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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not understand why some families treat a trip to the supermarket as a - miserable - family outing?

157 replies

IvaNighSpare · 14/02/2011 12:27

How many of you take the whole family with you when you do the weekly shop?
To me, that would be the seventh level of hell.
I don't quite get why everyone has to tag along, DH and kids, when the shopping needs doing. Whenever I hit the supermarket, it's always populated by huddles of family groups - bored hubbies, fidgety kids and irritable mums.
All of whom would obviously much rather be somewhere else.
I definitely prefer to fly solo, leaving DH to look after the DCs while I zip in and zip out, unfettered by sulky requests for sweets and toys and futile attempts to fill my trolley with crap (and that's just DH).
Alternately, DH can mooch down the aisles whilst I mumsnet lookn after the children.
Thoughts please....

OP posts:
Nagoo · 14/02/2011 13:01

I am Hmm at why my mum insists on dragging her 5 year old and dh round asda of a saturday when she's at home during school hours herself.

I do mine on tinternet, i find i buy less crap and save money.

gramercy · 14/02/2011 13:03

Shock at that poster who actually enjoys going round with her dh, 5 dcs and the nan.

I'm afraid that they are why I would rather eat a cauldron of sick than visit the supermarket at a weekend.

psiloveyou · 14/02/2011 13:07

Fuck off gramercy. My dc are very well behaved, don't run around or get in anyones way so stop being so fucking judgemental. My family enjoy being together no matter what we are doing clearly yours don't.

halfcaff · 14/02/2011 13:08

Onetoomanycornettos it's you bruising all the peaches!

halfcaff · 14/02/2011 13:08

(When I am in the south of France Wink

Vallhala · 14/02/2011 13:09

Well lucky you. I had two children within 19 months and no bugger to care for them so I had to take a pair of bored, irritable children with me when I went shopping. What should I have done? Left them at home alone? Hmm

And btw, my children (especially my younger, more difficult DD) might have cried or whinged but they were not allowed to touch the groceries on the shelves, not allowed to run around the supermarket aisles, not allowed to stand or sit in the trolleys and generally not allowed to inconvenience or offend other shoppers, so yes, as has been said, what's it to you OP?

ChippingInAuntyToThomas · 14/02/2011 13:10

My friend does this - she drives so no issue there, she takes DH & their 3&7 year olds and they all traipse around moaning - I can't understand why she doesn't just nip there on her own?! It's certainly not quality time Grin

gramercy · 14/02/2011 13:12

psiloveyou - I hope you don't use that language when you visit the supermarket. (Fans face at thought of woman shrieking swear words at 5 dcs, dh and "nan".)

psiloveyou · 14/02/2011 13:17

Ha ha, no I don't need to. They are not as rude as you Grin

madav · 14/02/2011 13:18

I'm with Vallhala - what if you have no choice?

I never take the kids shopping if I can help it, but during the holidays it's sometimes unavoidable....

dickcheeseandthecrackers · 14/02/2011 13:19

oh gramercy, I agree with you.
It's a chore, not an outing.

Original poster
IvaNighSpare · 14/02/2011 13:19

ChippingIn that's the kind of scenario I'm referring to, sorry to all the single/non-driving/financially dependent parents there, I genuinely feel sorry that you have no other option.
And when the DCs are small enough to contain in the trolley seat, then that's fine by me.

But what's with sharing the misery when there's no need, if DH (or DW) isn't the chauffeur and/or financier, wouldn't they be put to better use entertaining the DCs?

[sits behind wall as another grenade bounces across No Man's land]

OP posts:
Ormirian · 14/02/2011 13:19

I agree. It's hell!

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 14/02/2011 13:23

I agree.

Fair enough if you have no-one to look after your kids, but 2 or more adults plus children seems insane.
We sometimes pop in all 3 of us, but that will generally be to pick up one or two things, we wouldn't attempt the weekly shop all together!

Ordering online is much easier.

Engelbert where are you shopping online that you get slimey spinach and melted ice cream??

ClenchedBottom · 14/02/2011 13:24

But isn't the OP talking about where people have chosen to take another adult along as well as the DC? So (whispers) it's not relevant to everyone jumping on the "Well I had 95.3 children to take there on the horse and cart with no-one else within 3000 miles to help me" line?

That was tongue-in-cheek, honest, but the OP was clearly not getting at people who have no option but to take their DC along - it's a different situation.

Original poster
IvaNighSpare · 14/02/2011 13:26

ClenchedBottom mwah!

OP posts:
TheFoosa · 14/02/2011 13:27

gramercy what's wrong with 'nan' Hmm

chandellina · 14/02/2011 13:27

ordering online is the only sensible option. If DH and I go in together we have massive rows.

Original poster
IvaNighSpare · 14/02/2011 13:28

[realises that the gesture to ClenchedBottom might just literally make her an arse-kisser Blush ]

OP posts:
LeQueen · 14/02/2011 13:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MaryPortasFan · 14/02/2011 13:32

My DH does all the cooking, so he wants to choose the food, but he doesn't drive so I have to go too. Which means DD has to go too. She is only 12 weeks and pretty happy sitting in the trolley looking at the lights. I imagine things might change as she gets older!

I have some relatives (uncle, aunt, two grown-up cousins, one girlfriend, one baby) who do everything together. Now that's weird Smile

psiloveyou · 14/02/2011 13:32

Yes but what if the dc actually enjoy going. Sometimes I'm in a position where I might just need a few bits and will walk there myself. The dc will always want to come with me.
I really don't get what the problem is. As long as they are well behaved and not running around like mad things.

How many of you go as family to Toys R Us and let your dc ride the bikes like maniacs around the store, taking out anyone who can't jump out of the way quick enough.
That's wrong.

cookieraymond · 14/02/2011 13:34

I actually enjoy food shopping with the kids (1 & 2) and will usually end up in the supermarket one morning or afternoon a week to fill the day and keep them entertained learning about fruit and veg etc.

Hubby and I will regularly go to sainsburys on a sat afternoon for a family mooch if the weather is a bit shitty!

But I agree, if you don't enjoy it, don't do it!

SummerRain · 14/02/2011 13:37

We live miles from the supermarkets and tesco trips are often combined with other missions which dp needs to come along for (and obviously whatever kids aren't at school) so we do sometimes end up doing family shopping.

I hate it though... dp makes it all cost so much more and I get distracted and forget stuff. He's also a grumpy arsehole in supermarkets and about as much help as a blind guide dog.

I much prefer whizzing round with just me and ds2 (he's an ace shopping buddy Wink)... it's quicker, cheaper and far less stressful.

NormanTheForeman · 14/02/2011 13:39

I also never take dh shopping, as he hates it and becomes a real grump. Ds is fine though, and quite helpful.