A local shop is refusing entry to single parents

[Throwaway667]

I feel completely enraged by this. With delivery and collection slots now going to the vulnerable (as they should) it’s becoming more difficult to buy essential shopping as it is.
To remove access to essential goods based on the person having a dependant they can’t leave at home is upsetting imo.
Surely this is discrimination?

Are any of the main supermarkets doing this?

Yep. No children allowed in our local Tesco at the moment. If you're a single parent you can hand a member of staff a shopping list and they'll get you what you need.

The only exceptions are for disabilities.

Tired of people saying 'order from Amazon'

The last time I checked last week) there were no slots available via Amazon Fresh for a MONTH ahead. I cancelled my Amazon fresh subscription as I was patently unable to benefit from it.

'Ask neighbours'

Rather depends on what the neighbours are like. Round here bar a few it's the 'Alright Jack' brigade. They were alright before this crisis and they're alright now.

If the child is sat in the trolley, what's the problem? People seem to be ignoring this as the most sensible and safest solution.

The virus does no spread just by touching things. Sneeze, cough etc spread it.

@mindproject they aren't allowing a child in, even in a trolley.

Good idea about phoning the shop and paying by card.
Can you not leave your child outside for the very short time you will be inside the shop?
I really feel for lone parents, however the reckless minority have spoilt it for the majority.
The quite frankly stupid behaviour of some parents had put many lives at risk.
I've seen children roaming around shops (supermarkets) touching things, then not buying them. His knows where their hands have been.
I hope this is a wake up call for parents to start controlling their kids and supervising them.
Obviously there are lots of responsible parents but not all parents are decent.

I would not trust my neighbours with my child, and she's a teenager. It's not safe to leave a child under the age of 10 to go shopping or in a car alone.

If I had a child under the age of 10 I would go to my local supermarket, sit them in the trolley and ignore anyone that told me I can't do it. If the supermarket refused entrance I would kick up the biggest stink online possible, write to the CEO, write to my MP, start a petition etc.

This is totally unacceptable. Don't accept it.

If the child is sat in the trolley, what's the problem? People seem to be ignoring this as the most sensible and safest solution.

That's if they will let you in with the child in the first place. And what if a single mother has 3 kids under 8? Perhaps a 6 year old and twin 3 year olds. Not much getting in the trolly with all those kids in these

There

@OmgThereAreNoPlanesAboveMeNow the virus lives on surfaces. You sneeze - gets onto your hands. You touch surface - virus lives on surface.

I can't believe the selfish responses on this thread: basically suck it up! Many people are lone parents, so no backup with other parent around. And the PP who suggested leave the child in the car - no bloody way would I leave my child in the car, never mind the fact some people don't have a car or access to one. FFS. Some people here need to think about others rather than live in their own, narrow bubble.

It is perfectly sensible for shops to ban children to attempt to slow the spread of this disease.

No it isn't.

If that were the case no NHS staff would be allowed in at any time there are other adults around.

Luckily sense prevails in the latter groups case

I spoke to someone who works at a supermarket where they have introduced the rule. The children were not being kept under control. Not only were they running around and not keeping the correct distance they were touching everything.

I can see why it was introduced.

@DuchenneParent there are no delivery slots here, and as the town has a large elderly population, few volunteers understandably. Local shops are delivering, but they cannot cope with demand. As a young and healthy person it seems ridiculous that I cannot go out shopping with my DS in a sling (so he cannot move about or touch anything), and instead should be expected to put more strain on the volunteer network here. I also shop for my brother and my parents (who live seperately, but I have to pass them on the walk back from town anyway), and drop the stuff half way down their path and phone and then leave- as they have been advised not to leave the house for 12 weeks, and can't get prescriptions delivered either. The doctor will only do a one week supply for my brother, and he would be dangerously poorly without them. Asking for 2 weeks of support if we had to self isolate is obviously reasonable, but for however this goes on seems unsustainable.

Could well be discrimination actually, @imcneil003 albeit indirect rather than direct as this will impact more women than men. It’s a statistical fact more women will be the caregivers and statistically more single parents with full time care are women. So maybe you should look at the definition and learn to type properly.

"how is a single parent meant to buy food!"

Same way vulnerable people or those who might have the virus do? Order online or get a volunteer from your local group to buy it.
I've seen children outside not holding their parent's hand and too small to be trusted to keep 2m away or cough into their elbows. I wouldn't want to see small children in the shop either.

Are singe parents and their children supposed to just stay at home and starve then? How is that safe? FFS

Even in normal times, I don't see hoards of children running around, touching everything; most stay children close to their parents.

Neighbours are often willing to pick a few things yes, but someone doing a weekly shop for their family cannot also do a weekly shop for another family - they would require two trollies.

"'Ask neighbours'

Rather depends on what the neighbours are like. Round here bar a few it's the 'Alright Jack' brigade. They were alright before this crisis and they're alright now."

There are local groups everywhere. I live in a city and not the type of place you make friends with your neighbours, but I'm part of one of these groups. I shopped for someone yesterday. I'm sure there'll be on where OP lives.

@Youwonjane it doesn't spread just by touching surfaces. That's why there is 6tf distancing. Sneeze droplets travel about that distance.

www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/transmission.html

"most stay children close to their parents"

That's not enough is it? They need to practise social distancing, cough or sneeze into their elbow and avoid touching things. This is not something you can rely on small children doing is it?

" but someone doing a weekly shop for their family cannot also do a weekly shop for another family - they would require two trollies."

Oh dear. You don't have to do it weekly. Even if that's how you want to do it, you can do a weekly shop for yourself on Saturday and for someone else on Sunday.
There are plenty of people now who have to get someone else to shop for them and they manage.

@Gwenhwyfar, there are no online slots to be had. The OP needs supplies now. And, not every locality has volunteers available.

"Are singe parents and their children supposed to just stay at home and starve then?"

Don't be silly Mind. Are old people asked to stay at home and starve? Someone with the virus? Similar situation. If you can't get to the shops, you find another way.

There's certainly marital status discrimination in employment law. Discrimination is wider than gender, race or age. Saying no to all children has an unintended consequence of denying access to food to kids of SPs who cannot get time from their kids to shop.

Anyway yes it is unreasonable for anyone to expect kids of a single parent to starve. For any reason. How quickly society (mumsnet) degenerates!

Explain your situation, offer alternatives ie you'll give them a list and the local shop can hand it over with payment (of course they may refuse), ask if they are considering a delivery service? If they don't provide their service, when this has all settled, never shop there again! You could also join the shaming culture we've immersed ourselves in recently and name and shame the shop on social media - you may find others in your area with same problem.

I think this is a silly rule. I went to Aldi last night and they weren't letting couples in which is fair enough - the advice is stay at home and it doesn't take 2 people to do a shop. But they did let an adult in with their child if needed. What else is a single parent going to do? Of course if you're able to ask neighbours then that is the best option but it isn't always possible!

I have to say though- one parent who took a teenager in yesterday was allowing the teen (I'd say probably about 13) scooter down the aisles which tbh isn't acceptable at any time, not least a time where we are supposed to be socially distancing! Apart from situations like that, I don't mind a child being in a shop.