To think that Xmas food shopping isn't a sodding family day out?

So all your bellyaching about people being in your way is for a handful of additional picky items?

In Morrisons yesterday, a family of 4 blocked the aisle by standing in a huddle around their trolley which was parked sideways. Nobody could walk past or around them and no amount of 'excuse me' from other shoppers budged them either.

So I accidentally on purpose went to reach for a shelf right above their heads & then they moved. Some people are selfish and have no self awareness.

Why does the OP have to have Christmas spirit when other people leave their brain cells at home and clearly don't display any?

My DH goes to supermarkets way more than I do. I can't be arsed. I do the main shopping online and he will pop in for anything else on his way home from work. We haven't done a supermarket shop together in years. We split it between us to avoid taking our children when they came along.

They're adults now and all perfectly competent to shop in a supermarket. I did have to take them sometimes but as seldom as I could.

DC3 even works PT in one!!

Maybe they were on their way home from a family outing? What would you suggest they do, leave the kids in the car? No doubt somebody would report them for that too! Maybe consider yourself fortunate that you are able to go shopping alone? There are many single parents who don't have that luxury. Some of us are spending Christmas alone so just be grateful & a bit more tolerant OP. Where is your Christmas spirit?

Standing around like obelisks getting in the way! 🤣🤣🤣

Totally agree with you on both counts OP.

And will add my own rant - will shoppers put the trolleys back where they belong! And large ones with large ones and small ones with small ones. It is not hard.

Depends what time you go, I think! I don't mind the bustle tbh, it's just one of those things we sort of accept. I remember loving it as a kid and it just became a Christmas tradition - busy and a bit hectic!

I love seeing families in supermarkets. Fond memories (and yes, we were quite considerate and useful children).

There are always people who are less spatially aware, less socially aware, less sensible than others but that's not family groups more than anyone else in my experience.

If you really don't want to run into family groups, you have so many options these days. Order online, click and collect, avoid busy times.

It's good for children to be in spaces where they learn to behave sensibly around other people. If they are blocking your way you can say "excuse me", as you would to anyone else.

@TimeForATerf Yes, yes, yes!

I can think of soooo many nicer things to do as a family that don't involve food shopping!!! It's a necessary evil so far as I'm concerned!!

I don't feel much like smiling when I'm being jostled and pushed, trolleys bashed into me, kids running screaming round the place, and everything taking twice as long because there's so many goddamn people!

God bless online shopping!

Maybe they could just carry on as they are. How about that?

Ah the hapless once a year shopping husband totally oblivious to their surroundings can spot them a mile off.

Suspect it’s more to do with the fact most SEN parents can’t get their kids ‘watches’ as easily as other and leaving them home alone is often laughable. So many SEN parents end up with no choice but to take them, I hate HATE taking my ASD non verbal son to supermarkets especially this time of year but choice is a luxury many don’t have.

In terms of the original post…

There are no special rules for using supermarkets at Christmas time. If you want a quiet childfree shop then the owness is on you to go at irregular times to avoid families. Not everyone has two parent households to leave small children at home and even those that do may want to both go and choose their own Christmas foods without having to debate or argue it out between themselves. Having small children is isolating enough for relationships without having to do every task singularly lest your problematic small people inconvenience any other adult in any way.
‘old enough to be left at home’ reads as ‘old enough to want to choose their own food and have every right to do so as they’re independent young people. Why can’t they come along?

Frankly old people do my head in moving at 3 miles an hour, taking 30 minutes to chose their item and telling cashiers their life stories, I’m much faster with both toddlers and DH in tow. But you know what, they have every bit as much right to shop as I do so I just smile and crack on accepting it’s not everyone else’s responsibility to get out of my way. I suggest you do the same.

Maybe you could discuss it and then one of you goes.

I genuinely don’t understand people who get arsey when shopping at this time of year. These days there are so many alternatives to not having to do it, so if you’re at the shops at 2pm you’re choosing to be there!
I personally am one of those insufferable people who love it. Yes, it’s busy, and takes longer, but I find by being friendly and smiling, people respond in a similar way.

I think if people could accept that everyone wants to be in the same place at the same time, slap a smile on their face and let people out (in the car park), the world would be a much nicer place!

It doesn't bother me at all. I like to see families with children getting involved. All siblings went when I was a kid, and our kids come with us now. They're well behaved and enjoy choosing things, seeing what we're buying and helping out. They've got just as much right to be there as anyone else does.

It's also good for them to be a part of it from a young age; it certainly gave me an insight into the effort and price of things when I was young, and the work my dad (widower) put into making things special.

It's Christmas, we want to do nice things as a family. Choosing fancy food is a nice thing; we want our children there to be a part of it.

Don't worry though, we're in Norway shopping at Christmas time so we won't annoy you too much. Children are actually accepted in public spaces here, which is a nice reprieve.

We went first thing, after a treat of breakfast out. My little one loves sitting in the trolley and waving at people.

I don’t mind a 15 year old who’s adept with Self Scan, they’re an asset.

Sorry, it’s a sexist stereotype but it’s bloody true, but my issue is some men, gormless bloody men, who’ve rocked up today offering “help” to their significant others, or more likely being dragged along.

Yes they’ve parked the car in a teeny, tiny space, but have spent the next fucking hour with their trolley abandoned in the middle of the aisle gawping at the peanuts, expecting other shoppers to move around them, happy to let you lean across them to get the item they aren’t even wanting but are happy to block you from, completely oblivious to the rest of the shopping world. Stood at the check out watching their other half load the shit onto the belt then pack it at the other end. They are neither use nor ornament and would be better off out of the shop sat in the car. Never have I seen anyone as poor at trolley etiquette than the middle aged man.

Reader, I am middle aged.

Young men seem far more capable with getting in, getting done and getting out. Thank you mums of my age who’ve trained their sons to be better so their daughters don’t have to watch this shit.

When one of my kids (preteens) moans about coming shopping I always reply "You might hate shopping, but you definitely like eating! I don't particularly want to go myself, so get your shoes on you lazy little shit"

But generally speaking they enjoy the Christmas shop and want to choose treats for the trolley. It's good to teach children that sometimes we have to do things that aren't all that fun. I want them out in world, doing things, not staring at a screen all day while I run around making Christmas happen.

I really don't care if we are in your way OP

Because they want to go together?

At least you’re not passive aggressive! Oh — hang on…

I don’t mind kids, I have two of my own. But why on earth do parents feel the need to go out as a whole family at 7-30 in the morning to get the huge Christmas shop? One family, teenagers, a couple of tiny tots running about plus Mum and dad. Why can’t the parents go themselves and the older teens stay at home? Then I don’t know how many parents allow their young children push those tiny little trolleys about. They should be banned when it’s busy. I know I know I’m crabit but some folk have no common sense.

You're crazy lol!!

We always went separately. Kids running amok in a busy supermarket drive me nuts especially if they have one of those sodding mini trollies!!