To think your DC don’t want to be dragged around shops on Boxing Day

[AaronPurrSir]

Fully prepared to be flamed for this, but having no DC myself I need to know what goes through some parents heads.

I never normally shop on Boxing Day as I don’t agree with it in principle, but I was forced to spend an hour in a town centre earlier today and I couldn’t believe the amount of parents dragging their DC around.

I saw several children who were clearly completely and utterly fed up, crying, tantrumming (and these were children too old for the tantrum stage - think 6-10yo).

They have had a week of over excitement from Christmas, too much sugar, probably more gifts thrown at them than they can handle and are then dragged around a hellishly busy town centre for hours on end because their DM/DF can’t possibly cope without getting 10% off some tat in sports direct. I don’t understand it at all. When I was small, Boxing Day was for eating leftovers, watching films and relaxing. The most we would do would be a walk to get some fresh air, or visit family members we hadn’t seen the day before.

If you want to inflict the horror that is Boxing Day sales on yourself, go for it. But don’t inflict them on your overtired, overstimulated DC.

But op, you've practically patented 'bitchy'.

Plenty of people have come on to give perfectly reasonable explanations for why people, adults or children, might be in a shop on Boxing Day but you just can't seem to budge from your world view : grasping parents dragging sad kids round shops to save a few bob.

Do you know they weren't en route to somewhere more wholesome but popped into a single shop?

Do you know that the kids weren't completely up for spending their Christmas money but got miserable within moments of being taken into the only shop mum wanted to visit?

Did you read earlier posts from people saying it was the only way they could afford decent winter clothes or a good quality coat, or were willing to endure it to save hundreds of pounds on furniture?

My neighbour, a single mum with two kids, took hers shopping on Boxing Day but the family thing is happening today instead.

And to the pp who said children should be with grandparents, or being hosted at a children's party, or with a babysitter : sounds wonderful but where are all these people desperate to babysit or host a children's party on Boxing Day? What if grandparents live hundreds of miles away or are working?

Yes the shops used to be closed for two days and now it's just one, and yes the sales start earlier. But the people complaining about this were, hilariously, there. You know, being part of the problem, creating demand. Oh except they were only there because someone had a gun to their head or they were buying life saving medication or summat.

Maybe it's worse staying in the house. Plus gotta get their shopping fix.

YANBU

It's hell on earth. I don't want sale tat dragged out from years ago.

I don't want to walk round sweaty, hot, over packed shops getting stressed out.

I'd rather save our Christmas money and buy decent stuff when the sale hysteria dies down.

Yep agree! Went yesterday to spend a gift voucher as some makeup I wanted was half price otherwise I would not have gone. Everywhere was extremely busy and so many crying upset children being dragged around by parents.

How can you tell that they are actually miserable though? Maybe for that split second they were. I took DD a while back, lovely day etc etc. But there was one moment when I gently told her off for not holding my hand and she cried her eyes out (very sensitive 21 month old) however it was over in a minute - if you had seen me for that time I bet you would have had your judgy pants on!!!

Tbf I am one the worlds most judgiest people so would probably agree if I didn't have my own DD

if you saw my son stropping today in Gap.. it was not because he didn't want to be shopping apparently because despite the nike Shop not selling what he wanted he hadn't finished looking when I left. Don't assume the miserable kids are miserable because they don't want to be there.

I quite like shopping but after weeks of it there’s no way I would ever go shopping onBoxing Day and I certainly wouldn’t inflict it on my children
It’s like “we just got loads of new stuff, what she we do today? I know, let’s go and buy some more stuff”

No one should be dragged around shops on Boxing Day for sales. All large shops should be closed as they are on Christmas Day.

Why should they be closed?

To be fair I know a few people in retail who are quite happy to earn money on Boxing Day.