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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:
lavendersbluedillydilly12 · 05/08/2023 19:35

Solaire · 05/08/2023 17:24

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

This!

AgathaSpencerGregson · 05/08/2023 19:35

ArcticSkewer · 05/08/2023 19:26

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.

Show quote history

A slightly less sneery way of looking at this might be to recognise that people who can enjoy the small stuff probably, overall, have happier lives than those who have to live with rods up their butts.
just a thought.

SoggyDoggyWalks · 05/08/2023 19:36

I live several miles from my nearest supermarket (and two miles from the nearest corner shop) so often go shopping after an activity or day out with DD. Also nice for her to help choose treats and good for her to see how making a meal plan and shopping list help me stick to a budget and be able to afford the treats too. If kids are not involved in chores like these they don’t learn life skills for themselves and tend to take it for granted that someone else will make all the effort.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Families
Truemilk · 05/08/2023 19:36

AgathaSpencerGregson · 05/08/2023 19:35

A slightly less sneery way of looking at this might be to recognise that people who can enjoy the small stuff probably, overall, have happier lives than those who have to live with rods up their butts.
just a thought.

Show quote history

👏👏👏

ShadowPuppets · 05/08/2023 19:37

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.

Today we took the kids to B&Q to pick out DD’s new room colour, then did a top up shop at Tesco. We did however take them to the library in the afternoon after naps. Honestly, filling time with a 1yo and a 2yo is hard when it’s raining! Is that ok with you?

Backtothe90splease · 05/08/2023 19:40

*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.*

Huh? I'm perfectly calm Confused I'm just saying I wouldn't judge or care about a family shopping together. Why would you 🤷‍♀️

FreeRider · 05/08/2023 19:40

My mother wouldn't go food shopping without my father as she didn't want to have wrangle myself and my two brothers on her own in a supermarket. This was back in the mid 70s.

Even when we were teenagers we would be expected to go with her, to help her carry the shopping back (no home delivery back then!).

CrushingOnRubies · 05/08/2023 19:41

My pet hate of this time year living in a holiday destination. especially in bad weather is the family holiday day out trip to the supermarket.

It's wet, you just want to get in and out, yet all these people are wondering around aimlessly not really knowing where anything is

mondaytosunday · 05/08/2023 19:41

Agree! Is it considered a fun day out or what? I only go to the shops if I'm desperate- certainly hated going when the kids were young (pre-deliveries) and the only time i went with my husband was to do a Christmas shop once and we didn't have kids then!

ArcticSkewer · 05/08/2023 19:42

AgathaSpencerGregson · 05/08/2023 19:35

A slightly less sneery way of looking at this might be to recognise that people who can enjoy the small stuff probably, overall, have happier lives than those who have to live with rods up their butts.
just a thought.

Show quote history

Yeah, at least they are having fun bless them

Daphnis156 · 05/08/2023 19:43

It's by no means a new thing, but in general it tends to be done by the lower classes. I've seen four generations shopping together, at a well known supermarket, the great grandmother only in her sixties.

Porridgeislife · 05/08/2023 19:46

I don’t find it especially strange. What I do find strange is why the local supermarkets are rammed with people well beyond retirement age at 11am on Sundays. If I had all week to shop at my leisure, I definitely wouldn’t be choosing the busiest day with the least stock on the shelves.

WeWereInParis · 05/08/2023 19:48

We only do it as a family if we're on the way back from somewhere else, but actually I do think there is a benefit to there children from being there anyway. Having some input into meals perhaps, understanding that food has to be chosen, paid for, and prepared, and doesn't just appear on their plates. I took DD to the shop today, she chose the vegetables to have with dinner.

Obviously you can't let them decide everything, but I think involving them in meals is important.

WeWereInParis · 05/08/2023 19:48

*to the children

EbiRaisukaree · 05/08/2023 19:48

Daphnis156 · 05/08/2023 19:43

It's by no means a new thing, but in general it tends to be done by the lower classes. I've seen four generations shopping together, at a well known supermarket, the great grandmother only in her sixties.

Fuck me.

BigMamaFratelli · 05/08/2023 19:50

I always just assumed they were like my parents who never have any idea what day it is because now they don't even need to watch live tv anymore there's no real reason for them to know

MysteryBelle · 05/08/2023 19:51

Families often bundle errands, or do the shopping on the way home from doing something together. It’s not weird at all.

I think it’s interesting that some think they’re entitled to decide who can or can’t go shopping, now that’s weird. You’re not the boss of deciding that only one person can represent each household in a grocery store. So that you have the aisles to yourself, that’s what it boils down to.

fullbloom87 · 05/08/2023 19:51

Because when you have young children and both parents want to make food choices it can sometimes make sense to go together.

GalileoHumpkins · 05/08/2023 19:51

Daphnis156 · 05/08/2023 19:43

It's by no means a new thing, but in general it tends to be done by the lower classes. I've seen four generations shopping together, at a well known supermarket, the great grandmother only in her sixties.

Did you actually ask them their age and how they were related to each other, how did you determine they were low class?

FussyPud · 05/08/2023 19:52

I take my children to the shops with me because they can’t be left alone, despite being older than you’d expect. I also like to make sure that if they ever do manage to live independently, they’ll know how to shop well and responsibly. They’re both good at following a list, so one fetches and the other scans.

My bugbear in supermarkets is ill-behaved people, whatever their age.

MysteryBelle · 05/08/2023 19:54

Daphnis156 · 05/08/2023 19:43

It's by no means a new thing, but in general it tends to be done by the lower classes. I've seen four generations shopping together, at a well known supermarket, the great grandmother only in her sixties.

Lower classes?

Wow.

coodawoodashooda · 05/08/2023 19:54

Dustycloth · 05/08/2023 17:23

Omg 😆

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Why is that funny? That's exactly how it starts. If you'd seen me and looked in my trolley you'd have noticed that the clothed I was getting was the next size up for my children. So I'd be organised when I was finally able to leave him.

MysteryBelle · 05/08/2023 19:55

BigMamaFratelli · 05/08/2023 19:50

I always just assumed they were like my parents who never have any idea what day it is because now they don't even need to watch live tv anymore there's no real reason for them to know

What does this even mean?

Gymnopedie · 05/08/2023 19:56

EbiRaisukaree · 05/08/2023 19:48

Fuck me.

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I was going to say how snobbish can can you get, but @EbiRaisukaree said it better.

GreenWheat · 05/08/2023 19:56

CrushingOnRubies · 05/08/2023 19:41

My pet hate of this time year living in a holiday destination. especially in bad weather is the family holiday day out trip to the supermarket.

It's wet, you just want to get in and out, yet all these people are wondering around aimlessly not really knowing where anything is

Perhaps you could suggest the supermarket have better signage? If you live in a tourist destination and visitors can't find things, then that shop needs to do a better job, for both visitors are locals.