local college has 2 plug in spots for electric cars.
At Westmount Safeway they have some "seniors" spots -in Edmonton

 

[GordW]

That shouldn't happen either - unless the other driver who has occupied the spot is also handicapped.

The BIG difference being that Handicapped sports are legally enforceable. Expectant Mother/Young Family/Seniors spots are purely a courtesy issue

 

[ChemGal]

The BIG difference being that Handicapped sports are legally enforceable. Expectant Mother/Young Family spots are purely a courtesy issue

Can these not be enforced as they are on private property though, although in a different manner? This would have to be done similar to getting one's parking validated. There was a location when I first started seeing these that requested you check in if parking there, I wouldn't be surprised if tickets were issues to those who didn't.

 

[Jaebius]

The BIG difference being that Handicapped sports are legally enforceable...

You mean the police have the authority to coerce handicapped people to play sports? j/k

 

[Kimmio Laughterlove]

It should be more of a courtesy than a hard and fast rule. Actually, it makes more sense for very far along pregnant moms and/ or anyone with small kids to use designated spots and less sense for women who are only a few months pregnant and have no trouble or extra exertion walking but as Mrs. Anteater says, there's no way to tell, so it can't really be regulated. It's one of those "honour system" things and I guess some people will break it but it's just one of those things.

 

[Kimmio Laughterlove]

My roommate wanted me to apply for a disabled parking window sign for when I go shopping with her and I said no. I joked and gave her a hard time. Unless we're in a big lot quite far from the door on one freak snowy winter day, then it wouldn't be necessary. Maybe in winter if I was extra stiff and tense, on a particularly bad day, otherwise that's unlikely anyway, and I see no point except she'd be taking advantage of the convenience of having me as an occassional passenger, or not, more than hardship really.

My mom used to park in handicapped parking when I was a kid - and things were different then but I sometimes waited in the car - and she'd tell me to get out and walk if anyone questioned her parking there. It used to bug me as I didn't want to be thought of as "handicapped" (and come to think of it I wasn't walking in and out with her anyway which is why one would need it). Noone ever asked, though. Now, if I did drive and was alone with stuff to carry, I might use one of the spots but that's not my situation. But, people with me who just want to take asvantage of an easy parking space, no.

 

[Kimmio Laughterlove]

Maybe I'm too proud but I think people who use wheelchairs should get those spots and even if I have some mobility challenges, I can walk to and from the door, it's usually not that far or super cold out (when I have most difficulty). Maybe only occassional need for it, but if I am not up to being out walking around a little bit I am likely not up to mall shopping anyway - sometimes there's a lot more distance to cover inside the mall which can be really tiring - and so if I was with someone I could wait in the car. I think a parent with three small kids has more need. Seats on the bus are different, though. I need one of those.

 

[Kimmio Laughterlove]

I think people with wheelchairs should get those spots before me, I mean. Others can decide what they need, I won't get in a snit about it as I am not them and not in their body. You never know what pain or trouble someone's having and it's not worth it to complain, imo. As I said, if I was driving alone, especially doing a big shopping trip, I might feel more entitled to a close parking spot.

 

[Jaebius]

It should be more of a courtesy than a hard and fast rule. Actually, it makes more sense for very far along pregnant moms and/ or anyone with small kids to use designated spots and less sense for women who are only a few months pregnant and have no trouble or extra exertion walking but as Mrs. Anteater says, there's no way to tell, so it can't really be regulated. It's one of those "honour system" things and I guess some people will break it but it's just one of those things.

I'm sorry Cousin, but honestly, I disagree. Such parking spaces should be seen as a hard and fast rule. Perhaps the answer is to just not have them at all, and just encourage an overall sense of courtesy in society. Or else, have some parking spaces marked as courtesy spaces for expectant mothers, those with mobility issues, and anyone else who may need them. However, the spaces that are currently marked for, say, expectant mothers must only be used by expectant mothers. No misuse of them please.

 

[revsdd]

Can these not be enforced as they are on private property though, although in a different manner? This would have to be done similar to getting one's parking validated. There was a location when I first started seeing these that requested you check in if parking there, I wouldn't be surprised if tickets were issues to those who didn't.

Unless there's a municipal by-law being broken, tickets can't be issued, or they're the non-enforceable type that just make money for the security company and/or property owner if the person who gets ticketed chooses to pay. Since it's private property I suppose a person could be banned from using the entire parking lot and then charged with trespassing if they parked there again, although that would require very vigilant enforcement and keeping track of license plate numbers.

