BellaOnline Forums Relationships Married No Kids Saw something today that irritated me immensely!

I have different opinions about the elderly and the "minor" handicaps.

I am more than willing to help out an elderly person because they have been here a lot longer than I have. I feel they deserve some sort of special treatment just for lasting in this world. Also, you never know how they're feeling. They might look fine, but they might be in immense pain. They might have some issues that we just can't see.

The same goes for "minor" handicaps. Just because someone is not in a wheelchair doesn't mean they aren't handicapped. There are people with heart conditions, multiple sclerosis, lupus, other diseases that look "minor" to some, but are devastating to those who have them. If we can make their lives easier in some way, then it's no skin off my nose.

Sorry, I just had to say something. My dad has MS, and sometimes he's paralyzed, and other times he's not. He experiences extreme fatigue in his legs, and heat causes exacerabations of his disease. If it weren't for special parking spaces, he would be incapacitated in the heat here. My mom is a brain cancer survivor and has really bad balance issues because of where her brain tumor was located. She is doing everything she can to improve her balance, but she does need a cane from time to time. If she doesn't use her cane, she still wants to park close just in case.

So I don't really like the preggo parking, but the disabled parking is necessary even if the disability seems minor. To the person it affects, it's life-changing.

Kay - YOU ARE IMPORTANT !!! So are we all. Including those who are preggers , non preggers, teenagers , 5 year olds, 90 year olds ( although they are incredibly irritating to get past on a pavement ) Don't you think we are just becoming less patient as a society ? the stress of modern living means you don't always want to smile at the pregnant woman, or the disabled guy that jumps out his car and runs faster than you - taking the last close spot to the bank / pharmacy / pizza hut ( ok maybe not the last one )before it closes ?? Especially knowing if you do miss said bank / pharmacy etc. it will cause you untold problems and added stress that could continue for days ? The answer ? I like Kats - just park in the pregnant zone. noone will know. Any problems, keep a cushion handy....

I admit, I've always found the expectant moms parking weird as well (although do appreciate the earlier post of giving up a seat on a subway to a pregnant woman!).

There are times when I do wish their was closer parking, as someone above mentioned, for those with young kids, for the safety factor. Actually, the time I long for it the most is at the gym! When I go myself, I park across the lot.. I mean, HELLO, I am going to exercise! But when I've got my kid, it's a heroic effort just to go in the first place and now I'm dragging my kid, her lunchbox, my gym bag and sometimes my yoga mat, and would love those close spots!

But even when I was heavily pregnant, I never felt the need for the preggo parking. Heck, I had to park downstairs and across the garage at my condo! I'm not sure what the motivation is to offer those.. the only place it ever made even any marketing sense was at Babies R Us, although the 3 or 4 spots they offer seemed really only symbolic since most of the store is filled with pregnant women at any given time!

Stores and mall owners very seldom do things out of the goodness of their heart. Usually it's a ploy to appear compassionate and draw in extra customers. Much like the chairs in the women stores. Not for the women, but for the men, who don't want to be there in the first place, to come in and sit down so that their women can stay in the store longer. Disability parking spots are required, but the extra special spaces are there for people who may not stop because of the inconvenience of getting to and in the store - will.

I'm wondering if the chairs in the womens stores/department bother anyone? In many stores, it's right in front of the fitting room - I personally don't like that either. :-)

I don't like the thought of men sitting or standing around a woman's fitting room. Bugs me to no end. Sometimes we have to step outside the small booth to see ourselves in a better mirror and I certainly don't want men watching! Also, I HATE when men hang around the intimate apparel areas! Yuck!!!

Edie, I feel the same way - they are snooping ...

I think pregnant parking spots are silly. They are a marketing ploy, and not a very good one. I'm fairly certain nobody makes buying decisions based on available pregnant parking spots.

Plus, they're not legally enforcable like handicapped parking spots. So, anybody can park there. Feel free.

I park in those spaces whenever they are available. I would absolutely love for someone to say something to me about it...but alas! They never do.

Wow, I'm really surprised at the resentment I sense from those who disagree with choices different from their own.

Even if you're the fittest person on the planet - you're still human and therefore you just might, just maybe, possibly, heaven-forbid, have a day when you could use a little help.

My point was that on days like that, it's nice to have a little extra help. Our choice to get pregnant was ours alone.

A different choice isn't a superior choice. If I met someone who'd just had a boob job (which I happen to disagree with) and wanted to park closer to the store because she was in pain, I wouldn't mind. She might need the extra few feet that day. I would hope someone else would give me the same consideration on an off day - no matter why I was having an off day.

For those who can't discuss different viewpoints without feeling defensive, I have two words for ya: Sheesh, relax.

When did "considerate" become a negative word?

So, you come to a forum specifically geared towards people who choose to be child free (and, mind you, many of whom have been continually persecuted by those pushing the mommy agenda), post a pro-preggo parking message on a thread dedicated to how ridiculous special pregnant lady parking is, and now you're upset we all disagree? Can I get a collective facepalm from the group?

I agree that "a little help is nice", but, where's the "a little help" for other people suffering because of elective procedures...when I had my LASIK surgery, I left the Doctor's office and went to get lunch...I had just had my corneas torn off and burned back into place with a laser, but, my husband had to park on the street because the only spot available was designated for someone who was having a bit of a rough time with the 6 oz fetus growing in her belly. Why single pregnant people out as special? My mother carried 2 very large babies and did so without special parking or even a car...that's right! *GASP* My 8 month pregnant mother walked a mile each way and carried her groceries back to the house by herself! IN JUNE!! IN TEXAS!