What’s the deal with whole families going shopping together?

[Enfys1982]

Is it just me who find this really odd and slightly codependent? My mum hated us coming shopping with her as I think she partly enjoyed the peace quiet and we’d get under her feet. As would my Dad! Even now she won’t take him shopping with her. Yesterday in Sainsburys I was struck by how many families there were doing their shopping together. Both parents and kids. I saw one family with a mum dad and three kids plus a baby in a buggy, and another with parents kids and even grandparents. A few weeks ago I was in Primark and there was a family of four shopping together, mum wanted to buy something and instead of the dad and kids waiting they all went through the tills together. I mean surely they didn’t all need to do that?

Is this a new thing?

The idea it is 'codependent' is mental.

I find it weird that people find it weird or think there must be a nefarious reason behind it

We ve just gone shopping as a 4.

We re on holiday. We needed to buy food but were unsure what would be available in the small local supermarket.

We could have left DC at the holiday home but I needed them to help carry the shopping back (15 minute walk).

I find it odd that people notice this, I grab my trolley and work my way around, I couldn't tell you who's with who.

But it just adds to the queue that customers hate to see...

I agree. I can't see the issue. There may be lots of reasons why the whole family is shopping together
. And it's good to take children shopping they can help find ingredients learn about costs etc. I think it's important for children to experience normal day to day things like shopping.
My GD loves the self service zapper and is much quicker and more efficient using it than my husband!

I don't see anything wrong with it. For babies, it's an activity that can engage their interest, and for older children it's an opportunity to take part in family life - choosing products together, bringing things to the trolley, and being polite and friendly with shop assistants.

It baffles me, as does the school run when both parents take the DC to school. Surely if one of you is off work it only takes one of you to take the kids to school while the other one stays at home and enjoys the silence does other things?

I like my family? Sometimes shopping is more enjoyable with them there. Sorry that isn’t the case for you?

YABU. Before covid no one even batted an eyelid and since covid about every three months on MN we get this same thread. But you only want people to agree with you and plenty will.

And? Is anyone supposed to give a shit?

I have to admit I sometimes do wonder this with the school run just because I absolutely hate it and if I had the opportunity I would stay at home 😬

We're only a short 5 minute walk from primary school. Sometimes we both walk DC in - it's good to get a few minutes of air in before I start work and nice to have a short stroll together on the way back. Maybe you're talking about a longer drive to the school though?

We go shopping together. No kids, just the two of us. Why not? We both want to buy what we want, what we fancy, and it’s social. It’s part of the Saturday morning routine. We enjoy each others company.

@AlanBrazil well I’d imagine the staff trying to do their jobs give a shit. So do other customers.

My kids were actually excited to be taken to the supermarket the other day. They all planned a dinner and chose the veg/ sides/ pudding.

Cost a fortune though. Generally I shop online/ dive into Aldi after work so they never go. I do wonder how people expect children to learn to behave in public if they aren’t taken to supermarkets/ shops/ cafes.

People only notice if the children are little shits.

We cant drive so we often get our food shop delivered, however on the occasion we go to the shops or supermarket we combine it with another journey to somewhere as rural public transport is shocking and we live miles away from anything. Meaning a simple trip out to the shops can take a whole morning/afternoon etc so we often combine it with going to a park etc as a day out to a town as buses are few and far between.

we usually spend most of the weekend out, so shopping is the last thing on the list on sunday and we do it after doing whatever we were out for before we go home.

Some families do not know how to entertain their kids anymore, may be , so they just go for a drive and do a shopping in between

I (m) do the shopping. I prefer to go just me. It's not in any way enjoyable, so no point in dragging everyone else along. Every so often I say to myself that I must sort a home delivery account as it's the same monotony twice a week!

Bizarre to me that people would routinely go with the whole family. Glad I wasn't dragged along as a child, bye mum, see you in an hour! My own DC lost interest in coming along with me at age 5 as it is BORING AF afterall. At the same time though wgaf, each to their own and all, their short lives to use in whatever way they please!

A family of 4 or whatever, ie parents and kids, I don’t mind but today when doing back to school shopping there was a family of (what looked like) 2 grandparents, 2 parents and one other adult, 3 kids on foot and grandpa pishing a pram in Shcuh

to me that was excessive in such a small shop

Maybe partaking in family life, understanding ingredients that go into meals, how money works etc is entertaining kids.

I think its seen as an activity that results in 'goodies' to show for it tbh. I'm not talking about just immediate family BTW, it's generations and extended in my experience

I agree - especially when they have toddlers with them who are playing up. Of course a single parent has no choice but surely if you're able to then one parent takes kids to park instead?

It's annoying as it blocks the aisles and slows everyone down.

Don't get me started on men hanging around the under wear section in M&S.