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Parking Space Stalkers
July 8, 2009 at 11:54 AM by Cafe Cynthia - Comments (11)
When my kids were babies and there was so much to carry to and from the store, I always looked for the parking spot closest to the entrance. But I hated it when an incoming shopper would stalk me, park, and put their blinker on to claim my space.
They'd often stare holes into me while I unloaded the bags of groceries and strapped in the baby as if to say I'm taking way too long.
Most of these people were older or obviously childless, because they had no idea how many extra minutes loading up kids as well as groceries takes.
It became so annoying that now I do what AMsMommy212 does -- I try for the spot nearest to the cart return. Or, when I'm with my older son, I'll park way in the back and enjoy the little walk.
"I will scan the lot for a good spot, but near the cart return in my favorite so I don't have to carry my son very far," says AMsMommy212, mom of a 16 month old boy. "I'm not one to drive up and down the rows for five minutes. I just park and walk."
When you see a mom loading up young kids do you wait for the spot or do you give her a break and drive on by? Where is your favorite spot at the grocery store?
FILED UNDER: grocery shopping
Comments:
I do the same thing - park near the cart return!
I'm with Luminousmom, I don't mind someone waiting for my parking spot but if they're being rude about it I'll take about 15 minutes longer than I would have normally just to irritate them.
I have to admit if someone decides to sit and wait for my spot I too take my time and make them wait. I don't care how close to the store I am I just have to get as close to the cart return as possible, with 3 young children it is easier to grab a cart in the parking lot.
I park as far out as possible as to avoid door dings in my car. If you do have to park in a "tight" spot, make sure you park by a 4-door car rather than a 2-door car. 4-door cars have smaller doors.. less chance of a ding.. I really shocked my hubby with that little tidbit once. Sometimes I even pop out my own shopping cart that I bought myself. It really saves me time as I don't have to "return" a cart! I will admit even with a little one I enjoyed the walk.
i have a ford truck with the doors opening away from each other ( purchased pre kids) so i look for spots way from the crowd and some how there still is a stalker YES I TRY TO TAKE EVEN MORE TIME TO MAKE SURE THIER IN THEIR SEATS
One of our grocery stores has "stork parking" places set aside right in front for expectant mothers and parents with young children.
Ah, stork parking. I start using it as soon as the line turns colors. LOL But for the most part, I park next to the cart returns. If it's not too hot or cold, it's so much nicer to just get DS out, throw him in the cart, and go in. Now that it's been getting hotter, I just put him down and hold his hand.
If someone wants to wait for me to get 2 kids in the car, start a movie, put my frozen foods in temp bags, and neatly stack the cases of soda and the other crap, go right ahead. I will not move faster for you. I kinda wish someone would honk at me while I was unloading now. Being pregnant in the summertime is crappy, and I'm always looking for new people to take it out on!
Our commissary has a very smal parking lot that fills up super quick. I don't mind if someone is waiting, I tend to hurry up for them. That's probably because I went to a college with a serious parking issue, so we had to drive around for at least 15 minutes waiting for a spot (not a good spot, just a spot) and then claim it with your blinker. I'm so used to that (it was only a year ago) that I don't mind it anywhere else.
lol...another article I just read here just discussed a "sweet tax" to help decrease obesity, and now this one discusses peoples unwillingness to park and walk from their car to the store. I think instead I'll just meander while I load up and make people walk more to help the "obesity cause"-
but I like parking by the cart return too, mostly so that I can put my cart in there when we're done easily- I hate leaving the carts where they don't go for some reason, lol....
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I have to admit.. I'm a bitch about that. If they insist on sitting there with their blinker on instead of finding a different spot and walking their lazy butts the extra 30 feet... they can wait for me to take my time getting things put away and the kids strapped in. I had someone HONK at me and wave her hand like "HURRY UP!" so I sat down on my bumper, crossed my arms, and smiled. The nerve of some people.. its disgusting. Not to mention sad that someone would rather sit in one spot and block traffic for 5 minutes than go find somewhere else to park.
I park next to the cart returns, too.. such a good tip for new moms who realise in a hurry that their choices are... run the cart back with the kid, then walk the kid back, or leave the kid in the car and run the cart... neither of which are ideal.
LuminousMom Jul. 8, 2009 at 12:24 PM