..to think it's nigh on impossible to go through IKEA without arguing with one's OH/DH/DP?

[MooncupandPizza]

Gah!!
We haven't even made it through the list-making stage without a bicker! (He buggered up my carefully crafted list instead of making his own...THE BASTARD!)

Do you know you can check on the website the locations of everything in the warehouse bit? Last time we went we skipped the showroom completely. This was our first non-divorce threatening trip ever.

I always go with my mum. Good times had by all that way!

Ikea makes me murderous. The trick is to start off with hotdogs and chips (hunger makes me very grumpy) and then buy your body weight in Marabou chocolate, to eat on the way round. Chocolate has a nice, calming effect.

On the rare occasions I go with DH we don't row. Now trying to put the stuff together with him is a very different matter. I try to do it with eldest sons help, or leave the house so he can do it with eldest son.

I saw a couple literally hitting each other in the car park, with two wavy mirrors beside them.

Ikea was my niece's first word.

Well said OP.

We hardly argue but IKEA brings out John and Mary O'Leary from Father Ted.

Mary "You got a face like a pair a tits!!"
John "Well at least thats a pair between us!!!"

Like that^^

Eggrules - we often say that We mean it with love though

I can feel my blood pressure rise as soon as I walk in the door. I am only calmed by the fact if I get through quickly I can have a hotdog and some little Diam sweeties.

I work 10 mins away and go at lunchtime on a weekday. Check stock on line and can be in and out in 12 mins. Hotdog for lunch. Get lost on Leeds' motorways, arrive back at work late and hassled, but not by Ikea.

I miss Ikea. There is no Ikea where we live. I have a craving or meatballs and chips now.

Oh my God YES YANBU!!!!
Went yesterday, got clipped by someone's trolley who wouldn't back off.

CailinDana IKea need to have separate route mapped out on the floor.

Fast track through the maze with hotdogs and TV waiting rooms
Perambulating/Buy everything track

I don't know why any SAHP with a child over three wouldn't spend at least one day a week in Ikea - you can put your child in the creche and head off to the cafe for a free coffee - what's not to like?

We do not have one in our part of the country. I mean East Angular is fucking huge so why no Ikea?

So we have to squeeze in a trip on the way to the coast to see my parents. Luckily DD is happy with a tiny pencil and reams of lists and DH gets to choose a candle each time.

I have never been! I feel like I am missing out !

Going to Ikea in Cardiff today .
My plan is to say to DH ... Do you want to stop for a cup of tea and a cake ?
Then dump him in the cafe for 2 hours and have a nice tootle round on my own ( the DC are teenagers so will be looking for their own stuff anyway )
We are hopefully moving soon , so I'm scouting round for a BIG dining table .
Will report back later.

This is an accurate summary of our family trips to Ikea. DH shook his head wearily when he read it.

www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/business/ikea-using-gas-that-makes-you-forget-your-last-visit-201006222838/

DoILookLike - we got our dining table from there, tis fab. says is seats 6 and, with insert, seats 8. In fact, it seats 10 comfortably. From the Stornas range. Table and 6 chairs for @ £500 - happy days.

p.s. DH and I always end up bickering as I am one of those who can't get out of the 'bits' section with out spending @ £100!

karmabeliever - that is a very good tip about chocolate.

Dh and I ALWAYS bicker our way round Ikea, usually ending in tears in the scary warehouse aisle at the end and culminating in one of us stropping off only to be found stuffing down hotdogs by the exit.

I blame low blood sugar

YABVVU!!

My partner and I love IKEA. It's like the best shop in the whole world!

We even have a game where we set each-other completely ridiculous limits for furnishing an assigned room (for example, last time he told me I had a limit of £1500 for a toilet...) and then as we go around we pick things we'd have in our rooms. Mostly stuff that would never fit in there, like my chaise longue for the airing cupboard.

Then on the way home we'll have a good giggle as we try and defend our choices. It's hysterical, as he'll always try and pick on me for a specific item and my brilliant logic will slap him down!

DH and I will bicker anywhere.
However went to ikea on Friday night with 17yr old DD1. Was fab, she is the perfect Ikea partner. I'm looking forward to her getting her own flat (not for a good few years though you understand) and furnishing trips to Ikea.

I could never get through a trip to Ikea when I was pregnant without having a long bout of Braxton Hicks - I blame the stress. I really hate having to wait by the exit with a trolley load of unpronouncable tat and the DCs (who have mugged me for ice cream on the way out). It's always freezing and there's this sense of menace because there are only a few car parking spaces and too many people waiting then the stuff won't fit in the car with the DCs and DH and I. And yet we keep going back

YANBU

It's mandatory to argue. I have only been twice. Lost my virginity on an Easter Bank holiday. not good

DH refers to the walking round in set layout thing as "the river of lost souls"

Crystal- that's what we do! Check online the night before for stock too and make a note of warehouse locations!
I find that if we leave loads of time and aren't rushed we don't bickering as much and we are pros at that!!

catgirl1976 'Lost my virginity on an Easter Bank holiday' eh?