well, the parent of triplet support group seemingly annual debate on should parents of triplets get handicapped parking stickers resumed today.

the original poster, who was asking how people got the dashboard stickers, got some feedback, and then posters began stating their opinion that parents of multiples don't need the handicapped sticker, and if safety is their concern, park furthest away from the door.

one mother justified their having the sticker by saying that many people abuse the stickers (so what's one more?).

and then the original poster came back with this. the highlights are my own. i am reprinting her message in full because sometimes when just excerpts of statements are printed they can warp a sentence, or thought.

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I just wanted to share my opionion. One of the reasons the thought crossed my mind, was b/c of a multiples book I read when I was pregnant. They said that having triplets is considered a disability. Another reason I spoke to the Pedi. about it and she agreed. I do not plan to use it every time I take the kids out. The only time plan to use it is when there are no parking spots available or I have to squeeze into a tight spot, for which I can not put a triplet stroller in-between my car and the other car. I wont put it behind my car b/c of the crazy people who speed around curbs and race to take spots. I am not concerned about other people with disabilities and taking their spots. My children come first and if having a handi-cap sticker allows me to make my kids safer, then I will do it. I will not feel guilty, as others have posted, there are many people who have them that are in less need of them than I am. I do not want it to save myself from the walk...I want it for the safety of my children. Unfortunately there is only one store in my area that has spots for families or pregnant women. And due to the freezing weather here (-'s), it would be nice to be able to have that option if need be. Thank you for all the comments and advice (even the disagreeing ones). It is greatly appreciated.

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think having the handi-cap sticker would likely make her children safer, but then again, wouldn't it make all children safer, being closer to the front door?

in case you don't remember the post from last year, having a handicap sticker is not something i would do for my family. there are people in greater need of that spot than i. my family doesn't need that spot. others do, we don't need the sticker.

what do you think of triplet parents who have handicapped stickers??

Comments

[Christine]

Hi Tess,

I am a member of that board too and saw this post. I agree with you, and I was pretty appalled at the highlighted sentence. I also suspect that mom may one day regret teaching her kids they are the center of the universe and no one is as important as them. That attitude seems like it might seriously backfire on her.

That said, I must admit that where I live we have large parking lots and I can always find a spot far away from the door where I can park with an empty spot or two on either side of me. I realize that's not the case for everyone.

It's true there are some who abuse the handicapped spots but as my mom always used to say, "Two wrongs don't make a right." :-) And there are also plenty of people who genuinely need them much more than I do just because I have triplets.

-Christine

[Stephanie]

TRIPLETS ARE NOT A DISABILITY!!!!!
(sorry, had to get that out. I feel better now.)

I am also a member of the same board and have been trying my best to stay out of this one over there.

Those stickers are for people that have legitimite disabilities, not for the convenience of being closer to the door.

If she thinks she has safety issues while they are still strapped in their seats then just wait until she opens up that van door and has three little ones running in every direction. See how being closer to the door with a larger parking space helps then. HA!!!! She may as well get used to it now before that craziness happens!

Steph

[Dad aka GDad Blake]

Once you get that solved send me the solution. We have problems with parking permits for Seniors and the handicapped.I still can't convince people I need special consideration when I take the training wheels off my bicycle.

LOve to all....Dad

[Luann]

I have a 3, 2 and 1 year old. Shouldn't that qualify me for a disability too? I feel the time spent on the debate could be better spent urging stores to post the stork spots for pregnant women or mothers with young children placards.

[Tricia]

I don't really have an opinion because I don't have triplets and I will leave it to you and the other triplet experts. BUT ... it's my observation that people like this woman ... once those triplets go to school? Ugh. I shudder to think of the poor teachers that have to deal with this mother and all of the special allowances she'll want for her kids. The mothers will all run very quickly and unless she changes she'll be wondering why her kids have such a hard time keeping friends.

[knobody]

i agree with luann. is having three kids the same age too much different from having three close together? granted, i'm not in that situation as s is old enough to hold z's hand while i get el out of the car, but it seems to me that if it's a disability to have three or more kids the same age, it's just as much a disability to have three or more young children of different ages. would twins with a close-aged sibling count as well?

i have a friends who do need the handicapped spot. one has had back surgery twice this past year and has constant pain and occasionally her leg simply collapses underneath her. i know from talking to her that sometimes she gets places and the handicapped spaces are all full and she has further to walk. i wonder how she would feel to walk past the handicapped space she couldn't get into to see an able-bodied mom and triplets getting out of their minivan?

[Rebecca]

I have 4 that are six and under, and I don't see how a triplet need would be any greater. The safest thing would be to park furthest away if you have issues with the stroller. Some people feel entitled, I guess. I have a friend with a prosthesis leg and got chewed out by a man for parking in a handicapped spot. He wouldn't allow her to get a word in edgewise, so she took her leg off and put it in his face! He turned red, turned around and ran away. Some people don't get what and who those spaces are really meant for. Triplets don't qualify anyone for handicapped spaces, unless, heaven forbid, any of the children had disabilities that require it!

[Elizabeth]

I know it is hard with three kids, I wonder how often she really takes them shopping... It's not like you can get a ton of shopping done pushing a triple stroller and dragging a shopping cart behind you. Just saying....

In my opinion, asking for a handicap sticker would be asking for the karma gods to strike you down. I prefer not to mess with them :)

[Peg]

Golly that's an offensive idea. I can't imagine. Sorry it's a lot of work, but that's the way it is. I'd always park far away so no one would be near me when I put the kids in the stroller, and then would wheel them to the door. Otherwise, I had a method of hand-holding that worked for us. There's NO WAY that's like a disability. I find the idea deeply offensive to anyone who does have a disability, and sounds to me like that mom needs to feel more support in her life. A handicap sticker won't help.

It actually reminds me of the people who want a disability pass at Disney World for someone who has a cochlear implant for deafness. Give me a break. There's no reason you can't wait in line if you're deaf, especially if you can hear with implants. This idea is the same, someone who wants extra attention to make their life easier at the cost of other people.