Discrimination against the childless!

[peacetraveler22]

America is a country of convenience, but for whom? In Virginia, we're having torrential rains the past few days, but this doesn't stop me from doing ordinary chores. A woman still has to eat, even in the pouring rain. After a very long day in the office, I drove to a crowded new grocery store. I had no umbrella, so my tired eyes began searching for a parking space near the entrance so I wouldn't get even more wet. Then I saw this sign!! Right beside the handicapped spaces in each parking aisle are two reserved spots for "Customers with Children." Why? Tell me please why I should have to park further away, carry my heavy bags a longer distance, and get soaking wet just because I'm childless? Being a parent is suddenly a handicap, worthy of a special parking spot?

Then I went inside the store and saw delicious cookies being offered by "Harry the Happy Dragon." But for kids only. What happens if I decide to take one? Will the dragon breathe fire at me? :)



Do you think parents should have special parking spaces? I don't. I'm sure being a parent is one of the most rewarding and life changing events in a human's life, but with this choice also comes a new set of responsibilities, joys and inconveniences. One of them includes taking much longer to leave the house, board the car and leave it, especially when dealing with an infant. I've done it many, many times with young relatives and my nephew. Such is life...

I love children, but don't think parenthood should equal special and favorable treatment. Not at the grocery store and definitely not in the workplace. How about airplanes, and the nightmare of having an unruly and screaming child near you? Of course, we've all experienced it and in such situations I'm usually very calm and sympathetic as long as the parent tries to correct the child's behavior. Should single people and solo travelers have a "child free" cabin, so they can rest in peace during long flights? :) Personally, I think this idea is ridiculous.

Do you have these special parking spaces for parents at Russian stores?

Comments

[theodorexxx.livejournal.com]

Wheel the cart back. Ha-ha-ha. You can leave it at a parking lot, it's easy.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I'm not a delinquent and follow rules. I wish to live in an orderly society. :) It's dangerous to just leave a cart in the middle of the parking lot. What happens if there are strong winds, and it suddenly starts moving down a slight hill. It could easily crash into and damage other cars. In the U.S., we have cart racks throughout most parking lots. So, it's a short walk to return to the cart to one of those. It's not necessary to return to the inside of the store.

[selfmade.livejournal.com]

Once strong wind blew a large sheet of plastic from the very cart corral roof just couple feet away from me. Could slice me in half. I'm also a parent and only working adult in sizable family. So, should I park closer or farther? I choose farther, because there are lots of crazy people trying to get a closer parking spot. The risk and danger of being ran over is far higher than occasional rain.