Jaime Posted May 6, 2007 Share Posted May 6, 2007 PS dont ask a pie eater if there's a B&Q in Wigan... They'll stand there for 5 minutes going... Wuh Ihh GH Aaaa Nnn And wont be able to work it out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red Posted May 6, 2007 Share Posted May 6, 2007 Sorry Jaime - you should have quit while you were ahead with the jokes on this thread Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaime Posted May 6, 2007 Share Posted May 6, 2007 Well I could have said Devon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperman Posted May 6, 2007 Share Posted May 6, 2007 It makes it worse if you are on your lunch doesn't it.I never quite understood why B&Q have so many disabled parking spots, how many disbled poeple actually DIY? quite a few of us, actually - especially if we keep chickens xraylady I am pleased you didn't mention how many able people can't spell (i.e me) I wasn't ranting it was a (tongue in cheek) query. I hope your efforts are better than mine. there does seem to to be a disproportionate amount of disabled parking spaces. They must be allowing for the amount of works vans that park there who are clearly not disabled. Our thoughts are with the little girl in question in Portugal, my anger would be directed at the evil **&&£%""" responsible for the crime rather than her parents who have made a mistake they can't begin to live with. I hope no-one else ever feels as they do now. Evil exists, always has and always will, but there has and always will be more good. It rarely feels that way, when you hear news like that. Couperman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red Posted May 6, 2007 Share Posted May 6, 2007 Our thoughts are with the little girl in question in Portugal, my anger would be directed at the evil **&&£%""" responsible for the crime rather than her parents who have made a mistake they can't begin to live with. Ditto Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted May 6, 2007 Share Posted May 6, 2007 (edited) I think I'm with Couperman on the issue of poor little Madeleine. No, I never left my children alone when we went out, but I'm blessed with a wonderful MIL who came on holidays with us (still does) and has never refused a spot of unpaid babysitting. And when my children were tiny we were as poor as church mice so holidays and nights out were a rarity. In different circumstances would I have made a different choice............ and then spent the rest of my life regretting it, as well as having others criticise my decision endlessly. I don't know, I honestly, genuinely can't say, all I can do is thank my lucky stars that I know exactly where my children are right now, and be grateful that they've got to their teens happy and healthy and very much part of my family. I can't sit in judgement, maybe afterwards, when they're all reunited and the facts are properly investigated criticisms, if indeed there are any, can be levied, but not now, surely, not yet. That poor, poor family. I can't begin to imagine what they're going through. But back to the general rant. Old people in supermarkets on a saturday, parking their trolleys across from each other in the aisle and settling in for a good old chinwag, whilst blocking the aisle for all those harrassed shoppers who work all week and are reduced to Sainsbury's on a Saturday morning Children in Supermarkets........... I have a guilty confession here. When son was around 2, and daughter maybe 6 months I went to Tesco. Son in his babyseat could reach everything. So when he threw a tantrum (long time ago now, I forget what about) he grabbed the nearest thing to him and started throwing it Imagine, me in Tescos with several dozen eggs all around me. Sorry Mr Tesco manager (Sidcup) it was me................ but at the time I grabbed both children and ran Edited May 6, 2007 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted May 6, 2007 Share Posted May 6, 2007 I did once try going up the escalators with buggy and toddler in tow, but the poor toddler decided he was too nervous and stepped back, leaving me riding up the escalator with the buggy and leaving him alone at the bottom! Talk about panic! Luckily a very kind elderly lady spotted my predicament and grabbed toddlers hand and held on tight to him all the way up to me. I'm surprised she didn't give me a mouthful , she was lovely. Needless to say I haven't tried that one again! When we were in Australia on our way back to Blighty, eldest was only 20 months old and now middle child was 6 weeks old, we were struggling with huge amounts of luggage and trying to get into a lift to go to the departure lounge. In we squeezed with half of Brisbane, only to find we were without eldest daughter!! Luckily (once my hormones had calmed down!!) and we had hastily pressed the down again button (much to the other occupants amusement, we found her standing by the door with a kindly old lady holding her hand. Maybe it was the same little old lady?