wondering what all these families do in town centres all the time?

[LadyMilfordHaven]

( well not ALL the time but more often than not)

yup - occasionally you all need to go in for something or you are on your way back from somewhere/on holiday mooching.

but IME the best shopping ( for say school stuff) is one parent BOLTS in ninja style and is in and out.

TOday there are endless family groups with tired hot whingey kids ( understandably).... is this fun?

[MrsKoala]

Supermarket shopping - DH takes me because i can't drive, not sure why that is (sigh) inducing.

Shopping centre - we go together because we have a few bits to pick up here and there and then we go for lunch. In Milton Keynes shopping is the ultimate past time.

[mumandboys123]

well said kinkyfuckery.....oh to have a perfect life and perfect children, eh?!

[Dancergirl]

I'm actually amazed that so many people still insist on doing a big supermarket shop when there are so many good online options. Even if you like to choose fresh produce yourself, is it not easier to order groceries/bottles/household items etc online and have them delivered?

[MrsKoala]

I also really don't get the women who drag bored men along clothes shopping. They just hang about in shops, getting in the way of everyone else, knowing that all they can say is, that looks lovely darling.

You've clearly never met my DH! He often tells me things look shit. Usually things i love

[BitchyRestingFace]

We often all go into town. It's a day out and we do enjoy it. Mind you, I don't drag the kids round loads of shops just looking, we go in a few shops for the things we need and then dp takes them to the park while I go for a coffee on my own.

As for supermarkets, we quite often do this, too. Why?

• neither of us drive so we have to walk
  
• two adults can carry far more groceries home than one
  
• he can carry the heavy shit like washing powder
  
• the kids get some exercise and it's a fairly pleasant walk
  
• the kids are no trouble at all in supermarkets and never have been; often buy them a mini bag of fruit or a £1 toy car

[Capitola]

I did the school outfitters yesterday, Ninja style.

I'm telling you I was in and out in 15 minutes and £210 lighter.

I was barking, 'try it on, take it off...' Kids didn't know what hit them.

[LEMisdisappointed]

So, im a freak because i can't drive then?

[LEMisdisappointed]

What is the actual point of this thread?

[LimitedEditionLady]

What is weird about doing the food shop with more than one person?We pick our meals together.My ds likes to go to the supermarket,pick out his fruit and veg choose a treat,help mummy and daddy....he understands that we go and buy food and it doesnt appear in the cupboard,he understands what money is for and yes it is good to do chores with us.We are a family,we do things together.Just because we visit the bloody shops it doesnt mean we do nothing else with him,he goes to two parks every day its not rainibg,he goes swimming and so much more.what is the poibt of this thread?you sound like a snobby self righteous fool.What is it to you what other people do?

[mercibucket]

some of you really dont get 'town'

its all about the cafes, the bookshops, the street entertainment, the skatepark, greggs, primark.

my kids love it - whats not to like?

[greensnail]

My dds ask to go into town all the time. The other day I asked shall we go to the park, the zoo or the beach today and dd1 asked to go to the shops instead. Their favourite is a children's charity shop, but they're quite happy in any shop creating long lists of everything they'd like for Christmas. They enjoy seeing whatever buskers are in town and we generally get a coffee and go to the library too. Today they dragged me round an out of town shopping centre, they got to have their faces painted, do some colouring in and look and various pets, then we had a coffee and I bought a few bits in home bargains.

I try to avoid taking them to the supermarket though, I prefer to do that by myself if possible.

[mumandboys123]

so those of us who have no choice but to shop with our children or who enjoy shopping with our children should do it differently to keep you happy?

[CorrineFoxworth]

Norwich is particularly crowded these days.

[RobinSparkles]

Thinking about it, we go shopping a lot as a family. It never struck me as "odd".

I can go clothes shopping on my own anytime, if I want to, but I hate shopping on my own. I like to get DH's opinion as he's always honest. Even if I go with a friend, most of them would tell me I looked lovely even if I looked like a sack of spuds!

[RandallPinkFloyd]

Does no one just enjoy doing things together?

I married XDH because I enjoyed spending time with him. The boring everyday stuff seemed less tedious if we did it together. Going shopping is one of the times I miss him the most. Wandering round the supermarket on my own buying things in one-person portions is fucking depressing.

DS goes everywhere with me. I don't have a choice in that but tbh I'm not sure I'd change it even if I could. Why trudge round in silence when I can talk nonsense with a 2yo instead?

I don't know, MN is like a bizarre parallel universe sometimes. Full of people who dislike their family and friends.

[Goldenbear]

MrsKoala, yes my DP doesn't hold back with his opinions on some oft choices either. Mind you he's never said something 'Looks shit'. More, 'it's a bit twee darling', 'I don't like this shop at all darling', 'it ages you darling', 'with that dress you look like a Librarian darling', 'it's a bit drab, just need the 'Mum haircut' to go with that outfit' etc.

[SirChenjin]

Town with museums, bookshops, parks, cafes etc is one thing. Town which consists of shopping malls and nothing else - brain numbing tedium. I see entire families round here wandering round inside on lovely days when they could be out for bike rides, going for long country walks or whatever and I just think why? Why drag small children round TKMaxx on a beautiful day? I'm in and out, when it's 100% necessary only, and back home to do interesting stuff.

[RandallPinkFloyd]

Terribly sorry for being twee

[Goldenbear]

On a whole I like the countryside, seaside more. We live in a flat so I have to get out with them and this to me means the 'proper' outdoors but occasionally we don't go to the shops as my eldest likes 'Lego' and I will get him the three figures to make for yourself from the Lego shop. We also visit the library and the park near the shops and my youngest who is 2 is excited by the escalator. If we are making a day of it we will get the train for the experience.

[Goldenbear]

Do not 'don't go'

[SirChenjin]

Totally agree TheWickedBitchOfTheBest

We once took part in a long term study of family life in Scotland that the local University here was running. One of the things they looked at was how families spend their leisure time, and an option on the questionnaire was 'shopping'. I thought she was joking - some families actually think of 'shopping' as a leisure activity?