Conference moira::parenting

    YES!  We give lip service to Mom and Apple Pie, but let the pregnant
    ladies waddle across huge parking lots like ordinary mortals.
    
    You can't get and wouldn't want to bother getting "disabled" license
    plates for the few months you'd need them.  This provides a MUCH nicer
    alternative.
    
    Now if employers (hint hint) would just pick up the idea.
    
    Dreaming?
    Laura

I was doing step aerobics until 4 days before giving birth.  I don't
think I'd use one of these parking spaces... 

I think elderly folks who are not disabled are more deserving of this
sort of special treatment.  Many do not have handicapped plates and
have to walk large distances to get into stores/restaurants.

I know that there are some pregnant women who could really use this
sort of special treatment, but for the rest of them, the walk probably
does them good!

Karen

When I was 8 1/2 months pregnant my back was killing me.  The kind
parking attendant at Great Woods (an outdoor amphitheater near Boston)
let me use the handicapped parking rather than walking the mile across
their lot.  I really appreciated it!

    I love the idea!  After having many complications, and being
    "sentenced" to bed for 10 weeks, I would practically die to go to a
    resteraunt and eat.... The killer was, the long walk from the parking
    area to the building!  This would have made things a lot easier for me.
    
    Anne Marie

    I think it's **GREAT**!!  Last summer when I was 8 mos pregnant and
    going to the Hopkinton Fair cuz my boyfriend's dad had his business
    there ... if you've been, you know it's easy to have to park 1/2 mile
    away from the entrance, much less any of the attractions.  A few times
    they looked at my big belly and sent me all the way "up front" near the
    handicapped parking.  I felt kind of guilty parking in "handicapped"
    places, but they offered, and it was *SO* hot, and otherwise SO far to
    walk, I really appreciated it!  Plus I got more than enough exercise
    walking around the fair so I didn't feel guilty about "being lazy".
    
    

Not to be sexist or insensitive, but I think a pregnant woman
can justifiably consider herself temporarily handicapped as far
as availing herself of handicap facilities. Anyone who might
give her a hard time about it would have to face everyone else. 

Of course, with two kids now, I might start calling myself
handicapped... ;^)

If you park in a handicapped spot without the appropriate plates or sticker
you may end up getting ticketed or towed.

    
    re:  all replys
    
         I think this is a very considerate move, on behalf of the 
    business establishment, but I can see how such a thing can get
    out of control (special parking privileges), if too many people
    try to manipulate the situation.
    
         I, myself, had to get a temporary parking permit, while 
    pregnant, from the DOT, because of complications.  I would have
    rather been like .2 and not needed to have gone thru that.  If
    it will help some others, though, I think it is good.  I will
    try to let everyone know of any updates I hear of.
    
    
                                               Barbara

Actually, I think I was less inclined to walk far the few weeks 
after giving birth, with an infant swaddled in a carrier!
Of course, now that it's my second baby-in-belly, and lower, I'm 
more likely to get achy and pokey!

But I remember one time going to a zoo with two babies in strollers...
We were lucky enough to go in a van with a handicapped sign, so we 
could park up front "leagally".  Ethically?  With infants it seemed to 
make sense at the time.

Though, yes, I could see how this might get out of hand!
-Tanya