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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

226 replies

LadyMilfordHaven · 22/08/2013 15:58

( 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?

OP posts:
SirChenjin · 23/08/2013 11:57

Agree MrsMook - it's not about the occasional shopping trip out of necessity with a bribe lunch thrown in, it's about trailing round a shopping mall every weekend with kids in tow and believing it to be a 'leisure activity' Hmm.

MrsDavidBowie · 23/08/2013 12:05

I don't think we have ever gone shopping anywhere en famille.
Couldn't think of anything worse.

I take dc who are teens out separately (always includes a nice coffee or lunch).
Dh and I only appear in shops together if it is a big purchase eg furniture or white goods.

Mind you I never go shopping with friends either...prefer my own company.

TheWickedBitchOfTheBest · 23/08/2013 12:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ExcuseTypos · 23/08/2013 12:11

It might the one time a year the whole family of shopping for all you know.

It really doesn't matter though does it.

OP you're first few posts sound rather rude and goady IMO.

samandi · 23/08/2013 12:16

How do you know they are the same families in all the time?

cory · 23/08/2013 12:17

Would we judge in the same way if it was an Indian or Italian family taking their children around the market and letting them be part of the food shopping?

My own feeling is that British families involve their children relatively little in everyday household activities like DIY or cooking compared to other cultures I know, shopping being one of the few jobs they do do together.

Travelledtheworld · 23/08/2013 12:18

Sometimes people just need to get out of the house for half a day and don't have the confidence, knowledge or finances to make long trips to the seaside, National Trust properties, theme parks, go for walks in the countryside etc.

So they just Go to Town where they know where the shops ,cafes and toilets are !

Personally I dash to the nearest town centre ON MY OWN as soon as the kids have gone to school, shop like a maniac before lunchtime and GET THE HELL OUT again.

When my kids were real little I would take them to the big regional shopping centre in Bristol where they had a crèche and I could leave them for an hour to shop quickly and in peace.

TheWickedBitchOfTheBest · 23/08/2013 12:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

alemci · 23/08/2013 12:33

when mine were younger i used to sometimes go to my mum's at the weekend and we would go up the high street and maybe to the park on the way or feed the ducks. The kids used to like going in the toy shop and it gave them some exercise.

i didn't go very often to the shopping centre with them unless they needed to be with me for say shoes etc. my DH hated shopping so i would go on my own.

it is something to do and i must admit whilst in the USA we went to the shopping mall when it got too hot on the beach

WallaceWindsock · 23/08/2013 12:38

I'm Shock at this thread! We all do the food shop together because DP likes to go and find ingredients for the dinner he cooks for us every sat night. We do lidl though so online isn't an option.

We often go into town as a family. We have lunch out, do a charity shop crawl and go to the auction. I see no issue with this. DC have a lovely time and so do we. This doesn't mean that we don't spend every Sunday at zoos, parks, museums etc. There is a lack of imagination I think, if you are unable to understand how a trip into town could be a leisure activity.

teenagetantrums · 23/08/2013 12:41

Well I live in London so we don't have 'town' as such and my kids were always with me when I went shopping, joys of being a single mum I suppose, on the plus side they were always quite big kids so strong enough to carry shopping from a young age. Now they are teenagers I still take them if I need to do a big shop as im another annoying non driver. Why should I pay for my shopping to be delivered when I live 10mins walk from the supermarket.

WallaceWindsock · 23/08/2013 12:42

But then maybe I'm just odd. When food shopping DP and I treat it like a challenge games how where he jogs round with the trolley which DCs find hilarious and I race along the aisles lobbing things in. We have a spreadsheet of our record times and everything. Grin

alemci · 23/08/2013 13:00

i'd definitely rather food shop on my own. DH came last weekend and it was ok. when they were younger had to take dc and it was wearing. glad i don't have to anymore.

ChocsAwayInMyGob · 23/08/2013 13:05

Sometimes people just need to get out of the house for half a day and don't have the confidence, knowledge or finances to make long trips to the seaside, National Trust properties, theme parks, go for walks in the countryside etc

Is it me or does this sound a bit patronising?

itsonlysubterfuge · 23/08/2013 13:08

I use to LOVE food shopping as a child and I still do. I hated clothes shopping and still do.

HandMini · 23/08/2013 13:10

All these families, shopping together in their local town centres and using amenities like buses. Absolutely disgusting.

Wink
Lollydaydream · 23/08/2013 13:25

Wallace that has immensely cheered me up after reading such a smug, depressing thread.

I like my family and enjoy spending time doing mundane stuff with them. My dd1 has learnt this summer that the Romans had tiled floors and that red labels in supermarkets mean something is on offer. A balanced education. dd2 has been dragged hither and yon in everyone's wake, it's all part of life.

Thurlow · 23/08/2013 13:35

Hand Grin Absolutely shocked that some families like to spend time together. Or don't have the money to drive or get the bus/train to a suitably middle-class 'experience'.

FinallySaidMama · 23/08/2013 13:59

I love it Grin another reason why I'm not middle class enough - I enjoy shopping! Don't have the confidence or knowledge to do something worthy like National trust? Nah, it's just fucking boring.

Original poster
LadyMilfordHaven · 23/08/2013 14:02

national trust? Yawnsome

cant the kids just go out on their bikes? Go to a park? Go swimming? rahter than dragging around holding onto a buggy as their mothers and fathers get cross with them

OP posts:
Original poster
LadyMilfordHaven · 23/08/2013 14:03

londoners have towns.. the local shopping area.

OP posts:
ILetHimKeep20Quid · 23/08/2013 14:07

But children have to tag along sometimes. Grown ups have things to do.

ShatnersBassoon · 23/08/2013 14:08

I had to take mine into town for school shoes last week.There was whining, they trailed behind me as if they were wearing lead boots and embarrassed me by fighting on the escalators. I'm sure someone must have looked at us and wondered why we'd decided to spend our time that way - the truth is we'd all rather have been anywhere else.

Thurlow · 23/08/2013 14:31

Well, there's the fact that most kids are awake for about 14 hours in a day. So there's time to go for a bike ride. And go to the park. And go swimming. And go to town. All in one day!

teenagetantrums · 23/08/2013 14:32

ladymilford my local shopping area is outside my front door, wouldn't call it a town as such just the road I live on.