Parking for expectant mothers and people with infants ONLY

[Cerridwen]

A sign in front of a CVS drug store here in town.

Kinda cool. Right next to the door for convenience.

Anyone else have these at their stores?

[YellowRubberDuckie]

1. There are some for expecting mothers at Quail Springs Mall in OK City.

I think it's a great idea!
Duckie

[Cerridwen]

2. Yeah, I was impressed. I hadn't seen them before. But I haven't

been shopping in a couple of weeks.

'Bout damn time, too, I think.

[LizW]

3. Yes, at the grocery stores

I'm past those days, but I remember how hard it was to get into the car with an infant and a toddler and a bunch of groceries on a very hot or very cold day. Being able to park up close right next to the cart catcher is nice.

When I was pregnant, the baggers often offered to take my groceries out to the car, which is really nice.

[Cerridwen]

5. Now I'd like to see them make the spaces a bit wider so

mom or dad can have doors open without worrying someone is going to rip off one while pulling into the spot next to them. A lot of maneuvering room would, I think be a good idea.

[RaleighNCDUer]

12. I remember when it was SOP for baggers to take out the groceries.

They would also stand by the cart while the customer would go get the car, and help load the groceries into the car.

I guess that's gone the way of full-service gas stations.

[Ilsa]

4. I hope a woman looks pregnant when she's using it though.

I'd be bothered by someone taking advantage of it when they are only three weeks along and able to ambulate easily.

Frankly, I think the one for woman and young children is better. And you need more room getting into and out of the vehicle. I didn't use a carrier, but a sling, which helped alot.

[Cerridwen]

6. As with anything, I'd hope only those who needed the space

would use it. But, as we all know, some people in this world consider themselves above the rules that the rest of us try to follow and honor.

[ScreamingMeemie]

19. I used them when I was early pregnant. I lost three babies late term

and wasn't going to take any chances. :hi:

[izzie]

7. I re-call shopping in Boston as a child with my mother.

She could always check her fir coat and they always sent her packages to our home. I find Malls to hot and it is cold coming from cars to mall in mid-winter with out a coat. I just do not go to malls. I get dizzy it is so warm and stuffy.I owned a store in a Mall for years and was in them a lot and once I sold out I do not think I have been in a mall a doz. times in the last 20 years.Fact try shopping for Christmas this year in a small town where you can walk out doors and all that. It is fun. Kennebunkport, Maine has made an art form out of it and Wolfboro NH is also good at it. Your even nearer to your car than at a Mall.You eat in local places. I have done it in Clovis Ca. also. Some places are getting good at this.

[JanMichael]

8. Yep...they will go to the gym with all the gym

paraphenalia to carry; but expect to walk three feet to the store.

My god, this country is so weird about pregnancy--

[Mist]

9. LOL!

So true. Why do we think walking a few extra steps is such a big deal? And yet I often find myself circling about for a space just that much closer. When I remember not to be so crazy, I'm a lot calmer-just park wherever and don't worry about it.

[tjdee]

10. I don't know many mothers who are 8 months pregnant carrying gym stuff...

It's less about the walking and more about the carrying.

A pregnant woman (talking 7,8,9 months) or someone with an infant carrier is going to have a tougher time carrying a huge bunch (or even a small heavy bunch) of groceries. CVS, as far as I know, rarely has carts.

Maybe I am isolated (or I spend less time at the gym than you?), but I've rarely seen hugely pregnant women taking anything to the gym at all.

[JanMichael]

OK, so they go to the gym and work out

but, can't carry anything?

Look, I understand the urge to "take care" of hugely pregnant women (this is Stephanie btw---Michael is in bed snoozing)--but, Dr.'s URGE pregnant women (if the pregnancy is healthy) to walk--it's good for them, provided there are not issues with their health.

IF there are health issues, then by all means, park right at the front door.

[Ms_Mary]

18. I don't disagree. Exercise during pregnancy is important

But the time I had to cut a grocery shopping trip short because I thought I was going into labor, I did appreciate the close space. Funny, because I did a lot of walking during labor. Some women do have pretty severe joing pain or sciatia later on in pregnancy and walking can be painful then. I think it's a nice courtesy, but yes, pregnant women should try to be more active. It's not a disease.

[radwriter0555]

11. Since when is pregnancy considered a handicap? I mean I know SOME

women have a tough time and all, but it's not an ailment...

Sounds like a right to lifer thing, I dunno.

[JimmyJazz]

13. Pregnancy isn't always a handicap, but it can be rough at times

and difficult if you are pregnant with small children. I remember have an extremely difficult time Christmas shopping when I was pregnant.

But, many times the spaces aren't closer to the store, just closer to the cart coral. Is that so horrible to make it convenient for a pregnant lady to return a shopping cart?

Also, someone on these boards was bitching about people who don't return shopping carts. Well, guess what. When my girls were infants, I would leave the cart in the lot if it were far for me to walk - after all the rule is Never Leave YOur Child Alone in a Car for Even a Minute - this is especially true in the summer.

Therefore, if you allow people with small children to park near the coral, you increase the odds that the cart will be placed there and then it cuts down on damage to cars, etc - see everybody wins.

[ikojo]

15. What about preferred parking spaces for fat people?

I am so sure that MANY if not MOST people on this board would balk at such a suggestions. Yet fat people have a difficult time ambulating. Most pregnant women, who got that way by CHOICE (as some people on this board will say and have said about fat people, that they are fat by choice) are smaller than fat people.

Wow! Since when are pregnant women held up as saints to be worshipped and catered to. I cannot imagine this generation of pregnant women schlepping through Europe to get to America or through the prairies.

What happened to the suggestion a few weeks ago for a childfree group in DU groups?

[JimmyJazz]

17. It's just a courtesy that is offered by some stores - it's really

not worth getting upset about. And, I never claimed to be a saint when I was pregnant.

I have no idea what happened to the suggestion for a childfree group in DU - I thought Skinner was considering it, but you'd have to ask ATA.

[Cerridwen]

14. I don't know that it was being considered a handicap

I think it was just for convenience sake. Handling infants while shopping looks to me to require car doors wide open and 25 hands to place child in car, place merchandise in car, keep door from banging into neighboring car, return cart, while not leaving child unattended.

I've also seen some rather pregnant women who require door wide open to slide in and out from behind the wheel. And I'm thinkin' walking around with swolen ankles can't be too enjoyable.

And since many people these days don't make allowances for the situation of others, perhaps "forcing" an allowance isn't all bad.

:shrug:

[rug]

16. At Kmart

This accommodation makes a very large difference.