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?

I never go into town with my DP, he gets on my nerves looking all bored.

Sparklingbrook Thu 22-Aug-13 16:14:54

I never understand why the whole family goes food shopping-that is weird.
__

Ah sorry. I could send the children on their own, but tbh I think I might get referred to social services if I didn't go with them.

I would use the option of leaving them at home with their other parent if that option was, you know, an option!

There's currently a beach in our town centre. Next to the fountains we have in a nice grassed area around the peace gardens. When warm many children are seen playing in the fountains and the grass is used for picnics. The winter gardens full of plants and seating and a cafe is lovely. Theres a smallish museum In here too. The bit near the theatres is nice to sit for a drink and children run around the places area. The big library is here too. Down the road is the big green. Has grass and chairs - the bar, which serves good food too, even has deck chairs on the grass.

We used to live in the city centre so we are very much used to using the centre for mooching and wandering.

We now live right in the edge of town next to the peaks. 5 min walk and we are in fields and open views. We are a mile or two from Stanage Edge. We can walk to Hathersage. The first load of hills contain old practise trenches and the woods has the ruins of the prisoner of war camp. And yes, sometimes we walk and mooch this area too.

Just like a bit of variety for our weekend mooching.

Sounds lovely Hulababy and I agree variety for weekend mooching is good. Your town sounds like Sheffield, a place I always like to visit. Love watching the wedding parties in the peace gardens. The trams are brilliant too.

I take all my three food (supermarket) shopping, generally because I have to, but they love it anyway.

DS1 and DS2 sit in the trolley seats (one baby one toddler), DD clings to the side and we call it the supermarket trolley express: Ding Ding All Aboard! And off we go. They help put stuff in the trolley, tell me what veg they want, choose a treat - and I have been known to sprint along to gain maximum speed then skate along the aisle on shiny soled shoes, clinging onto the trolley. It is SO much fun!

I am nearly 40

Rooners I was referring to two parents and the children, sorry didn't mean to be unfair to single parents. I meant if there were 2 adults and the children in the supermarket it would be better to leave one adult and the children at home.

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

You are generalising massively and sounding massively snobby. I can get cross with my kids anywhere, town or swimming. Sometimes we have to go to into town and sometime we go in to browse the shops and have lunch out as a family.

Since I am not expecting you to pay, it's actually none of your business.

People have been shopping and going to markets to years. It's also a community thing, not just a Mum trying on tops whilst her kids die of boredom FGS.

Has it occurred to anyone else that the more people you take shopping, the more room to hide the shoplifting?! No, just my area then....

No I agree with you Spark I'd certainly do that if I could.

Sometimes I think I just get a little pang at threads like this - where anyonewithout two grown ups in their family can't really join in, I dunno - but anyway. It's how it is!

I have no one to look after my kids so have to take them shopping as a group.

'I meant if there were 2 adults and the children in the supermarket it would be better to leave one adult and the children at home.'

If one of them can't drive then they all have to go.

When 3 DCs all need new shoes its easier to all go and split up, little ones at Clarks, older one goes with other parent to cool shoe shop!

Now I'm a single parent I don't have that luxury and sometimes have to - shock horror - take all my kids to the shops with me as I have nobody to look after them. I didn't realise I was being judged for it either way.

Next time I will take a template of the DCs' feet along with a list of acceptable styles for each of them and ask the Clarks assistants if they can pop over to my house later to watch the DCs walking up and down in their new shoes to check that they fit.

Can't the none driver stay at home with the children?

YANBU to wonder ... I will tell you what these families do: arrive, browse, insist to DH that we absolutely DO need another plastic dinosaur for DS5 months as 15000 isn't enough, buy it, lunch somewhere bright to entertain DS who is incredibly nosy. More toy shops, game shops, dvd shops, pound shops, comic book shops, refreshments in cafe, childrens park if it is dry, more window shopping arghhhhhh I love it >:} (I reckon this will change when DS gets older and potentially whingy if out for too long but he really does love a good nose :D)

'Can't the none driver stay at home with the children?'

Not if they're the one with the brains when it comes to shopping.

And at any rate, why do you care so much?

Aaah expat I think I know what you mean.

Oh and also sometimes I take my DH into town to show the neighbours he hasn't left me yet

My DM used to take me and DSis into the city centre for shopping all the time when we were wee (Glasgow). She doesn't drive so it was bus all the way. We loved it! If DM was trying stuff on, me and DSis just used to sit and chat shit to each other. We'd go to the Third Eye Centre (a gallery) and look at the pictures. That cost DM nothing and was enjoyable not only for her but for us. Then we'd go get Indian sweets or wander up to the big art galleries at Kelvingrove.

I think of those days spent in the city centre with great fondness. I'm glad my DM didn't or couldn't take us to any sodding theme parks or outdoor activity centres, etc.

yanbu

i swear loads of families do walking round town as a leisure activity :S

our kids hate it so we avoid where possible and actually do interesting stuff at the weekend

My kids like to go shopping. My youngest wants to be a chef. I take him grocery shopping all the time.

I avoided it almost 100% when they were toddlers.

We enjoy a browse around town about once a month. We combine a mooch around the shops with lunch out.

My dh and kids are quite sporty, so a lot of the time they are engaged in various separate activities. In contrast, a trip to town for lunch and a browse is quite a sociable family activity.