We adopted our daughter. My wife has sometimes wondered if, while we were in the adoption process, she could have parked in one of those spots. She was, after all, an expectant mother at the time!

 

[Luce NDs]

I'm sorry Cousin, but honestly, I disagree. Such parking spaces should be seen as a hard and fast rule. Perhaps the answer is to just not have them at all, and just encourage an overall sense of courtesy in society. Or else, have some parking spaces marked as courtesy spaces for expectant mothers, those with mobility issues, and anyone else who may need them. However, the spaces that are currently marked for, say, expectant mothers must only be used by expectant mothers. No misuse of them please.

Some people cannot get over their brutish powers of naïveté ... without hard and fast rules that will then be used by hard and brutish powers to push their way through the paradigm. Ignorance can get you a long way if you affiliate with the powers ...

Consider what a lesser power and a greater power in the courts will get when they state" Your honour, I didn't know!"

Some believe this is the driving force (primal ID) to cultivating stupidity ... so this life game could come to an end ... resulting in emotional ignorance being out of the question.

Humans as nurturing co-operation and compassion? ... That's a concept right out of here ... and thus the Moor has to flip ... becoming known a S'moor ... a smear in the mortal state ... as mortal attribute of individuals that can't see that far into future visions!

 

[Luce NDs]

Does standing back and observing ... gaining the powers of observation of things generally unseen ... humble, or that just humbling to lesser gods .. as subliminal semantics?

Tis devil of a concept for those believing they are upright and sentient (magi) about not knowing ... and this scrooge 'd ... at least in the caroling ... what's a Ba Carol a sole song in a dark stirring experience? Just you wait Henry Higgins ... the Bos on will get you from the other's IDe ...

 

[Seeler]

I'm sorry Cousin, but honestly, I disagree. Such parking spaces should be seen as a hard and fast rule. Perhaps the answer is to just not have them at all, and just encourage an overall sense of courtesy in society. Or else, have some parking spaces marked as courtesy spaces for expectant mothers, those with mobility issues, and anyone else who may need them. However, the spaces that are currently marked for, say, expectant mothers must only be used by expectant mothers. No misuse of them please.

Obvioussly you have never been pregnant and/or cared for one or more small children. A baby in the womb is a lot easier to carry around than a baby in the arms. Many women work right up to their due date - I've known women who finished their shift after they went into labor. Ask that same woman to carry around her baby and do the grocery shopping two weeks later and you'll find out who really appreciates a designated parking spot.

 

[Luce NDs]

Is a pregnant man like a 300 pound Cana' Ba'aL ... but in old tongues "Ba" is de soul and "aL" that is beyond us like the myth of intelligence a strange thing indeed if you've observed things down here ... all is foreign intellect.. a sort of isolated wisdom if you can gather what is presented ... as knowledge is generally discouraged by the church as what is institutionalized is IT ... nothing more to be added!

Then there is that contrary verse at the end of the Gospel of John ... but believers will say there are no conflicts in the biblical contexts! Such is thus like immortal myth ... beyond us ...

 

[Pinga]

In the winter, my father has difficult walking on snow / ice as he can't see where to tread. He has fallen on ice, and has legitimate worry. This is primarily due to his vision, but also just due to being less limber. I drop him off at the door of the mall, then go park, or I find a spot close. With two frailer seniors, I can see parking close.

I am trying to remember it is healthy for me to walk further, so I park at further spots.

Maybe we need signs in parking lots. "Get fit, park here!"

 

[Seeler]

In the winter, my father has difficult walking on snow / ice as he can't see where to tread. He has fallen on ice, and has legitimate worry. This is primarily due to his vision, but also just due to being less limber. I drop him off at the door of the mall, then go park, or I find a spot close. With two frailer seniors, I can see parking close.

I am trying to remember it is healthy for me to walk further, so I park at further spots.

Maybe we need signs in parking lots. "Get fit, park here!"

I've heard it referred to as 'diabetic parking' - health care workers encouraging diabetic people (who still have good mobility) to park at the furtherest corner of the parking lot and get some exercise walking to and from their car.

 

[Hilary]

I agree that these spots are simply a courtesy that the store provides. And as a courtesy, we have the option to park there or not based on our own circumstances and consciences.
I have used an expectant/new mother parking spot before. A slim young woman may have recently suffered a miscarriage, be so ill that she hasn't gained weight at a normal rate for pregnancy, have a pregnant sister waiting in the car, or have one of a plethora of other perfectly valid reasons to use it.
Overall, I just try not to judge others who use these parking spots because I wouldn't want those same people judging me.