Recently, I heard laughter coming from another room and went to investigate.
My husband was sitting on the couch with his phone in hand.
“What’s so funny?” I asked.
“Oh, just something I saw on Facebook. Hold on, let me see if I can find it. Oh, here. People really put carts anywhere but back sometimes.”
And as I looked I got the joke. Who doesn’t hate it went someone doesn’t put their shopping cart away, but instead puts it in an awkward place?
But it just so happens that I was at the grocery store that day, and I had something to say about “the shopping cart.”
And so I started right in, “You know what, I have something to say about that…..”
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“Are you all in, Declan?”
Declan looked at me and nodded his head.
“Okay, sit here. I will be right back.”
I closed the car door and walked to the other side of the car where the shopping cart return was located. I pushed my small cart in the designated area and took a step back.
I saw the sign on the spot to the left of the shopping cart return and gave a bit of a grimace. Then I got in the car, buckled up and began to drive away.
“They just don’t know….” I began. A thought that I have had for years applied to lots of different aspects of parenting a child with autism.
“They just don’t know what it is like trying to take a child with autism grocery shopping.”
And I thought of all the things that were different.
There’s the potential for screaming. Lots and lots of screaming. Scratching. Mean words. And yes, I will be giving this child lollipops in between – does it look like a reward? It isn’t – it is to help calm him. I won’t be able to go to the bathroom – even if it is an emergency. I can’t leave him and he won’t transition well. Nor will he go into an area with loud air dryers.
And I ALWAYS park next to the cart drop off – because I could never leave him in a car and be 100% guaranteed he will stay, even in a child locked car.
And I ALWAYS take my cart back. I don’t think I couldn’t.
This is a bit of a soap box moment, but the sign that made me grimace was the following.
Now, when I was expecting or had young kids, I loved these kinds of spaces. I get it. Shopping trips are harder with young children. And everything is harder when you are the size of the moon. And holy cow, trying to juggle a child when you are the size of the moon – yeah – it’s all hard.
And maybe I got a little spoiled because not every place has a parking space like this. A parking place right next to the cart return, close to the front of the store. A space designed to help parents with their shopping trip.
And I think there are more people who could benefit from that kind of help.
So, to me, the perfect spot would be for the expecting, those with young kids and for those with kids with extra needs.
Because I can’t leave him in the car alone too long to walk across a whole lot and back. And I want to put my cart back too.
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“That is an interesting point,” my husband agreed. His phone was long put down and he nodded his head.
“Yeah, I think a lot of parents would find that helpful,” I said with a nod and a shrug. Then added, “The picture on Facebook is funny. I mean, how did they get that cart up there?”
“Yeah,” he laughed and opened his phone for us to laugh at the picture again.
😂😂😂 I have to put my cart back too! I also have to recycle cans and bottles. I’ll carry an empty can/bottle around rather than toss it in the trash. I don’t know if it’s because California is a huge recycle state or what… That spot is nice. I’ve not seen that before. I’ve thought about asking my doctor to sign the paperwork for a disabled plate for my car. I *am* disabled so it wouldn’t be cheating and would definitely help with Ben.
Haha! Me too! And I am a trash picker upper – and I make the kids do it too. I give the same toy pick up speech, “I didn’t put it there either, but it doesn’t go there” and add “it’s our social responsibility!”
I think I would go for the plate – helping you, helping Ben – that’s what they are for. Besides, it might take a (long) while for my sign idea to take effect 🙂
I can respect your perspective!!! Thanks for sharing. :).
The only place Ive seen similar signs is Buy Buy Baby and Babies r Us. Its so difficult though because at any other store they will be abused anyway because everyone thinks theyre entitled to break rules and not care. People dont even too much mind parking in handicapped parking without a hang tag!! Ideally….every spot in a lot should be next to a cart corral, lol. Not possible I know but Target and Meijer come really close to offering that which is nice.
Face it, if you can get a handicap parking it will help you immensely in taking care of your kids! Just do not expect other people to follow the rules! They park in the handicap spots “for a minute to return an item” and end up spending hours browsing in the store.
Yes, I have seen that a lot – even in the expecting women spots. Some dirty old man gets out of the car instead and walks in the store alone. Not cool!
I’m guilty 😀😀 we used to have free carts but now, almost all the big shops Asda, Tesco, Morrison etc have modified their carts. You have to slot in a £1 coin to use it. So I put it away when I’ve got a coin in it. 🙈🙈. But I agree with you, we should be mindful of these things.
Oh, I know the kind you mean – yes we have a store near us that you have to put money in to use the cart and you get your money back when you return it. If I get a free cart then I leave it free for the next person as well, but if I put my money in, then I get my money back too.
I put away my cart too…And usually on the way in I’ll grab one that someone else didn’t put away. I can’t help myself lol. 😊
In time society will discover those things that will make parent’s lives easier but probably not in time for you to benefit. I completely understand how difficult returning the cart can be!
I think you’re right – one day! 🙂
I do it too, I live in the Midwest and even with snowstorms or blizzards it gets put away! 🤣
I totally understand this. Putting the shopping trolley away is important although sometimes the person who hasn’t put it away properly might be in the same position as us or have a screaming baby/toddler. The supermarket shop was such a nightmare for us that we have our weekly shop delivered and it’s so much easier. The extra £2 delivery cost is so worth it!
Good insight. Watch out for those carts when it’s windy as they’ll roll right into your vehicle too.
You’re right! Thank you!