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted May 6, 2007 Share Posted May 6, 2007 I did once try going up the escalators with buggy and toddler in tow, but the poor toddler decided he was too nervous and stepped back, leaving me riding up the escalator with the buggy and leaving him alone at the bottom! Talk about panic! Luckily a very kind elderly lady spotted my predicament and grabbed toddlers hand and held on tight to him all the way up to me. I'm surprised she didn't give me a mouthful , she was lovely. Needless to say I haven't tried that one again! When we were in Australia on our way back to Blighty, eldest was only 20 months old and now middle child was 6 weeks old, we were struggling with huge amounts of luggage and trying to get into a lift to go to the departure lounge. In we squeezed with half of Brisbane, only to find we were without eldest daughter!! Luckily (once my hormones had calmed down!!) and we had hastily pressed the down again button (much to the other occupants amusement, we found her standing by the door with a kindly old lady holding her hand. Maybe it was the same little old lady?! Thank God for kind little old ladies! Seriously though, my feeling is that children make a massive difference to your lifestyle, and if you can't adapt to their needs, then you really need to consider if you should have them. It amuses me the people that say I should get a regular babysitter and get out more. Or even that I could attend more church meetings/evening activities etc. I didn't have children so that I could then pay someone else to look after them for me! (Even though sometimes I can't wait to have a break from them ). It won't be forever after all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xraylady Posted May 6, 2007 Share Posted May 6, 2007 It makes it worse if you are on your lunch doesn't it.I never quite understood why B&Q have so many disabled parking spots, how many disbled poeple actually DIY? quite a few of us, actually - especially if we keep chickens xraylady I am pleased you didn't mention how many able people can't spell (i.e me) I wasn't ranting it was a (tongue in cheek) query. I hope your efforts are better than mine. there does seem to to be a disproportionate amount of disabled parking spaces. They must be allowing for the amount of works vans that park there who are clearly not disabled. I just feel for all of you, struggling to find somewhere, anywhere, to park. I remember what that is like. No wonder you all sound so angry! Since moving out here, one of the biggest quality-of-life improvements has been driving. I don't have to plan each & every trip like a military operation - allowing for traffic jams, having to park streets away from where you want to be etc. I am rarely delayed more than 10mins by traffic & can count on parking at my destination. (even in a regular parking bay) Of course, the downside is driving in snow -yukk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted May 6, 2007 Share Posted May 6, 2007 LUXURY.... You lot ranting on about consumerism... driving to Tesco, M&S, B&Q and Ikea in your 4x4s polluting the environment, putting little local traders out of business. Your lucky you can all afford such luxuries... and the cost of Eglus and Cubes! In the olden days we were so poor we had to stich mice together to make a blanket. My mother gave birth to twins on the wash house floor and still got up and did the mangling you had mice wow you were SO lucky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 7, 2007 Share Posted May 7, 2007 I can safely say that the only thing worse than a screaming child in a supermarket, is a child who is not being properly supervised in a supermarket. I try and avoid AT ALL COSTS taking any of my children (or chookiehubbie for that matter, because he can be just as irritating) to any shops. And you know what really ticks me off? People who let their children clamber all over the trollies - they are for your shopping, not for your childs manky feet. As for poor Madeliene - there is nothing I can say that her parents can't have already been thinking. Two obviously intelligent people, who had a serious lapse in judgement. There has to be a reason why they didn't use the hotel service, and perhaps that reason will become known, but I know I could never leave any of my children in a hotel room (even now when the eldest is 9), whilst I ate out. It's part of being a mother - you either take them with you, or you eat in the hotel room. However, now is not a time to point fingers, and to lay blame on anyone but the person who has caused this misery, and the only person who has the chance to make it right again by giving Madeleine back to her poor parents. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted May 7, 2007 Share Posted May 7, 2007 My main gripe about this is that there are lots of people who are elderly or infirm but don't quite qualify for a disabled badge and who would like to park a bit closer - likewise who would like a nice wide space for the same reason - I don't see why mother and babies get such preferential treatment?? There - got it out my system Louise - what have you started? I'm not going to add much - most of it has been said, and I would still be here next week - causing the whole system to fall over! As someone who had a serious knee injury over 4 years ago - and who doesn't qualify for a Blue Badge even after applying three times in the early stages - I was pleased to see that others feel the same, thanks Red I just don't go shopping anymore if I can possible avoid it - it wasn't just the parking problem - getting into a car with a full leg plaster cast is no fun - trying to get out in an ordinary space was even less so I can walk now, but have to open the car door fully to get out - even my Mini door can't open fully - and it wasn't just the little people rushing into me whilst walking on crutches or with a stick - it is people generally who are far too busy trying to be first in the