The month of June has not been going well.  Temperatures are soaring, right along with the cost of gas, groceries and utilities.  I found an extremely large snake in the backyard, the garage door just broke, the baby has figured out how to use her teeth for good and evil and literally every battery within every single toy my children own went kaput at the exact same time.  On top of all this I was forced to celebrate yet another depressing birthday of which I received one gift – the appearance of a new varicose vein.
 
So, it’s safe to say I was a bit down in the dumps as I pulled into the H-E-B parking lot last week, trying to pump myself up for the high-speed triathlon of gathering a week’s worth of groceries before the baby starts to cry and my 4-year-old becomes the reason behind the “Clean-up on Aisle 3.” 
 
But, then, just as I was contemplating ending it all by overdosing on three pints of Double, Chocolate Fudge ice cream, I spotted something new outside the H-E-B branch near Blanco and Loop 1604.  Something new and miraculous that caused the heavens to part, the angel’s to sing and a smile, which had been MIA for quite some time, to form across my face.  There, aglow in a bright, circular light of gold, was a parking spot reserved for “Customers with Child.”  And not just one, but as many as eight fabulously close spots were set aside -- just for me.
 
Now, non-parents are probably confused as to why this would be such a momentous moment.  Please, allow me to explain by first discussing some stuff.  And I mean quite literally the insurmountable amount of stuff required to run an errand once children enter your life.  My 4-year-old, for example, will no longer leave the house without three dolls, a train, her “purse,” two blankets, a bag of Goldfish crackers, one rubber ducky, a stack of books and as many sticks, rocks and leaves she can gather in the short jaunt from the back door to the car.  Add to this the baby, her grocery cart cushion, snacks, toys to keep her busy, a box of coupons and several bottles of extra-strength Tylenol and I’m as loaded up as a frat house on a Saturday night.    
 
Then, of course, there’s the issue of safety.  I’m not sure exactly when the rules changed, but it appears drivers are now allowed to zip through parking lots at neck-breaking speeds using customers as a slalom course and small children as speed bumps.  Nor do motorists have to stop for pedestrians walking in the crosswalk.  Yes, there are signs posted which demand drivers yield to people, but I’m sure the words “Ha, ha, ha” or “Just kidding” can be found below in fine print.  Again, I’ve just celebrated yet another birthday and my eyesight is not as sharp as it used to be.
 
Which brings me to the final reason why I greatly appreciate the reserved parking spots:  I’m feeling old and extremely tired, people, and just don’t care to walk any further than I absolutely have to across that vast parking lot.  A recent report estimated stay-at-home moms work at least 14 hours a day, seven days a week, with no breaks, vacations or sick leave. Add to which grocery shopping with young children is a highly dangerous and stressful mission.  So much so, prisoners in far off countries are actually threatened with the prospect as a torture device. 
 
So, while some may be grumbling about losing a few more prime parking spots, I applaud H-E-B’s move and encourage other businesses to follow suite.   After all, when one adds up the stuff, the safety issue and the mere difficulty of shopping with young ones, “customers with child,” really deserve to be carried to and from their vehicles by several muscular gods while being fanned with palm leaves and fed imported chocolates.   But, that closer parking spot will do for now.