Wednesday, April 04, 2007

You didn't? Oh! Yes I DID!!!


I took this picture today at our local Walmart! Oh Yes baby I did!
Why? you ask, "Cause I can!" (and because there were lots of parking spots next to this one. lol)

My heart was beating a mile a minute! What a celebrated moment! and really who do you think would have challenged me in a duel, I AM an expectant mother, I am 9 1/2 months pregnant! Well, perhaps if a lady who was waddling her 8 month old belly over to my car I might have moved but, no one stopped me! I just wanted to do it once to see how it felt to have the privilage. It was so incredibly liberating!!!! Live a little, I challange you to try it at least once come on I DARE YA!

The free market is a wonderful thing. Buisnesses provide special parking for handicapped, seniors, pregnant women, ministers, policemen or mothers with small children. One possible parking option might be paying a fee to park close to a store. This fee is something that someone in a hurry might gladly pay.




The options are endless, but only if parking, and all seemingly mundane activities, are left to the free market instead of the government.
Handicapped parking, like flag burning, free speech, and discrimination, is a private property issue.
Let's analyze two current practices.



First, the federal and provincial governments pass handicapped parking laws, and the local agencies enforce them by proxy. No matter how private you believe your property is — a small law firm, a hair studio, a picture frame shop — some of your property, the most desirable part of your property, must be reserved by order of the government.

Second, on the question of whether private business will reserve spots: many local grocery stories reserve their prime parking real estate for expectant mothers, complete with charming signs decorated in blue and pink. There is nothing official about it. Nor is it enforced. You don't get a ticket if you park there. No one will arrest you if they are not used for the right purposes. So I would only have felt bad if there were no other parking spots close to me.

So there we have it: two signs, two enforcement agencies, two effects, one voluntary and one coercive. Which is the better model for society?

EDIT:I do respect these parking spaces 100% so please do not assume that I don't. If there were more cars in the parking lot that day I would have NEVER dreamed of doing this. All truth be told my consience wouldn't allow me to stay there so I moved before I entered the store.

20 comments:

4D said...

You go girl!

I have been wanting to park there but have not gotten the guts up. You inspire me and I will keep you in mind next time I am at Walmart!

Keep smilin!

Briana's Mom said...

That is awesome! I can't tell you how many times I have said to myself that I just need to park in that stupid space! I am an expectant mother too!

I am truly motivated now! I will do it! :)

Calico Sky said...

Hey!
I think the better model in theory is voluntary, but, in reality that wouldn't work. There will always be people who take advantage. However, thinking about it, I do think there should be special measures that are enforced protecting the rights and needs of people with special needs. Disability parking is important.
Interestingly, I know someone who regularly affended the rules both parking in disabled parking bays and expectant mother parking bays, a friend of mine who is a Dr and parks in the first disabled parking space at the hospital she works at. I always call her on it, and say there will be pregnant women on bedrest needing an easy walk into the hospital, people on chemo, people with disabled children...she shrugs her shoulders and says 'we all have issues'...sad isn't it?
So, I always have a HUGE grin when I see parking services enforcing this one!!!

kitchu said...

I LOVE you. You are SO like me! Totally something I would do, though now I've been given the nudge. Embrace life... this is part of my new motto!! I can't imagine how liberating it was...but will find out when I'm a bit further into my wait!! (which has officially started, yes, today!)

kitchu said...

I LOVE you. You are SO like me! Totally something I would do, though now I've been given the nudge. Embrace life... this is part of my new motto!! I can't imagine how liberating it was...but will find out when I'm a bit further into my wait!! (which has officially started, yes, today!)

Abby's Mom said...

the other day somebody asked me how many months pregnent I was (Darn hospital scrubs!) I yelled 16 months and kept walking.

Elisa...life as we know it. said...

I think we need...Paper Pregnant Parking...crikey I am nearly 18 months now!

Nadine said...

You're awesome...too funny.

Emmie said...

LOVE IT!!! I remember when my mom and I would look at those signs at the mall and wouldn't be able to park in the ones that said "with small children"

Catherine said...

Cute but I couldn't do it. Sorry. Having driven a handicapped van in the past and seen well abled people use the spot I needed to unload a wheelchair I vowed to be thankful for what I have and never use a spot. Guess the same goes for me here now. Couldn't deal with the guilt...yup, perparing for motherhood! Every pregnant woman I saw in the store I'd feel guilty about taking her spot.

12 months paper preggers and thrilled to be!

redmaryjanes said...

Too funny! You go girl!

Mama Melissa said...

hehehehe. My sister and I parked in a spot last week for Mothers with small children. It didn't matter that the smallest was actually 9yrs old... she IS small! LOL

YES, we are PREGNANT. I'm about to give birth! COME ON REFERRALS. Please pray for my referral... I'm on the cusp this month, and am not sure if it'll happen now or in May.

How are you handling the wait? :) OH... Happy Easter!!!

Peace.

Tao's Mommy said...

Your too funny!! I will admit I have parked in those spots a number of times, but I do have a carseat in my car....so if someone ever sais anything I could always say my child is waiting inside for me....LOL

Ann said...

I have so thought about doing this. Hey I'm overdue, do you think that counts.

Dannye said...

you crack me up...but yet a great idea...

Elizabeth said...

It felt so good to finally park there when my son fianlly arrived. But now that he's three I dunno if I'm still allowed? What's the age limit?

Shannon said...

omg i use those all the time... and I think it is awesome that you used it... you go girl!

Kristine said...

LOVE it!!!!! I was telling a friend the other day that I should be wearing a suit to show that we are expecting. Wonder what a 13 month, 1 week pregnancy would look like? He he he!!!

Deb said...

Edit at bottom of post

Catherine said...

Your 'edit' made me smile. Yup...it's fun to play but your conscience gets to you just like me.

Fun pic though...and fun memories.