queue that they couldn't care less about someone who was less able bodied Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xScrunchee Posted May 7, 2007 Share Posted May 7, 2007 Oh dear, people really seem to have a problem with children being in public places don't they?? My kids come everywhere with me but I will say that they are well behaved and I do not allow them to cause anybody any problems. In fact I find it more annoying when adults bash into my kids and don't say sorry, they tread on their feet and bang them with shopping bags with no appology, I have even seen people give my child a dirty look when it was them who was not looking where they were going!! My kids are always walking by my side, they are not racing about tripping people over, yet they get knocked and bashed by ignorant people. No wonder that children grow up with no respect for their elders when their elders quite obviously have no respect for them! I understand that it can be frustrating having kids getting under your feet when you are trying to get on with your own thing but we were all kids once. (At heart some of us still are! ) Shopping is part of life and so is being a part of society-if I keep my kids indoors they will never learn how to behave in supermarkets etc so I think it's an important part of growing up. I must confess though-I shop on line now, but only because I am too lazy to do it myself. Just my opinion and I know it doesn't count for much but I just wanted to stand up for the littlies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted May 7, 2007 Share Posted May 7, 2007 Jay - I think it's people like you (and others who actually control their children) who suffer from the general attitude towards children. I have no problem if people are, or trying to, teach their children manners - it's the ones who don't care at all........... You're right - they do need to learn how to behave in any given situation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 7, 2007 Share Posted May 7, 2007 A cousin of mine has a grown up daughter with Downes Syndrome. He uses the disabled badge to park whenever he goes out because he is a big fat lazy slob who can't be bothered to walk. He sees it as "one of the perks" of caring for a disabled child. There can't be many. I must get round to reporting him one of these days. Trouble is I haven't actually caught him....just heard him boasting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted May 7, 2007 Share Posted May 7, 2007 Report him anyway - you don't have to have seen him While I was still having to use a wheelchair, we saw so many 'disabled' shoppers dash into Tesco - and rush back out - in the time it took us to get me out of the car (with Carl holding my plastered leg) and assemble the chair plus leg extension. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted May 7, 2007 Author Share Posted May 7, 2007 I did start something didn't I I have all that to come Lesley as I think my mum is going to need a wheelchair for quite a while and she won't qualify for a badge unless it goes on for a long time but that has to be assessed I don't have a problem with well behaved children but the ones who are not properly supervised drive me mad the worst I saw was two children playing hide and seek in the toilet roll aisle in a small supermarket when they had finished the bottom shelf was devoid of products which were strewn all over the floor and their mother just shooed them away and left it all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xScrunchee Posted May 7, 2007 Share Posted May 7, 2007 I did start something didn't I I have all that to come Lesley as I think my mum is going to need a wheelchair for quite a while and she won't qualify for a badge unless it goes on for a long time but that has to be assessed I don't have a problem with well behaved children but the ones who are not properly supervised drive me mad the worst I saw was two children playing hide and seek in the toilet roll aisle in a small supermarket when they had finished the bottom shelf was devoid of products which were strewn all over the floor and their mother just shooed them away and left it all LOL-I think that it's bad enough when kids are running riot and causing chaos all over the place, what annoys me more is the fact that there are generally two types of parents-there are the ones that do nothing and just ignore the fact that their brats are being a pain or there are the parents who stand there shouting a swearing at the top of their voices, hitting, shoving and screeching at the child who then either screams the shop down, causing the mother to shout even more or the kid runs off and ignores the Mum and carries on playing up. I think it all comes down to bad parenting. Everyone's kids play up sometimes (I know mine do) and shopping is very boring for them but to ignore the bad behaviour is wrong and unfair on other shoppers and to start verbally and physically attacking the kids is wrong also. People can't seem to find an in between. With mine I end up crouching down and growling in their ear that if they keep on I am going to kill them (they know what I mean-not actually KILL them of course) I love kids but agree that when people have little or no control over them it is very annoying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted May 7, 2007 Share Posted May 7, 2007 My main gripe about this is that there are lots of people who are elderly or infirm but don't quite qualify for