I didn't have that problem of not being able to get into the car but I can only imagine how distressed you were finding that you'd been parked in on the few occasions I went to the shopping center I could only walk around for about 30 mins and I'd be ready to go home. I have to admit though that when I was heavily pregnant (can't remember how many weeks) and I was 'very' sore dh and I couldn't find a car park close enough and I said "stuff it! park in a parenting park.... It'd be a brave person to have a go at me in the state I'm in" plus I thought it'd be a pretty heartless parent to say anything considering how much I was waddling and was obviously in pain kwim I wouldn't have even been out of the house if I hadn't of needed to go to that appointment. Besides I fail to see how a mother with kids needs the space anymore than a heavily pregnant woman. Even now that I have bub and the pram etc I think I needed the parking space more when I was pregnant so I really sympathise with you.