Restrooms, little potties and wheelchairs
Today's entry has to do with bathrooms -- public bathrooms, to be more specific. Since having a child, I've ended up having more issues dealing with public restrooms. Pre-child, a public restroom was just someplace to do your business and wash your hands. Maybe, on occasion, you'd wash your face or put on makeup in a public restroom. That's it. In and out. Since having a baby, it's become a lot more. Now it's also a place to take your child for a diaper change or perhaps to nurse. When they're older, you get to take them to use the potty.
One of the best bathrooms for parents with small children I've been in so far is on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Yes, the PA Turnpike. Recently, some of the service plazas have been rebuilt. In the new service plaza, the women's restroom (I can't speak for the men's) has "Mommy and Me" stalls. It's great! It has a big potty for Mommy and a little potty for the kid. Plus, it has a fold-down baby chair on the wall. Greatest idea since the advent of the family restroom!
I love these "Mommy and Me" stalls and family restrooms. It makes it a lot easier to answer nature's call when you have a baby or young children. You never want a young child to use the restroom alone, and sometimes Daddy has to take his daughter to the restroom and doesn't want to take her in the men's room. Plus, they tend to be big enough in which to take a stroller.
But I've noticed a problem.
I've noticed that several places that have family restrooms no longer provide changing tables in their regular restrooms. And since family restrooms tend to be small and only have one toilet, you're stuck waiting to change a diaper. Or you just give up and find a bench, floor or even the stroller to make the change. But the problem lies more in those who abuse the family restroom.
Just as many people who aren't handicapped abuse the handicapped stall of the restroom (which is only acceptable if there's a line), there are people who could use the regular restroom who use the family restroom. And the group guilty of this is -- those in wheelchairs.
This weekend, I had to wait in line for the family restroom because the women's restroom didn't have a changing table. Then, there was a woman in a wheelchair in the family restroom. And who got in line after me? Another woman in a wheelchair! Now, the women's restroom didn't have a wait and an empty handicapped stall, so I was incredulous! I wanted to point that out, but instead I waited for 10 minutes before I gave up.
It reminded me of an incident at the bank one day. There was a long line. A guy in a wheelchair came in and rolled right to the front of the line and cut to the next teller. There was some mumbling, but no one said anything because he was in a wheelchair. People are afraid to offend, even when they are in the right.
I'm all for providing access, but, seriously, being handicapped does not give you the right to do as you please and ignore common courtesy. Save the family restroom for those with young children. And the rest of will try to remember not to use the handicapped stall.
One of the best bathrooms for parents with small children I've been in so far is on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Yes, the PA Turnpike. Recently, some of the service plazas have been rebuilt. In the new service plaza, the women's restroom (I can't speak for the men's) has "Mommy and Me" stalls. It's great! It has a big potty for Mommy and a little potty for the kid. Plus, it has a fold-down baby chair on the wall. Greatest idea since the advent of the family restroom!
I love these "Mommy and Me" stalls and family restrooms. It makes it a lot easier to answer nature's call when you have a baby or young children. You never want a young child to use the restroom alone, and sometimes Daddy has to take his daughter to the restroom and doesn't want to take her in the men's room. Plus, they tend to be big enough in which to take a stroller.
But I've noticed a problem.
I've noticed that several places that have family restrooms no longer provide changing tables in their regular restrooms. And since family restrooms tend to be small and only have one toilet, you're stuck waiting to change a diaper. Or you just give up and find a bench, floor or even the stroller to make the change. But the problem lies more in those who abuse the family restroom.
Just as many people who aren't handicapped abuse the handicapped stall of the restroom (which is only acceptable if there's a line), there are people who could use the regular restroom who use the family restroom. And the group guilty of this is -- those in wheelchairs.
This weekend, I had to wait in line for the family restroom because the women's restroom didn't have a changing table. Then, there was a woman in a wheelchair in the family restroom. And who got in line after me? Another woman in a wheelchair! Now, the women's restroom didn't have a wait and an empty handicapped stall, so I was incredulous! I wanted to point that out, but instead I waited for 10 minutes before I gave up.
It reminded me of an incident at the bank one day. There was a long line. A guy in a wheelchair came in and rolled right to the front of the line and cut to the next teller. There was some mumbling, but no one said anything because he was in a wheelchair. People are afraid to offend, even when they are in the right.
I'm all for providing access, but, seriously, being handicapped does not give you the right to do as you please and ignore common courtesy. Save the family restroom for those with young children. And the rest of will try to remember not to use the handicapped stall.
Labels: bathroom, family restroom, handicapped, mommy and me stall, potty, restroom, wheelchairs
posted by Beth @ 4:40 PM
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