Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to wonder why the whole family go supermarket shopping?

506 replies

turnipfarmers · 01/04/2018 17:00

I tend to shop without my children as it's easier; I get that lone parents have to take their children with them but what I can't make sense of is why you see two adults with several children in tow at the supermarket?

Shopping with children for the weekly shop doesn't seem to be much of a pleasurable experience to me and it's probably not that fun for the children so why do people do it?

OP posts:
Megs4x3 · 02/04/2018 18:27

Dear heaven! When did talking to your children and involving them in an everyday activity become ‘performance parenting’?

MrsMaxwell · 02/04/2018 18:37

We used to be out somewhere and would pass a supermarket and DH would decide it was a good thing me to do a shop while I had no clue of what I needed, we had his two kids in tow who would squabble and fight to the point of total distraction, then he would get annoyed that I didn’t have a portal in my brain to the kitchen cupboards so I knew what we needed HmmAngry

I put a stop to that Smile

YANBU

wildchild554 · 02/04/2018 18:46

strange as it might sound but its family time, sharing an activity together. Beats being stuck in doors and before anyone reals off activities parks and walking are great during nice weather but not when its miserable and it gets a bit boring doing same thing all time. Also alot of families can't afford to do other activities that cost. Some kids actually enjoy it too strangely. ;)

mrshectic · 02/04/2018 18:46

Maybe because they want to show/ teach their children how to behave when they're out doing normal things? Surely these are part of life skills/ social interaction that kids should be experiencing as just a matter of course?
I don't always go with my 3 dcs, as it is just bloody hard work, but I do still take them sometimes. They can't always be doing just the 'fun' things without learning to help out.
But then thats my personal opinion. I dont judge others for how they choose to shop.

Aaaalltheboys · 02/04/2018 18:47

More people to help pack!

crazymumofthree · 02/04/2018 18:53

We quite often go shopping as a family of 5 (have a 4,6 and 8 year old) didn't realise it was frowned upon! I usually do a online food shop but sometimes there's no slots left, sometimes it's easier for the kids to choose their own snacks etc, sometimes the kids are cooking dinner and so they 'shop' for their ingredients. Tbh most children (there is always an exception) I see are well behaved! Tends to be the normal everyday people that like to run you over with their trolley or stand in the middle of a whole aisle so you can't get past who annoy me more but maybe that's just because I have kids myself! Our kids are well behaved in general at the supermarket! Taking them into the shops in town however is another story!! 😂

HobnobBob · 02/04/2018 18:54

A treat is me going to the supermarket on my own! We do an online shop as the DC hate going. It just ends up with them wanting to buy everything and being bored and me getting cross.

There is one family I know who I see in the supermarket, 3 DC under 3, the Dad dragging a trolley as well as trying to manoeuvre a pushchair and the Mum wrestling whichever child is having a tantrum. I can’t for the life of me work out why only one them doesn’t go shopping. Same with nursery drop off for the eldest child, they all go. Why make work for yourself. I rejoice when DH is at home and I don’t have to drag everyone on the school run.

Treacletoots · 02/04/2018 18:55

Because our DD actually enjoys shopping, it keeps her entertained and my DH also like each other's company.

Finding it amazing how little people must have going on to actually try and find reasons to judge others on something so unimportant. If only the world would stop telling each other what they should do, think or say we'd be a much happier place to live.

Fairynormal · 02/04/2018 18:58

As a disabled mum of 5 DC, I do the simplest and best thing for me, I shop online, get it delivered and the kids and DH to unpack and put it all away! Smile

DagenhamRoundhouse · 02/04/2018 19:02

While we're grouching, why do retired people wait till the weekend to do their shopping? They have all week and yet you see them mooching around the supermarket on Saturday!

Idontdowindows · 02/04/2018 19:05

why do retired people wait till the weekend to do their shopping

Because we can.

speakout · 02/04/2018 19:12

While we're grouching, why do retired people wait till the weekend to do their shopping? They have all week and yet you see them mooching around the supermarket on Saturday!