a disabled badge and who would like to park a bit closer - likewise who would like a nice wide space for the same reason - I don't see why mother and babies get such preferential treatment?? There - got it out my system When we go out we do try and find a nice wide space so that when we are getting the children out of the car we don't bash other peoples cars. When they are all capable of clambering out of their seats on their own then a normal space will do. It also helps to have space where they can stand and wait for us that is not at the end of the car so are safer. I don't care if these spaces are at the far end of the carpark or not. As for screaming children I let mine scream. When they're not getting their own way and are wanting to run riot. We don't let them, we insist they stay with us nd shouting (from them) is very often the consequence. I'm not going to gag a tantrumming child. Maybe I'm a "Ooops, word censored!" parent because I can't prevent them tantrumming sometimes. I don't know. All I know is I try my hardest to keep them from being under other peoples feet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted May 7, 2007 Share Posted May 7, 2007 Do you know what,I have read all of these posts & I think everyone has really valid points. It has been an interesting thread. Heres what annoys me more than anything in Supermarkets - when people allow their children to ride in the bit of the trolley where the food goes. I see it all the time.Do these people have no idea how dangerous & unhygenic it is......I mean,the next persons food will go in there where your kids grubby trainers have just been I think every parents thoughts must be with the family in The Algarve at the moment. They were undeniably wrong to leave their children unattended,especially at a mMrk Warner where the childcare is so good & readily available. I think there is a "it will never happen to us" train of thought (I know I get lulled into this sometimes) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted May 7, 2007 Share Posted May 7, 2007 PS dont ask a pie eater if there's a B&Q in Wigan...As a Wiganner I can tell you that there is a brand spanking new B&Q warehouse right next to one of the biggest ASDAs in the country! (and yes, the road round there locally called "the saddle junction" is horrendous to drive around at any time.....) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red Posted May 7, 2007 Share Posted May 7, 2007 Just to make it clear to everyone that my gripe is not with parents or the children but the preferential treatment they get. I hope to have children of my own one day and although I will endeavour to keep them under control I'm sure there will be times when they will push the boundaries and try everyone's patience - after all it's a part of growing up. My only gripe is singling out parents for special services whilst ignoring the needs of other not insignificant groups - like Lesley and her dodgy knee and Louise's mum with her current difficulties and hundreds of others who have a justifiable need for a wide space or a space close to the shop. Fortunately, I don't have any difficulties myself, so we park as far from the shop as we can - however my husband has relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis. Most of the time he's fit enough to do a few miles down the coastal path and long bike ride and you wouldn't think there was a thing wrong to look at him but every now and then he has a relapse - sometimes it affects his vision or gives him a numb hand but sometimes it affects the nerves to his legs and makes them go all wobbly. He doesn't qualify for a blue badge because - thank god - it doesn't affect him permenantly. I have been tempted to park in the mother and baby spaces when his legs have been bad but am too scared in case I get my car keyed by some angry lazy parent . I have lurked on a couple of parenting forums in the past and was suprised how many of them proudly confessed to accidentally on purpose scratching the cars of people without Mother & Baby badges or donking their wing mirrors Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 7, 2007 Share Posted May 7, 2007 I am irritated beyond belief by badges which declare "Baby on board" So what! 1. It suggests that the drivers baby is more special and precious than anyone else's child. It most emphatically is not....they are all wonderful and irreplaceable to their families. 2. It suggests that a more careful driving style should be adopted in the vicinity of this particular child.....when in fact we should drive with due care and consideration AT ALL TIMES, not just when we are honoured to be in the presence of this infant prodigy. Grrrrrrr. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted May 7, 2007 Share Posted May 7, 2007 Oh they get me too. I think I'll go and crash into that car. It doesn't have a baby on board badge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted May 7, 2007 Author Share Posted May 7, 2007 That is shocking Red If I had children I wouldn't have one as i find them quite patronising The fact that I should drive more carefully because the car in front contains a child irritates me I will drive carefully to protect ME and anyone else in my car I also see alot of dangerous driving in my part of the world and it really gets to me when an insane driver does something stupid only to see they have a label asking others to be more careful Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
