I'm 32 and waiting for my disability parking permit to arrive. It will make it so much easier on my family when I have to use the wheelchair. Some days I can walk, very slowly I might add and not far but I try to walk as much as possible. I get looks all the time and the odd rude comment. I was told if I lost weight I wouldn't need to use the wheelchair, I was in a major flare and could barely move my legs let alone walk. My hubby let that person have it lol. Its in people's nature to be rude of things they don't understand. Do whats right for you and your family.
Lol Nym, I have a two and a half year old who doesn’t really need her pram anymore - but I often still take it shopping so I have somewhere to put even the light stuff (even light shopping bags do terrible things to flaring elbows). How old do you reckon she’ll be before people start to point! 
nym said:
I never understood what a flare was until the Enbrel started working and I felt human again. Then I had a flare and WOW, did I understand what a flare was. Basically I was in a year-long HUGE flare - which is why I didn’t start off with red handicapped tags- my rheumy sent me straight to blue.
A sense of humor is a good thing. I’m 37, but have been told I look younger. Even if I look my age, people don’t expect me to park in a handicapped space. I’ve had very few people question me about it - recently someone commented that I must not need to park in a handicapped spot if I wasn’t using canes or anything, and I motioned to the shopping cart I was leaning on and said, “Just think of this as a walker with cargo room!” and they totally got it.
Jen,
When she gets too old for the pram, perhaps you could just put me in there and push me through the store, then they'll really point! You don't know how many times I want to get in the cart and be pushed! That is a tough job for me, and I have been avoiding it!
Just thought I'd point out one more perk to having the Blue card (ever notice those spaces fill up first at wal-mart leaving BETTER spaces elsewhere? ( Blue space or not, always park close to a cart rack......... usually involves less walking and less supported walking)
Any way to the Perk...
Upon entering ANY place managed by the park service just flash your blue card and ask for your disabled pass. Its a lifetime pass good for you and up to three adults (or non commercial carload) It gets you reserved campspots AND half price camping in the parks among other things.....