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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:
qwertyuiopy · 01/04/2018 17:14

It was a day out for MIL lol! SIL would arrive at her house, as she did most days. SIL and MIL would sit around and gossip for a bit, drinking tea until the kids started to fight (no TV or anything). Then MIL would say... Let's go to... TESCO! Everyone would get ready and they would go to Tesco. Not a big superstore, just a normal supermarket, and MIL would buy them a pot noodle or a can of macaroni cheese for "dinner" (lunchtime). Then they would go home and heat up the cans.

SIL's eldest is married now and she does the same thing except they go to Morrisons because it's nearer.

ourkidmolly · 01/04/2018 17:14

Yes it's weird. They take up so much room too. Blocking the aisles massively.

wornoutboots · 01/04/2018 17:15

Because I can't drive, am physically disabled (but don't look it, iyswim), and we don't have anyone we could leave the kids with. Plus we like spending time together. And it's nice for me to get to see somewhere different even if it is just Asda.

But thanks for adding to the stress of me being taken outside of home with your judging. Because now I'll spend my next trip worrying who's judging me to be a bad parent.

Bluelady · 01/04/2018 17:15

It completely mystifies me. And those bloody men in women's clothes departments! Just fuck off to the man crèche, will you?

MereDintofPandiculation · 01/04/2018 17:15

I'm more baffled about couples where the men accompany their female partners clothes shopping. Sometimes it's nice to have company, my female friendships don't involve shopping, and I value his opinion.

woodhill · 01/04/2018 17:16

I don't understand it

stegosauruslady · 01/04/2018 17:16

Maybe the partner who does most of the cooking doesn't drive?

DrWhy · 01/04/2018 17:20

We often do it on the way to or from somewhere, our toddler currently enjoys it and it’s good for him to see parts of normal life outside the house that are not solely for his entertainment.

starzig · 01/04/2018 17:20

Always think that too. There us loads of times that I have nearly whacked a kid with a trolley when they have been running around

krustykittens · 01/04/2018 17:20

I remember once, when my kids were tiny, my mother was visiting and we had all day without the kids. We were so excited when we realised we could go to the supermarket, together, without them! Now THAT is sad.

notacooldad · 01/04/2018 17:20

They enjoy the time together and like to chat over what to buy?
Seriously laughed at this!
You clearly don't go to the Tesco near me. Some famlies look like they hate each other by the time they are half way round!

Original poster
turnipfarmers · 01/04/2018 17:20

@wornoutboots but that's different isn't it? I don't judge people who do it, I just wonder why so many do - they can't all be in your situation.

OP posts:
Orangecake123 · 01/04/2018 17:21

Growing up as a kid I loved going to the supermarket xD

Raven88 · 01/04/2018 17:21

I don't get it either, the kids look bored and the parents look stressed. If I had kids I wouldn't take them to the supermarket.

Batteriesallgone · 01/04/2018 17:21

I do most of the cooking. DH does the shop.

It’s not hard to know what’s in your food even if you aren’t cooking it. I expect everyone in the house to appreciate the food on the table didn’t appear like magic, it’s important the kids see that attitude from DH otherwise they won’t think it’s important IMO. If I did the shop and the cooking I reckon the ‘fridge fairy’ as mentioned upthread would spark into existence.

pictish · 01/04/2018 17:21

We often shop en masse on our way back from something. We did it just today. We went for a walk then went to Tesco on the way home and as we were all on the walk we all went to the shop.
Why do you care?

ButchyRestingFace · 01/04/2018 17:22

I 💕 grocery shopping. It can't be just me? Easter Blush

famousfour · 01/04/2018 17:22

I don't know really. We go sometimes on the way back or on a rainy day for a quick trip out if we can't be bothered to do anything more exciting - it amuses them to choose things etc. as they are small. My son also went through a strange phase of loving Lidl. But no way would I do this week in week out. One of us tends to dash out and grab things. I did grow up doing a weekly shop as a family though. Was kind of a family job and usually part of a bigger outing. It was ok. But thank goodness for online shopping.

bilbodog · 01/04/2018 17:23

Im with you OP - even if i couldnt drive i would get DH to take me, then he could take the kids to a playground and then come back to get me. It does concern us because the kids and the men get in our way when all we want to do is a quick shop and go home. No need for the whole family to go at all - sheer madness.

GummyGoddess · 01/04/2018 17:23

As per my post in the other thread: Dc loves it. He chats the whole way around, likes to put things in the trolley and hold onto my chocolate for me. If it's empty he likes the trolley spun around and then likes going over the little bumps at the crossings in the car park.

DH and I used to go together before dc was born, then dc just went in the sling, now he's in the trolley. I imagine we might find it more stressful once he won't go in the trolley, might not all go then. We both like to look at the food and choose it too.

missmouse101 · 01/04/2018 17:23

Yes, yes, yes! I agree, my children (14 and 17) have hardly ever been with me. I couldn't stand it, so much better without dragging them along.

On the same note, I get irrationally annoyed at parents where BOTH go to pick up kids from school every day. WHY do that? Hmm Surely totally unnecessary and one person's time could be used so much better? If my husband was ever available to do the school run, I'd stay at work or get dinner prepared. Grrrrrr! Easter Grin

SharronNeedles · 01/04/2018 17:24

Maybe they go on their way to or from somewhere

LagunaBubbles · 01/04/2018 17:25

It's not too difficult to think is it surely? Have to laugh at someone saying it's a control issue! We are often out for something else and stop at supermarket to get something for the dinner on the way home. As I imagine lots of people do. Hmm

MustBeDueSomeBetterFeet · 01/04/2018 17:25

Haha! Completely agree! We do our shopping online, but on the odd (4 times a year) occasion end up grabbing something special together, but it's very much an 'in and out' job.

For me, something pleasurable for us to do as a family (of 4, two DCs 2 and 5) includes going swimming, going to a nice park or playground, visiting a NT place, going for lunch, going on a model railway, etc etc. Not walking around a supermarket!

Parker231 · 01/04/2018 17:25

None of us go - we online shop. DH and I (and DT’s when they are home) add things we want throughout the week, order and it’s delivered!