to wonder why the whole family go supermarket shopping?

[turnipfarmers]

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?

I wouldn't worry too much about the University training angle. Every time I drop DS at Halls there's a constant stream of supermarket home delivery vans going in and out. Students don't want to trudge around a supermarket either.

So we can all pick what we like

I've never understand the family shopping experience either. Online only and if something is needed we cannot get online we go one at a time or take whoever needs it with us - like school trousers - not everyone. Its a chore not at a pastime.

Sparkling

My 5 year old can navigate fine around the Ocado app

My DC tell me that Waitrose are frequently delivering to their uni halls so it doesn't seem that popular to go to the supermarket. Either that or the multiple crates of beer etc are just too heavy.

They will go far Batteries, but not as far as the supermarket.

All the family can choose online then it can be delivered. Perfect.

When I was with Ex, DD and I used to do most of the shopping. Now it's just me and the teen DCs, they both tend to come shopping as they are both involved in choosing what we are going to be eating and both are learning to cook.

Because we want to. No other reason than that.

Wasn't that a Billy Piper song - because we want to! Its in my head now!

@Batteriesallgone Phew, I thought it was just my XH. He never went anywhere with me after we were married, not even for a walk, but when I said "We've run out of eggs, do you want to go to Tesco or shall I?" he would put on an indulgent smile and say "Why don't we all go!" as if bestowing some kind of wonderful treat. Not the worst thing he used to do by a long way, but it really wound me up.

This thread really makes me wonder how many people actually like their DPs and kids...

When I worked FT, our Friday night routine was tea at the supermarket cafe and the week's shop. It was a reasonable attempt at an imitation of a social life with impatient young children who struggled to be civilised for a whole bar meal. The supermarket was quiet and easy to get around. The food had to be bought at some time anyway, and due to dietry requirements, we couldn't buy all items online so had to end up in the area at the shops anyway so may as well do it all in one go.

Occasionally we'll end up in together either because it's fitting conveniently around other plans, or we're catering around his uber fussy relatives or he needs a stock of supplies or some clothes.

I can't drive, but DH does. He is ok at food shopping but when he does it, despite trying, it always costs more. We have a strict budget and I also need to keep abreast of the prices so I can meal plan accordingly. We shop in Aldi and have found it significantly cheaper than online shopping. So whilst it's not as quick as it would be on our own as adults, it's what we have to do for now.

We do however keep our children occupied whilst shopping. So bubble wrap for popping and their own shopping list with pictures and they help. Any misbehaving and DH takes them out to the car but this is rare. We also only do 1 big shop a month where we get everything for the month and then DH gets a top up shop each week which consists of milk, bread, eggs, fruit and veg and that's about it.

We always do this on holiday (when online shopping not an option) and occasionally at the weekend if we're passing when together and need to get some bits. It is not hellish. The kids like choosing what food we buy, checking out what fish is the ugliest, weighing the fruit and so on. It's not the highlight of the holiday, but it's spending time together and getting shopping done at the same time. Is everyone else's weekend always non-stop FUN?

I was having this same thought on Friday when I was in our local supermarket....more so towards the gangs of adults having leisurely conversations , 3/4 people wide in the aisles while all around them it was chaos.
🤬

Because if I go alone my husband has to look after the kids. He'd rather we all have a shit time together.

I8toys
Wasn't that a Billy Piper song - because we want to! Its in my head now

Yes lol. Damn it, now it's in my head to.

I'm with you OP. I don't understand why anyone would shop with DC through choice. I am a strictly lone shopper unless I have to take anyone. I also dont get dragging men round shops either. You see them wandering aimmessly behind their DPs in marks and Spencer, blocking the aisles, looking gormless and "yes dear"-ing anything held up in front of them. Me and DP have never shopped together through choice- when DC were young one stayed home and the other shopped. DC are late teens now and their lack of exposure to shopping at a young age certainly has not stopped them learning how to shop!

My kids love the supermarket. The baby loves it for the colours and the ride in the trolley and the older one because he is a control freak and likes to dictate what we will have in and eat for dinner that week . I don't know why people do it if nobody's enjoying it though (obviously different for single parents etc)

Chocolate

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! Another thing we do sometimes (not every day as both work). Why not go together? Bit of company on the way. Get to see kids coming out happy and chat on the way back or pop via the library or something. What's not like to like?

Learning about food, learning about prices etc, spreading the load between the whole family.

I personally avoid it like the plague but I can see it has some benefits.

I hate shopping for anything, for myself, with anyone (and that includes food shopping). I’m not keen on clothes shopping but I’ll go with a friend if they ask, or take my Mum when she’s here and anyone else who needs help. No problem. But when I’m shopping I’ll go on my own. I don’t mind babies/toddlers too much. Two adults and a couple of kids would have me rocking in the back corner of the supermarket. I just feel like I can’t concentrate with others there.

...and I get really wound up by ‘let’s both go’ to do something utterly mundane like school pick ups. Just no. If you’re free to go, then go, I’ll stay home and do something else, it doesn’t take two adults. Or if I’m nipping to the shop ‘Oh I’ll come’, ‘Me too’. Noooooooo I’m nipping to the shop not running a fucking family outing. If you all want to go then you can get me what I need. Arghhhh. Bring out a board game or a box of Lego and I’m your girl, but chores are not ‘family time’ for me.

I don’t care what anyone else does or why though. Well, not unless they’re arguing or bellowing at the kids.

I’m perfectly able to do it as an adult - children don’t need to go to ‘learn’.

There's loads of stuff you don't have to teach children, but we as a family enjoyed teaching all of them as they got bigger. It also included ironing, laundry, vacuuming, changing tyres, changing oil, changing lights, fixing bicycle tyres, all the little odds and sods.

It was fun. :)

We usually only go to the duper market on the way home from somewhere. Our children are usually with us. What are we supposed to do? Leave them in the car?