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Original poster

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

259 replies

Enfys1982 · 05/08/2023 17:12

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?

OP posts:
Backtothe90splease · 05/08/2023 19:12

It's weird that anyone gives a shit how others shop...

They might all be there together for any number of reasons, not just because they are (in the eyes of some people) boring saddos who like causing inconvenience to others.

Lostinplaces · 05/08/2023 19:14

I find it odd that other people find this odd. 😂

WeWereInParis · 05/08/2023 19:17

We often go because we're on the way back from a day out somewhere, so it makes more sense than DH and DDs being dropped at home (DH isn't allowed to drive for medical reasons so it would always be me while he was home).

As long as the children are behaving I'm not sure why it bothers people. And assuming every couple shopping together must involve financial abuse is a bit of a stretch!

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Families
WeWereInParis · 05/08/2023 19:18

SoCentralRain · 05/08/2023 17:27

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?

Because after a day wfh, it's a nice walk to get DDs from nursery.

Clefable · 05/08/2023 19:19

I'm afraid we do this! We enjoy going out together and we often pop into a cafe or something before or get some other stuff done on the way. Both kids like going around the supermarket and looking at stuff too.

Clefable · 05/08/2023 19:20

Oh we also often both take the kids to and from nursery together. We like the walk and it's nice to all walk there/home together.

MagicClawHasNoChildren · 05/08/2023 19:20

@WeWereInParis Again, we do the same. Two children in two different nursery rooms - it's a divide and conquer thing, apart from anything else!

Jk987 · 05/08/2023 19:22

Some people are really picky with what they want and don't want to relinquish control to their other half! That's my theory. I couldn't care less as can just pop to the local if something's needed.

Why not do online shopping or the other half takes kids to playground while the other one grabs the shopping?

tictactoe1234 · 05/08/2023 19:24

It's a family day out for many

Bucketoftwohorns · 05/08/2023 19:24

Couldn’t imagine anything worse than shopping with my DH. I like to get in and out as quickly as possible. If there’s anything he specifically wants it’s added to the shopping list and I get it. DF never shopped with DM, and even as a small child DS hated going to the shops with me. I have no concept of males enjoying shopping and if I’m being truly honest, I find it a bit effeminate.

Whole families shopping together just causes the shops to become unnecessarily overcrowded. And as for using it as a cheap activity, that really isn’t what supermarkets were designed for. Go to a library or museum or a walk or something.

I think the PP who said codependent is correct. People will deny this but codependent people don’t always know they’re codependent.

Clefable · 05/08/2023 19:24

But why? Why is one parent taking both kids somewhere better than all going somewhere together? Confused I find it totally bonkers that people find families going places together odd in some way.

ArcticSkewer · 05/08/2023 19:26

AgathaSpencerGregson · 05/08/2023 19:04

And right on cue …

Show quote history

And which part of that do you think is not true?

Some people do class it as a family activity - otherwise they would do it online, never mind alone

And genuinely some people can't afford expensive days out. There are free meals in supermarket cafes over the summer. It's a cheap day out for some people.

See the posts above about the excitement of visiting Sainsbury's. That's only exciting if the other things in your life are less exciting than a large food supermarket.

ChillysWaterBottle · 05/08/2023 19:26

It's a perfectly normal thing to do. Noticing and caring seems extremely odd to me if I'm honest.

NormalForNuneaton · 05/08/2023 19:27

I remember at the start of Covid, pre-lockdown, being amazed at how many husbands were now accompanying their wives in Tesco.

There were so many more than usual and they stood out like a sore thumb as they looked so uncomfortable and awkward, just hovering around their wives getting in everyones way .

It was as if they'd never been in a supermarket before and didn't understand the etiquette (ie. don't stand in front of busy shelves oblivious to anyone around you who is trying to get to things)

BoatsAndHoes · 05/08/2023 19:28

We all used to go shopping as a family because my mum didn't drive and my dad did, and my mum was the one who bought all the shopping, and we obviously couldn't be left at home alone.

Gymnopedie · 05/08/2023 19:28

DP and I liked spending time together.

He was 6'2" and I'm 5'1". He could reach things I couldn't (and frequently did for other shoppers too) whereas I could see things on lower shelves that he didn't think they had.

I paid while he put the shopping back in the trolley. Was he being financially abused? (Answer - no. It was a joint account.)

Next!

Rathouse · 05/08/2023 19:28

Maybe when you see this sorta thing it's a one off... or maybe it's a regular thing who knows. It's not anything I would be upset about though.

Awittyfool · 05/08/2023 19:29

Backtothe90splease · 05/08/2023 19:12

It's weird that anyone gives a shit how others shop...

They might all be there together for any number of reasons, not just because they are (in the eyes of some people) boring saddos who like causing inconvenience to others.

Calm down. It was only the Op making an observation. Do you not notice anything yourself or you too busy in your own bubble.

It’s not a new thing and I think it’s useful that kids learn about food shopping and see all the things available .Mine always came with me anyway because I was a single parent.

Truemilk · 05/08/2023 19:29

There's so many reasons why they may have all gone together

why are people are so intolerant of other people these days

Lemonademoney · 05/08/2023 19:30

I don’t even think about it unless the kids are blatantly hating every moment and crying the entire way round then I’m like surely one of you can zip them outside?

ArcticSkewer · 05/08/2023 19:30

It's only an even cheaper version of a family day out to a shopping centre. Plenty of people apparently like to do that as a family group as well.

This is the down-market version. You get the thrill of buying stuff, but it's stuff you need to buy anyway. You might get a few freebies (crumpets at morrisons). Kids can't overspend in the cafe as everything is really cheap compared to the food courts. It's indoors so no getting wet.

mummabubs · 05/08/2023 19:32

mathanxiety · 05/08/2023 17:17

This is not a new thing.

When I see it I always wonder if the woman is suffering financial abuse.

Wowsers! That's quite a jump! We do the majority of shopping as a family with two kids (6 and 2). For us it's about spending time together as a family on the weekend as that time is precious, plus if the kids are having a ahem "funky" day it's much easier to have two parents than one. I'd hate to think someone might clock me doing the Saturday shop and assume I'm being abused!!

Wisteria29 · 05/08/2023 19:33

I clicked on this wondering if it was about us. We did a shop today on our way home from something else. I didn’t realise others might find it strange.

WeWereInParis · 05/08/2023 19:33

I have no concept of males enjoying shopping and if I’m being truly honest, I find it a bit effeminate

Is buying food particularly female?
Does anyone really enjoy supermarket shopping?
Does not enjoying it mean that men never have to do it?

lavendersbluedillydilly12 · 05/08/2023 19:34

mathanxiety · 05/08/2023 17:17

This is not a new thing.

When I see it I always wonder if the woman is suffering financial abuse.

That's insane 'financial abuse'???? I often go shopping with my husband and children because it might be on the way home from somewhere or we all fancy a trip out!