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AIBU?

Children in shops

63 replies

Friedbluetomatoes · 27/05/2020 13:42

Apart from our daily walks, bike rides and drives out my 14 and 12 year old haven’t been anywhere since lockdown.
For my 12 year old dd’s birthday we have redecorated her bedroom. I have purchased most things online but there are a couple of bits l can’t get hold of online.
Obviously none of these bits are essential so we’ve left it for a while but she’s eager to get her room finished and I said that if it wasn’t too busy we could visit our local B&M soon.
I’m now in two minds if she should come with me or not. I, myself have only been out to the supermarket once a week since lockdown and haven’t yet seen any kids there whilst doing my shop.
Would you take your 12 year old into a shop at the moment?
Silly question I know but my head and judgement have turned to mush since lockdown and I just don’t know what to think anymore with so many friends and family having differing opinions on this crisis!

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richele4 · 27/05/2020 13:45

I probably wouldn't, it reduces the risk to your household if only one person goes. Can't she give you a list of things she wants or you could FaceTime her while in the store?

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BabyDancer · 27/05/2020 13:45

As your DD is 12 and able to understand how to social distance, I would say that it would be ok. I've seen a couple of children during my weekly shops to Tesco.

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EatDessertFirst · 27/05/2020 13:46

I took my 11 and 9 year olds into our small local Tesco today (no choice-single parent before everyone starts hollering murderer at me). Its the first time they have been in a shop since early March. They are well versed in social distancing.

Go for it and take your 12 year old. I wouldn't bat an eyelid. There will be social distancing measures in place anyways.

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Fluffyglitterystuff · 27/05/2020 13:48

I would and lots of people in my local shops are taking children in.

I really can't see the problem.

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OnlyFoolsnMothers · 27/05/2020 13:48

Yes I’d take them- they are old enough to know how to behalf. I’m in London so the numbers/ situation are different but last time my 2 yr old was in the shops our numbers were far higher so I’m no concerned about now.

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ChaoticCatling · 27/05/2020 13:49

I'd take her. She needs to be there to choose what she wants, it's the same as a carer assisting an adult.

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Windyatthebeach · 27/05/2020 13:50

Ime B&M and Home Bargains are the worst for customers not social distancing.. My 14 yo dd has been once. Never again. They have 2m lines to the till but the shop is free for all.

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CurtainWitcher · 27/05/2020 13:50

No I wouldn't.

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ZigZagIntoTheBlue · 27/05/2020 13:50

I would, I've taken my 9 yr old as he's old enough to understand staying with me and not touching stuff all around!

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Friedbluetomatoes · 27/05/2020 13:51

She is a very sensible 12 year old and will definitely stick to the social distancing. Think we’ll drive up there (I won’t even contemplate going in if there’s a queue) and see how busy it is. Probably won’t go till later in the day and hopefully it’ll be a bit quieter, but she can always stay in the car if it’s busy and I’ll go get the bits.

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Figgygal · 27/05/2020 13:51

I wouldn’t but can see why you would want to and why she would want to be there today since it’s her room

I was stuck in an aisle with a small toddler in the supermarket at the weekend while she was twirling around and stopping in her tracks and basically getting in everyone’s way completely uncontrolled at least your 12-year-old won’t be doing that

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TheRoyallingStones · 27/05/2020 13:52

As long as the shop will allow you both in I would take her, she’s old enough to follow the social distancing rules, probably better than some adults

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stickerqueen · 27/05/2020 13:56

Dd 12 come to Tesco metro yesterday she was going to wait outside, but the worker said she could come in with me so she did.

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Bonkerz · 27/05/2020 13:56

I took my 2 today (14/9) to the local coop. They need to learn now what this new normal is going to be and learn how to behave. They won't learn this unless we teach them. My 14 year old was terrified. She's only left house twice in 10 weeks and today was first time in a shop

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Friedbluetomatoes · 27/05/2020 13:58

I’m not even going to set foot in the place if it’s heaving that’s why I wondered if later this afternoon may be less hectic.

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schoolsoutforcovid · 27/05/2020 14:01

It'll be busy. And they are terrible at managing the customers. I wouldn't bother

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Friedbluetomatoes · 27/05/2020 14:02

Bonkerz that’s my line of thought, they’ve already been cooped up for so long I fear any longer without some kind of normality will have a massive impact on their mental health, especially 14 yr old ds, he already has bad anxiety, he doesn’t want to come with us.

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BrutusMcDogface · 27/05/2020 14:04

Bonkerz- id really worry about her mh going forward. Unless you’re shielding she should be popping out for exercise etc- I worry about these kids developing agoraphobia or something!

Op- I agree with windy that b and m and home bargains had the worst examples of social distancing; families of four just pootling about like a normal day.

I took my 10 yo to look at the summer clothes in Sainsbury’s (she had nothing to wear) and made her promise not to touch a single thing and to stick right by me. She was fine, and we were in and out pretty quickly.

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FlamedToACrisp · 27/05/2020 14:08

It's all very well your child understanding social distancing, but not much good if adults keep walking too close. I have been out and although I step out into roads to avoid others, I found people constantly blocking me by walking so I have no choice but to be too close - one woman left me a one-metre pavement-width gap between her standing beside her car and a wall, with her DH blocking the way so I couldn't walk around her car, then was furious that after waiting ages for her to move, and eventually hurrying past, I didn't thank her: "I bring my kids up to have manners!"

I want a t-shirt saying "I might have coronavirus - please keep your distance!"

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picklemewalnuts · 27/05/2020 14:17

Take a phone and show her around as you go.

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foxychox · 27/05/2020 14:25

I took my 2 today (14/9) to the local coop. They need to learn now what this new normal is going to be and learn how to behave. They won't learn this unless we teach them. My 14 year old was terrified. She's only left house twice in 10 weeks and today was first time in a shop

Completely agree with this, we need to start phasing our DC into the new way of life.....

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Friedbluetomatoes · 27/05/2020 14:26

I’m going to pop in an hour before closing in the hope it’ll be quieter but if there is more than a dozen people in there then she can stay in the car and I’ll WhatsApp her.
The store I’m going to was previously quite a quiet store (who knows now people have been cooped up for weeks!?). We live on the Essex/Suffolk border so not a busy area at the best of times.
I won’t put her at risk if there are too many in there but then again I won’t be going in either, not for soft furnishings anyhow!

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GameSetMatch · 27/05/2020 14:28

I took my two year old, he licked the floor of the supermarket. I’m guessing your 12 year old wouldn’t do that, so I think she would be fine. She’s old enough to understand.

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Tonkerbea · 27/05/2020 14:29

I'd take her, she's old enough to stick to social distancing, do you use face coverings?

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AlwaysCheddar · 27/05/2020 14:30

I would. Be good for their mental health too.

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