Getting a Good Parking Space

First off let me say to me a good parking space is not always the closest space. When you have little kids in tow, there are other things to consider, like not letting the kids run in front of traffic. For a long time I would always look for a parking spot beside or very near the cart corral. I would take my cart from the corral. This way I could transport the two youngest through the parking lot in the cart. Then when we were finished I could take them back to the car and then put the cart away. Now I've found a new trick. (No old dog jokes please!)

Now I skip the out front parking lot and look for parking along the side of the building. Most mega-retailers (Wal-Mart, Target ect) and grocery stores have a row of parking along the side of the building. I can almost always find an empty spot there.The spot I find is not necessarily closer than the ones out front. Sometimes it is closer, but remember closer is not always better when you have kids with you.

The biggest advantage to parking here is that there is only a sidewalk between you and the building, not a traffic lane. As I am getting kids unloaded, they can wait next to the building, away from any traffic. I do not have to worry about Nolan wandering off into the next row of cars. (I am embarrassed to say it has happened, and if you know Nolan I am sure you can understand how.) I can load them into the cart in front of my van and not have to worry about cars backing out, or someone zooming through. It is so much easier. Simple, yes, but it works for me!