Exactly. Old people should have tags to stop them cluttering up the world.

marymoosmum · 02/04/2018 19:12

We all went food shopping together today. We had something to eat in the cafe, I had to go as I am the driver, he came as he was paying so the kids came too as we couldn't leave then at home.

Batteriesallgone · 02/04/2018 19:12

Treacle I may be mistaken but my guess is no one is talking about an only child who’s enjoying herself accompanied by two engaged adults.

The is the scenario that makes you think WTF there must be an easier way:
There is one family I know who I see in the supermarket, 3 DC under 3, the Dad dragging a trolley as well as trying to manoeuvre a pushchair and the Mum wrestling whichever child is having a tantrum.

Obie4 · 02/04/2018 19:14

Funny how some people would never do this, as it's soo easy not to have to take your children. Hmm
We don't do it for fun. We do it because we have to. 4 dcs, (13, 8, 3 and 2). I don't drive. I always have at least 2 dcs with me throughout the day. I wont shop online anymore as substitutions make cooking for 2 children with food intolerances hard work. My husband works full time. He doesn't feel like doing a weekly shop for 6 people on his own after a long day at work. Sunday is his only day off so he likes to spend it with the children. So we shop on a Saturday evening together. So we have quality family time on a Sunday.
Not all families do it by choice. Surly that's quite easy to realise.
Amazes me how rude people can be, and the strange reasons people think families do this. Grin

Mrsrp · 02/04/2018 19:26

We all go because I don't drive and I don't want to have to pay for a taxi to get all my shopping home. Yes, it's easier without the kids, but it's not that bad. Some people just have no patience for children.

PEARSON93 · 02/04/2018 19:47

touch wood our dad has never kicked off while food shopping. We go together to:

1- make sure everyone get what they need.

2- we're normally doing it on our way home after work etc.

3- my DH works away a lot (sound engineer business) so it's actually one of the few normal things we get to do together.

longestlurkerever · 02/04/2018 19:51

Oh fuck off with the performance parenting bollocks. Further up the thread it was apparently borderline neglect to make the cherubs wait in a queue. Be consistent when you're judging people for the very ordinary task of parenting kids in the supermarket at the very least.

Alicatz66 · 02/04/2018 19:51

You are my soul mate !! I have never understood this !! Kids hate the supermarket .. you have to be kidding if this is “family time “ !! ... do it online .. when they are in bed .. on your own .. you only have to look at the tantrumming toddlers in supermarkets to see how pissed off they are ... it’s bad enough and a chore when you are an adult !!! I’m with you 100% .. YANBU !!

PolarBearkshire · 02/04/2018 19:52

Many families like to do things together ...so what?

susie199 · 02/04/2018 19:56

Baffled. And why take them and let them career around the place. And fill the aisle discussing who wants what. Be an adult and make the decisions and leave them at home

slowlylosingit89 · 02/04/2018 19:57

As a child we all had to go shopping as DM couldn't drive! But she wanted a lift and also wanted to choose groceries so we all had to go. Maybe it's a similar reason? Personally I can't stand family shopping, much more stressful than it needs to be

longestlurkerever · 02/04/2018 19:58

Honestly not all kids hate the supermarket. I don't love it myself but dd1 does. She also loves putting away the online shop and makes me promise not to do it before she's home. She also likes posting recycling into the bottle bank, weeding the allotment at her auntie's and other shit I would think of as chores Kids like weird stuff. Surely this is not news.

colditz · 02/04/2018 20:02

Obie, your husband not feeling like it doesn't mean you have no choice! You have a choice, and you choose to drag 4 kids around a supermarket on a Saturday. You're entitled to make that choice, and I'm entitled to be massively irritated at your self-centred behaviour.

HeartCurrent · 02/04/2018 20:07

For me there is no one to mind my kids and I can't drive so that means me, boyfriend & our 2 kids do the whole shop, if it's just a few bits they'll wait in the car.
Also I really like taking my kids shopping with me any time I can spend with them I do we both work so it's nice to just have all 4 of us togrther even if it is in the local Asda getting our tea. Z