Going shopping with young children and back from the parking lot can be a literal juggling act. When I had a baby and a toddler, I remember having to strategize, step by step, how to accomplish certain tasks with my kids while keeping everyone organized, happy, and safe. Then one time, I went to the post office to mail several large packages, only to find that there was no way I could pick up my two children. and My box entered the building at the same time.
While finding parking solutions for ourselves can be difficult, one mom on TikTok thinks the rest of the world could use a helping hand.
Stefany (@unsolictedsarcasm), a mom of toddlers and TikTok content creator, shared a short PSA with the world about how we’re making it easier for parents with young children to shop and run errands.
“We all have the same unspoken rules, right,” she asked, pointing to an empty parking space next to the shopping cart return area. “If you’re shopping and this place is open, then that’s not the place for you. This is for mom and her kids who have to unload their shopping carts next to where they park, right?
The reason, she explains, isn’t just convenience and ease.
“This is a safety issue,” she wrote in the caption. “Please leave space for moms to shop alone with their kids.”
Back in June, another mom on TikTok argued that she didn’t return the grocery cart at all because it would have put her children at risk of being kidnapped or running away. While her strategy – leaving hazards in parking lots – didn’t get a lot of positive support, it’s proven that leaving young children unattended in public places for long periods of time can be dangerous, especially when there are a lot of cars Driving around.
Still, many in the comments didn’t agree with Seifani’s request to make life a little easier for struggling parents. In fact, all of the top comments were ones people disagreed with.
“Never heard of it,” read the top comment, with thousands of likes. “If anything, I always park there. Will continue to do so.
“Verbal rule is if it’s open I’ll stop 🤷🏻♀️,” said another.
“As a cat lady without kids, this is my favorite parking spot,” a third added.
Even parents with children disagree.
“No, it’s not a rule,” one mother said. “With 4 boys, never expect special treatment.”
There was also discussion about whether the place was a good place to be – some said they parked there to protect their cars from errant carts and door dings, while others said they avoided it. This place opened because people were pushing their carts in the general direction to return, causing more dings than average.
Others said they preferred a drop-off location due to age or disability.
What’s the final verdict? It sounds like this is an unspoken rule, but people really don’t hear it.
