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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:
MadIsTheNewNormal · 02/01/2014 04:58

I agree. I know some people can't get childcare but surely if you are a couple, one of you goes to the supermarket and the other one stays home with the DCs.

MadIsTheNewNormal · 02/01/2014 04:59

Doh. Zombie thread. Why do people do this about something so dull? What on earth were they searching for when they decided this needed to be given another airing? Confused

sashh · 02/01/2014 08:24

OP

Please can you get a time machine and go back in time to my childhood.

Saturday mornings spent hanging round the house and not being allowed out because we were going shopping and then a 2hour trip tot he supermarket because it was so busy and no we couldn't sit in the cafe or go look at toys.

Then home again, in winter just after dark, so too late to 'play out'.

Now my mum didn't drive so I could understand it being the only day available if my dad had worked a 9 - 5, he was self employed and worked mostly in the evenings.

They still shop on a Saturday afternoon.

MammaTJ · 02/01/2014 08:31

williaminajetfighter, what made you ressurect this thread?

Lillilly · 02/01/2014 08:39

Wowsers, we all go together, we have quite good fun, it's good for kids to see the cost of food, be part of the mundane parts of running the house, help choose things. Mine notice prices going up/ down, get inspired to help make dinners, remind us if things we have run out of, help pack. Yes it's a family activity, never thought of going alone, that would make it a chore.

Lillilly · 02/01/2014 08:41

Oops though didn't realise it was an old one..!

ohcluttergotme · 02/01/2014 08:43

Completely agree with you OP and this thought crosses my mind many times when I go shopping especially if there is mum and dad there and whingy, crying toddlers!
We tend to do a list at home and then dh goes to supermarket, I stay home with dc and put shopping away when he comes back.
If I have to go because dh is working then I put ds in crèche at supermarket.

ohcluttergotme · 02/01/2014 08:44

Creche

TheBrotherHoodOfSteel · 02/01/2014 08:50

We go as family during the holidays because we want to be together as a family and it's the one time they get to choose their treats. My kids are well behaved and my husband cooks and meal plans. I'm just the driver Wink

JohnnyBarthes · 02/01/2014 08:58

Looks like one poster has had all their posts deleted - I think that resurrects old threads they were on.

Anyway, YANBU OP. It's bonkers.

bemusedisnottheword · 02/01/2014 09:29

lucky you op having a dp that you can leave the kids with Hmm . I have no one at the moment who could look after them so I can do my shopping.

tell you what I'll leave my dc home alone next time next time so I can avoid judgemental twats like you shall I?

Knackeredmum13 · 02/01/2014 09:41

We go together for lots of reasons. My baby starts screaming half way round if I'm on my own so its easier if DH is there to entertain him. I don't want grocery shopping to be seen as something I'm solely responsible for either.

DH does go on his own sometimes but comes back with far too much that isn't needed.

Changebagsandtinselrags · 02/01/2014 09:49

We take both kids. It's important for them to do the dull boring stuff in life. Plus, they get to learn how some products are more expensive and select fruit and vegetables themselves.

Plus, they get to choose a cake at the cake counter.

SaucyJack · 02/01/2014 09:59

I have no idea why you wouldn't take children to the supermarket. They are not a separate species- tho they are likely to develop into the genus spoiltus braticus if badly brought up to assume the entire world revolves around them.

I couldn't care less if mine get bored by having to stand still for the four minutes it takes to pay for and pack their dinner.

JohnnyBarthes · 02/01/2014 10:29

bemused, OP was quite clear (when she posted 3 years ago) that it was people going with both parents, where the kids were evidently peed off, that is baffling. Not everyone is in a position to go shopping solo - anyone can understand that.

I used to take ds (still do). It was easy and enjoyable sometimes. I just don't understand it when you see two adults and miserable, badly behaved children when there really is no need.

JohnnyBarthes · 02/01/2014 10:32

Thing is Saucy, when you've got children pissing off their parents and ramming other shoppers with trolleys, they look to me like spoilt brats. Nothing has been learnt other than the world has to put up with crappy behaviour.

Philoslothy · 02/01/2014 10:32

But if they get used to going to the supermarket they are less likely to misbehave.

We don't shop online so that we don't have to take the children, we do it because we want to save time.

Philoslothy · 02/01/2014 10:32

I don't see that many badly behaved children in supermarkets to be honest, is it really a problem?

Nerfmother · 02/01/2014 10:35

The problem with families shopping together is that it's then 4 people,say, rather than one that I have to navigate round at the shelves, squeeze past at the aisles etc.
it just clutters the place up.

DownstairsMixUp · 02/01/2014 10:37

Can see this is an old post but I agree with the op anyway, I online shop. I've learned my lesson about saturdays. I once run into a big tesco to pick up some marmite, milk and sugar and it was heaving full of families! :S I hated shopping when I was a kid, used to think it was great when my Dad went on his own and left me with my Nan!

Misspixietrix · 02/01/2014 10:48

I wish I could leave the DCs at Home whilst I did the supermarket shop. Unfortunately I'm a single Parent and Social Services would frown on that Grin. I want totry Ocado at some point now they deliver around my area.

Misspixietrix · 02/01/2014 10:51

Although I do see the point about both parents going shopping. Similar at school. There's three couples at DCs schools that have to do the school run together. I really don't get it.

Misspixietrix · 02/01/2014 10:54

ohclutter where is this supermarket? None of mine have a creche. .

FudgefaceMcZ · 02/01/2014 10:58

Hang on, I'll just phone my ex and ask if he'll drive a hundred miles to take the kids every time I need to go to Tesco.

Why the fuck do people keep on posting this kind of nonsense about how women shouldn't be taking kids to shops/anywhere out of the house? Do you really not realise that most people don't have that much available childcare and at least 10% of families are single parents so don't have the luxury of a spare adult. Get a grip.

Madambossyboots · 02/01/2014 11:01

I do not like shopping with dc. I think of it as a modern day hunter gathering need and sometimes it's unavoidable. Nothing to get worked up about. YABU .