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

Can’t help but laugh at the prevalence of M&S and Waitrose amongst all these miserable posts and people that seem to have no concept of anything other than a 2.4 family (with first world problems of how to park the defender). Honestly - first world problems!

Maybe more than one person went from each household because there was a lot to carry?

Only read page 1 & I agree with OP. Waitrose last week had no end of civilians, as I think of them: people of either sex & any age who don't normally do supermarket shopping but have been included in a family group - why? They moon about the place not actually doing anything or 'engaging with the shopping process' as it might be put these days, simply getting in the way & generally not knowing supermarket etiquette & being more likely to run you down if pushing a trolley than even the most harassed everyday shopper who tends to be fully alert.

They are a hazard & a nuisance & should be banned.

Merry Christmas to one & all.😂

YANBU. Of course they should leave the kids home alone to convenience you.

Why should they do any of these things?
Why are you policing how other people do their shopping?

I know others have said similar things but your comment stood out.

We go as a family for the Christmas shop so we all get to choose items we want. We’re a family of 3 but even if we had 6 kids, as long as they were well behaved it would be none of anyone else’s business.

I don't mind children in supermarkets tbh, so long as they aren't:

Riding a fucking scooter
Riding the trolley
Running races in the aisles
Screaming (babies are excepted, because babies are gonna baby)

Some children I've encountered recently have been truly charming- one little girl was warbling away singing Christmas songs. To be fair, her father kept trying to redirect her attention, and tell her that not everybody wanted to hear her singing, but I thought it was lovely. V festive.

And some children fetching bits and bobs for their parents too.

I personally like taking my ds shopping- but he's 17 and can go and get stuff from one end of the shop while I get from the other. Plus he can heft the heavy bags in and out of the car.

As always, it's not so much the kids as the parents. You know, the ones who look on indulgently as their precious child(ren) run amok in the aisles (planes or supermarkets) or kick the back of your seat relentlessly. (Planes)
Bring on the child-free flights, bet there will be plenty of customers willing to pay a little extra. Or late adult-only night shopping, just on one weeknight?

Should have added that was a number of years ago but the policy not to open 24 hrs at Xmas was kept in place.

I'm in NE Scotland,our local ASDA stopped the 24 HR opening due to serious youth disorder.

But dps need to make sure nothing gets broken

I expect it's difficult at this time of year as the weather is bad and it's somewhere to go to break up their day

I’m surprised there was room for anyone else with all the space your entitlement was taking up.

Supermarkets in Scotland. Which was part of the UK last time I checked. 🙄

How awful for you. Fat people shouldn't be allowed out on public. Their fatness causes problems for real people like you and me.

Or you could have done your shopping earlier in the week or perhaps of an evening where less kids would be. Or ordered online. Some of us don’t just like leaving the kids in their own in the house.

Could you not phone in advance and have the whole place emptied so you can shop in peace?

Surely they'd do this for someone as important as you?

I agree. The less people in the store, the better. Few years ago, I was shopping in Asda. Last few bits in basket. A fat bloke barged into me. I fell onto a pensioner lady. My basket rimmed into her tummy. She looked in pain. I felt terrible. Fat bloke didn't even notice!!

@Grammarnut I have a choice of Waitrose, big Tesco, big Sainsburys, an Aldi and an M&S foodhall until 6pm every Sunday. All within a twenty minute drive radius.

Went to Tesco yesterday and there were 2 kids maybe 4 and 6 running absolute riot. Taking stuff off the shelves,screaming, shouting, sitting down in the aisles. Dad was literally chasing them up and down the aisles. He caught my eye when one of them grabbed a glass bottle of something and was about to drop it and said 'and I brought them here to wear them out!'.

Do you tbink 99% of the city care?

Yabu. Nobody needs your approval to be in a shop, and if you don't like it, make alternative arrangements.

There is a massive difference between families shopping together, and families cluttering up A&E en masse.

Just because you find shopping a chore, some families genuinely enjoy the christmas shop, love choosing treats they'll all enjoy. Perhaps rather than 1 adult feeling like its been left to them as a chore, if they go together it feels more like an exciting bit of the christmas run up.
Why is your enjoyment of the experience more important than theirs?

But if there are four of them, and a trolley, all standing round the chocolate biscuits/ trifles/ veg then they are , frankly, taking up more than their fair share of floor space and need to bloody well MOVE.