Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

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:
kateandme · 02/04/2018 20:08

why does it have to be some rewarding thing.its the little things you remember.i still remember the time we had when little,the treat of a sainsburys ice bun,mcdonals if we're good.running round.not vivid but there.me and mum still giggle over brother hiding in the breadsticks.
some people like it.different strokes and all that.dont judge everyone by ur own views.
its life.its normal.that all good in my eyes.
and to me purposefully not bringing the kids cuz they might moan is only doing them a did service because they'll never learn.

wildchild554 · 02/04/2018 20:11

We used to take my grandad and sometimes my great nan on a weekend so could also be because that's when there's someone to take some of the older people who may be unable to drive or just simply struggle pushing trolley etc. Also maybe some are doing fun stuff during the week when there's less people about and then their boring stuff like shopping on a weekend ;)

CocoCatmine · 02/04/2018 20:13

Ah this is interesting, I work in a large supermarket and see all walks of life every day:
2 parents and kids no problem generally
Both parents are discussing what they want
It's the tag alongs that get me, one of them is clearly doing the shopping and the other with the trolley is getting in everybody's way no children in tow ...

ontheabyss · 02/04/2018 20:15

Some people are very dithery when shopping and unaware of people waiting patiently to reach an item usually blocking with a trolley

longestlurkerever · 02/04/2018 20:20

Seriously colditz, give ir a rest. It's not something you would ever want to do - fine. Berating people for "dragging" and "being self centered" - totally wanky. You share this world with other people. Learn to live with that or start a self sufficient commune. Taking kids to the supermarket is not and will never be selfish. You don't have to lock your kids in the house never to clutter up a pavement to be a decent human.

Yb23487643 · 02/04/2018 20:22

Retired people on a Saturday makes no sense to me - it’s just so much busier. I work part time & do all I can to avoid Saturday shopping!

I used to love going shopping with my Mum - I’d get an input then - but my Dad would rarely go.

I hate going with my kids but luckily we do a few small shops per week & most of the time we can avoid taking them along.

YassQueen · 02/04/2018 20:25

DD likes holding the list and checking things off. It's good for her to get a concept of only buying what we can afford and budgeting. She behaves herself and enjoys it. I'm not going to apologise for that Hmm

RebelRogue · 02/04/2018 20:25

@colditz shop online if being around other people bother you so much.

RapunzelIsHere · 02/04/2018 20:31

Shopping is good for learning. Learning about money, food and everyday living. If people don’t want to coop their children up inside and take them to do the food shopping, why not? Yes, it may be easier to leave your children in the care of your partner/someone else but shopping is learning.

notangelinajolie · 02/04/2018 20:32

In answer to the OP. We all go shopping together because we like shopping together. I would hate to go on my own.

Pumpkinbell · 02/04/2018 20:32

Op its your preference to shop without your child(ren) buts its not everyones. I take my DD(5) every werk, sometime DH comes too!!! DD likes to ask the fishmonger for her own kippered mackerel fillets (for weekend breakfast) and she likes a little input as to what goes into the trolley. Each to their own .

RapunzelIsHere · 02/04/2018 20:55

Shopping is good for learning. Learning about money, food and everyday living. If people don’t want to coop their children up inside and take them to do the food shopping, why not? Yes, it may be easier to leave your children in the care of your partner/someone else but shopping is learning.

PenelopeChipShop · 02/04/2018 21:15

I’m a LP so the kids get dragged everywhere with me but yes if I had an option I would do it alone! If I have a day off work in the week I try and get it done with just the little one as that’s nearly as good.

A more pressing question in my mind is why do whole families sometimes go to parties when one school-age kid is invited?! Last weekend I had a soft play horror on Saturday evening, bad enough to take one kid surely, but there were three families there who had chosen to come all together with both parents and siblings. Wtf! Again if I had a DH I would’ve ideally made him go and stayed in with the toddler!!

DuckAndPancakes · 02/04/2018 21:18

BECAUSE
I like to inflict an hour or so of absolute torture on myself once a week.

RebelRogue · 02/04/2018 21:19

@PenelopeChipShop one parent drives the other doesn't?

PasstheStarmix · 02/04/2018 21:22

I’ve had families of 5 behave better and more orderly than some single people. I really think it depends on the person/s in question and whether they are polite or rude and get in everybody’s way (like a woman did today who proceeded to block the aisle with her huge trolley) and not moving it for anybody to get past while she yapped on her phone really loudly and conveniently couldn’t hear the ‘excuse me’s.’

Pinkvoid · 02/04/2018 21:28

Oh I agree whole heartedly. My exh seemingly treats the weekly food shop as a family day out or something Grin. Whenever I’ve asked him to collect them Friday evening he ‘can’t until after the food shop’, which he goes on with his DP and her DS. It’s always confused me, unsure why a grown adult needs chaperoning by another adult around a supermarket tbh.

longestlurkerever · 02/04/2018 21:37

If it's the sort of party where it's the more the merrier, why not go along? I like watching my dcs playing and chatting to the other parents.so does dh. If the choice is sitting at home entertaining dd2 and it's an open invitation I'd probably rather take her along, but it's nicer still if dh comes too to share the load

ragdoll700 · 02/04/2018 21:46

I dont drive the kids are too young to leave home alone and DH and the kids dont want to stay in the car while I do the shop there are all sorts of reasons

simiisme · 02/04/2018 22:08

Different strokes...
I plan the meals for the week, check the cupboards, fridge and freezer to see what we already have, then make a list.
Me & DH leave our two teens at home and whizz round quickly and efficiently, splitting up occasionally to gather from different aisles.
We stick to the list and don't get asked for extra things, so it works out cheaper.

cherish123 · 02/04/2018 22:10

We sometimes go as a family for a few things but, if doing a bigger shop, we probably wouldn't go altogether. I don't do a massive weekly shop. It is irritating to see massive families with misbehaving children, especially when it's busy.

SingingOutOfTune · 02/04/2018 22:21

We are one of those families. Usually is due to lack of planning. On the way back from some family outing decide to stop at supermarket because know won't have another time and do shopping for next few days. Most of the time don't even have a list. Husband loves supermarket shop. I hate it. But he won't read labels so will buy things such as 'disgusting' fat free yoghurt for the kids and brands we don't like. So we are a good team. He will choose vegetables, fruit and meat and I will do toiletries and cupboard food. We usually split in teams of two. The children help,sometimes, fetching stuff.

SingingOutOfTune · 02/04/2018 22:23

Also I'd like The kids do learnt a lot. They would probably be able to do the shop quite well as they know where everything is and what we usually buy. Even better than me sometimesGrin Need to start training them early

Obie4 · 02/04/2018 22:31

Ahh Colditz, never did I mention I have no choice. I said 'SOME people have NO choice'. Although yes taking kids is my choice.
If making sure my dcs are well fed and have there diets catered for is 'self centred' then so be it. But I'm pretty sure my children can deal with an hour out of their week, doing something that they really don't mind doing.
And no my husband doesn't feel like it, how self centred of him too, after a ten hour shift making sure his children are provided for.
What bad parents we are!!! WinkGrin
Anyway op I think it's just a general family thing, if you enjoy it, or don't find it an issue, or time and travel issues, or as people have mentioned just doing it on the way home from somewhere. Not liking online shopping. Along those lines I think.

BinkyBuntyFintyCunty · 02/04/2018 22:42

Worse are those who take an entourage/make a family outing of a trip to A&E or the out of hours doctors. WHY OH WHY OH WHY???