Comments on Pastor Mom: Am I Missing Something?

Yes, there are a plethera of people who can't driv...

2006-05-29T10:03:00.000-05:00

Yes, there are a plethera of people who can't drive and park. In addition, I find that people driving minivans are awfully prone to this. It seems that they often think that because they have a minivan, they can drive and park any way they choose.

I am one of the "HUGE SUV" people. We have a very large, comfortable and roomy SUV with 3 full rows of seats. We have 4 kids, 3 in car seats, and we detest minivans-so it was our only choice.

However, my husband made me drive this vehicle with him, and practice, for a whole week before I drove it on my own. I always park far out in the lots, because with 4 kids, and someone waiting on me to move, I could seriously lose my cool and calm spirit and motion to them as to where they should go... ;)

I find that people are often only concerned with themselves. They will leave a woman, with four children in tow, standing in the rain, so that they can drive in their dry car, across the lot first.

Driving and parking are one of those things that I think, sadly, are a reflection on how people act, in general. Their driving and parking lot etiquette are representative of their whole life. Take and be aggressive. Sometimes the car they drive is carte blanche to do so, as if we should feel sorry for them that they chose to have a mini van.

Ah, Marsh is Jay's favorite grocery store. I'll h...

2006-05-26T12:59:00.000-05:00

Ah, Marsh is Jay's favorite grocery store. I'll have to let him know that yours has a set of special parking spots and see if his does, too.

The cart corral is also a really good idea.

So many common sense ideas that I didn't think of!

BTW, I love the potato story, Jenny. I sent it to Jay after I stopped laughing.

Local supermarket chain Marsh offers "Pregnant mot...

2006-05-26T11:49:00.000-05:00

Local supermarket chain Marsh offers "Pregnant mothers and parents with toddlers" parking. It's in the first row, but off to one side, with similar markings to handicap parking except with pink-and-blue slashes instead of just blue. Each space has a "marked off" space beside it for loading ease.
Other places I just try to park next to the cart corral, wherever that is, so I can take the cart back easily.
But even with a sliding minivan-door, you still end up with your butt in the space next to yours as you tuck the wee one into the car, and darn it, people need to learn to wait anyway. Whatever happened to common courtesy???

Jim--Great article, and heck yeah I took longer th...

2006-05-26T09:37:00.000-05:00

Jim--Great article, and heck yeah I took longer than normal when that creep was edging into my space!

Mom--I guess I could park farther away, but I like to minimize the distance that I have to walk through the parking lot with Joshua with all those yahoos whizzing through.

We are not changing the self-serving public. That ...

2006-05-26T07:54:00.000-05:00

We are not changing the self-serving public. That is why I park in the section of the lot where there are no people/vehicles. A habit I picked up when I had the truck and had to open suicide doors to get groceries in the back.

I've noticed this, too!

My theory is that m...

2006-05-25T17:07:00.000-05:00

I've noticed this, too!

My theory is that most people have accumulated numerous experiences waiting for parents to stow away strollers, diaper bags and infants when trying to claim a parking space in a crowded lot, and this leads to a subconscious, negative association toward small children when parking. As a result, they act in a territorial manner toward the minivan/rugrat set. Studies have even shown a strong correlation between latent territorialism and parking.

Then again, I may be over-analyzing this and we're just more cognizant of everyday idiots when they come near our kids.