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

Oh you probably hate me. DH and I took DS shopping today but I can't drive at the moment and we were on the way back from taking DS out.
Tbf we did leave our older children at home though. Lots of families also shopping but I don't judge. DS has complex needs and it takes two of us to take him out (and he's not going to be shut up in the house all day).

I've done Marks, Aldi, and Sainsburys in two and a half hours. I'm in, out and that's it. We have three freezers and two fridges. My DH is the main shopper, I pick the posh.
Last year the Marks had three disabled spaces occupied by super cars, (no passes) this year they had secruity guards policing the spots. Well done them. I could park and shop as I do every week at that store.
Both my DC love shopping but they are gtown up and do their own. There were lots of oh-ah shoppers dithering in the marks today but not many children. Tbh it doesn't bother me but then I'm paricially deaf so I don't hear them! 😄

We try to do as much grocery shopping as possible online, not because we don't like people, so much as the activity itself. The only food items I enjoy shopping for are cheese and other deli items and nice bread. Otherwise no. My late FiL agreed; park him in a DIY outlet and he was in his element, but he didn't like supermarkets.

That said, there is a group of people who make shopping more of a chore than it needs to be - grown-ups. Specifically, the sort who think busy aisles are an appropriate place for a chat with friends/family/anyone else. Eight year olds hyped up on festive excitement and too much sugar might be a handful, but they tend not to block the biscuits for cheese aisle with gossip about their neighbour's cousin's dog etc. And in fairness to eight year olds, they can't really be left on their own for longer than it takes to nip to the local offy, so what are parents to do?

You're going tonight? It's Sunday.

So you object to teenagers?

I'm unclear what your issue is. The huge majority of children who are there, are because they can't be left at home?

Ugh so miserable. Iits Christmas

I am normally tucked up by 10pm to be fair!

I do think our mini Asda opens later than our big Asda come to think of it. Thankfully I am all done now. Though I have forgotten cranberry sauce!! I do have dc who can brave the local morrisons for me at some point though.

Drives me mental, I prefer to go myself which I usually do but DH insisted on coming today so he could choose snacks and things he wanted.

@K0OLA1D they don’t all - the 24 hour ones are mainly in the rougher areas as all the naice people are tucked up in bed by 10pm!

The OP is spending money.

The child is not spending money, they are just there as an appendage to the customer.

Would have thought that was obvious but clearly not.

I can’t get my head around this! Can that not be a conversation had at home- what do you fancy eating, oh I’ll have a look on the website. Shopping with kids is not something I’d do by choice.., although I often have to take them as my DH works opposite hours to me..

plus! It’s even slower for others if you’re hanging about mulling over what to buy and “deciding together” 🤣

Exactly this.

I get far more pissed off with idiot adults gawping at shelves as if they've never seen a sprout before. And always M&S is full of slow walkers of my mother's age, who have to shop in a pair. Stop in front of fucking everything and contemplate "Do we need this?..."

They're the ones who treat it like a day out.

Here's a novel idea. Make a list. Get out the bloody way!

No I believed you. I just didn't realise Asda in Scotland really is 24 hours!

You’ve hit the nail on the head …children are the least of the problems in a supermarket this time of year!! And there’s a particular type of customer in M&S who’s oblivious to everyone else in the shop; I say oblivious, I mean rude and self centred. Give me children in there any day!!

I don’t normally shop at Asda but Tesco closes at 10pm tonight and I won’t have the car in time.

I'm going at 7am tomorrow (and leaving the kids at home!!)

I go at 4am to avoid exactly this 😂 Asda in December is hell!

I take my 3yo to the supermarket most days, nursery is closed, no family centre activities. It's something to do, also like to go to supermarket cafe. DH comes aswel on weekend.

What an utterly bizarre post.

The UK really is so un child friendly it's laughable.

Do you have kids @loveawineloveacrisp OP?

You honestly think most of these children were there because we love dragging them round a packed supermarket immediately before Christmas with blocked aisles, huge queues and stressy tutty people?

I'll be taking DTwins (4) to the local garden centre tomorrow, and I'm already dreading it. And that's nowhere near as busy as the supermarket will be. If I had any option for them not to come, believe me...

90%+ are there because they have to be.

I agree. SIL wanted me to go do the Xmas food shop today with her, her DH and FIL whilst my DH minded the kids. I politely declined!

As usual Dh and I are going at the crack of dawn tomorrow for when M&S opens at 7, for the turkey and a few bits. I could go alone, but it’s nice to have a porter for heavy stuff. It’ll be bedlam, of course, but even more bedlam-ish later.

What I can't be doing with is the middle-aged blokes, standing staring blankly at a shelf of groceries as if they've never seen one before. They're oblivious to all the people trying to get round them, as if they were actually a different species.