Carla: I think stork parking -- preferential parking spots reserved for pregnant women -- is a great idea as long as it's not abused. I don't think you should have a special parking pass when you're three months pregnant or something, but in those last four weeks you really need it, definitely! Or if you're on restricted movement and can't do much walking, I think you should qualify for a temporary parking pass.

Jean: Moms-to-be are only pregnant for nine months. Let them have special parking privileges that whole time. Who knows if they're suffering from major morning sickness and it's all they can do to get out of bed in the morning? If they can make it out to do the grocery shopping or whatever, they not deserve a special parking space! For those nine months, it should be mandatory for all stores or malls to provide them.

Carla: I can already see the debate, indignant cries of, "How do you know I'm not pregnant!?" Reply: "Because you're a man, sir." ;-) Really, though, of course people will cheat! It's human nature.

Jean: If someone did cheat and use the stork parking area, they should be ticketed just like the handicapped parking spot abusers are.

Carla: Why not give handicapped parking placards -- ones that expire after a certain amount of time -- to very pregnant women or women with pregnancy-related problems? There doesn't have to be stork parking, just regular handicapped parking spaces for them. Women who aren't so pregnant or are coping fine can have the stork spots.

Jean: Why not do both? That way, women with normal pregnancies can have special spots, and women with difficult pregnancies can have even better spots!

Carla: I found this great article about how some people are complaining about stork parking, saying it's just giving more privileges to people who have "chosen" this disability by getting pregnant. Get real, people! Where's your compassion? Every one of us the result of a pregnancy. And even if your pregnancy was perfect and easy, it doesn't mean that everyone's is!

Jean: Pregnancy can be a real disability for some women: hormones making your joints relax, carrying all that extra weight, increased blood volume and so on. These spots give pregnant women a much-needed break.

Carla: Right -- it's not saying you're an invalid, just that you deserve special attention right now.

Jean: Amen! When I was pregnant with my first, one morning -- all of a sudden -- I was gripped by a major pelvic pain. I doubled over and sat on the floor, where I remained for half an hour. I literally couldn't move from that spot. When the pain subsided, I called my health care provider, who told me nothing was wrong, it was just round ligament pain and there was nothing I could do about it. The aches and pains and things like that really bring home that having a special parking space is little compensation for the hard work and bodily changes pregnant women go through to bring on new life.

Carla: You know where they need stork parking most of all? In front of OB/GYN offices. I remember going for my 41-week appointment. Hans was working and couldn't drop me off, so I had to park about nine blocks away. I'm surprised I hadn't started labor by the time I finished my hike to the office! I was exhausted -- and pretty livid.

Jean: I think that anyone in need, whether they're pregnant women or cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or whatever, deserve to have some things made just a little bit easier.