Expectant Mothers’ Parking
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Where I live, whenever a new store is built and the parking lot is paved, there are always a few parking spots designated for “Expectant Mothers”, “Mothers with Young Children” or “New Moms” beside the traditional “Handicapped/Disabilities” parking spots.
I think that this concept is one of the best inventions ever. It makes complete sense. Whether you are pregnant, a new Mom or a Mom with young children, getting in and out of stores is difficult, let alone having to hike all the way from the back of a busy parking lot!
I do have a few issues and suggestions, however, with regards to these parking spots:
- These spots are usually right beside a handicapped spot, which makes things easier because there is always more room to get your child out and safely into a stroller or a grocery cart. Why not make these “Mommy spots” extra wide too? It’s difficult when you do have to park your stroller or grocery cart at the back of your car and cross your fingers that it doesn’t roll away as you load your child(ren) into the vehicle. It makes so much sense to make these parking spots wider so that you can walk right up to your vehicle door, unload your child(ren) and watch the cart or stroller at the same time.
- I will often see people using these spots that really don’t need to! I need those spots these days! Being 36 weeks pregnant and measuring as big as 40 weeks with a 3 year old in tow is a challenge. There are times where I can barely walk due to how this HUGE baby inside of me is positioned. I am truly grateful when I am lucky enough to get one of these spots, but it really makes me frustrated when I see someone who has absolutely no reason to use them. There are no fines to park “illegally” in a “Mommy spot”, so people don’t feel threatened, however, they should feel badly for taking the spot away from someone who legitimately could use it!
- I take issue with how most of these parking spots are labeled. While only women can be an expectant mother, men are new fathers just the same as women are, yet almost every single designated parking spot for new parents is labeled for women. I have seen the occasional “family” parking spots (like at Ikea, for example), but the rest are either “Expectant Mother” or “New Mom” or “Mother with Young Children”. What about the Daddies out there?
All in all, I am so thankful that these special parking spots exist. If they didn’t, I would probably second guess going out to shop these days due to how I am feeling. And that is the truth!
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