To be annoyed at people shopping in families/couples?

[Nicknamegoeshere]

So I went to the supermarket to do my weekly shop today. Left the baby and my OH at home as I understand the current rules re Covid to be shop alone where possible.

Now I totally respect that in certain circumstances there has to be exceptions to this rule e.g. for lone parents, shopping with a vulnerable person etc.

However, there were a huge number of large families (with both parents) shopping today, lots and lots of couples (young/middle-aged) etc.

Why are so many people blatantly ignoring the guidance?

The family of four nearly drove me mad last week. None of them had ever heard of social distancing and the kids were running around in everyone’s way. How hard is it for one parent to stay at home with the kids?

The thing I find funny on these threads is that many people say 'just follow the guidance, which says shop alone if possible because some people can't shop alone and these measures only work if everyone does their bit'.

Then in response you get:

• a handful of people getting annoyed because they genuinely can't shop alone (even though most people have no issue with those situations, accept you can't tell by looking and are just discussing in the abstract)
• a good number of people getting annoyed because 'why should I... it isn't the law... maybe it's the only way we can all go out together... you can't tell by looking at people if it's genuine or not so I'm just going to do what I like... mind your own business... covid police...'

It's the same with the masks. We're told to wear a mask unless exempt. There's the genuinely exempt, and then there's the ones saying 'but you can't tell by looking so what's it to you if I don't wear a mask? Why should I? I don't like wearing them and nobody can challenge me because they can't ask why someone is exempt... covid police... stasi.. mind your own business... sheeple...'

All the threads do is confirm what most of us know anyway: that there's those with genuine exemptions who are trying to get on with life and then a bunch of piss takers who try to ignore anything they don't like by piggy backing on the exemptions others desperately need.

It really isn’t the case that the British don’t follow the rules or guidelines. The vast majority do. It is always a tiny minority that ignore them. Most people are really considerate in public spaces, are polite, kind to others, help other people etc. People are generally decent.

The family day out is a trip to the supermarket now.

Delivery to my door is the best thing ever, and did it long before Covid too. Can't understand this yearning for trundling up and down the aisles with fractious kids in tow touching everything in sight and going full on meltdown now and then too.

Not for me.

Some people don't have anyone to have their children. When Dh worked away a lot years ago , I had to take them with me. Little children can't be left home alone and I didn't have any help from anyone. I'm sure many people are like this and getting food deliveries isn't always possible.
I know the signs are up and Dh and I went round separately to shop, but for others it cannot be done for many reasons.
If the bigger stores want to enforce these laws , they need to have people on the door checking , but that isn't happening so people will choose not to take any notice. It was a bit more policed during the first lockdown , at first anyway!

I think people have the right to go shopping with whoever they want if im honest..everyone in the family eats the food maybe they want to be there to pick some of the shopping.

Some people don't have anyone to have their children

I think when both parents are in the supermarket, we can safely assume someone is available to look after the children at home.

Kind of funny that supermarkets had recently calmed down again but now since 'lockdown' 2 was announced they have become hell on earth again! So actually now places that are still open are way busier and less socially distant. Have to laugh really.

People are fed up, bored and climbing the walls. Maybe the family of 4 were also doing their exercise? Maybe it’s the only time they left the house for the whole weekend. Who knows, but in any case the extra “risk” was negligible. Just be thankful you have a baby and enough money to do your shopping and move on with your life.

Some people don't have anyone to have their children
Yes, and that is why places are saying 'if possible'

Everyone, well most people, accepts that it isn't possible for some people to shop alone.

It doesn't mean piss takers should take it as a green light to do what they want.

I HAD heard that only one person should go shopping but maybe other people may not realise that or it may not be convenient for people with families...

Yanbu

Family outings still at local supermarket here.... kids sat with shoes on in actual trolley. Always thought that's grim.

Family of 5 kept having to be told to step back at tills.

Ridiculous

@Lilac95 are you trying to claim that you and your dh take up the same space as one of you alone? That really isn’t true is it 😂

I can't fathom it either apart from those with genuine reasons. I did 3 households shopping alone today 🤷‍♀️. However I never understood why youd want to go shopping as a family with both parents and young children anyway pre covid. Its stressful with kids running about and boring for them.

God it sounds grim in UK supermarkets these days, everyone being the exception of course. And a day out too. Woo Hoo.

YABVU.

We don't have a car, neither of us drive. I have mobility issues, thought you probably wouldn't guess it by looking at me (I use walking sticks occasionally, but not always). There is no way I can carry all the shopping home by myself so DH shops with me. And no, he can't do it alone because he'd have a job on carrying enough shopping for 3 people home by himself, too. Also I'm exempt from wearing a mask and I find I get far less abuse when DH is with me, particularly from men (this isn't the main reason I don't shop alone but it's certainly a consideration).

You have no idea of anyone else's circumstances so don't judge.

Oh, and it's not 'the rules' anyway, and not all shops are advising it.

I go with my husband, I feel we do it more quickly- always use the scan and shop, so that is better than on our own more slowly.

Shopping, with or without a pandemic, is my excuse to get away from my family. I certainly don't want the whole string of them following me around, flinging crap into the trolley or forensically reading the labels of stuff they've eaten for years and didn't bother reading in the house EVER. Ahem, anyway ....

I believe that one person doing the shopping is the sensible and considerate thing to do during a pandemic. Of course there are exceptions, but seriously, why does something have to be made into a law just so that people will start to give a shit about others?

Generally I never understood families that shop together.
Mum, dad and the kids all looking fed up and irritable. Ilove a solo trip to the shops, leaving oh with the kids.

Mum came with me last week because a) she needed to get out for a bit and b) my back was playing up and she wanted to make sure I didn't strain it anymore.

I think everyone just needs to stress about other people less.

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change

I can see why shops would prefer only the person who is paying to be in the shop on their own as then they can fit in more paying customers at one time and make more money. I bring dd12 with me. She wears a mask and sanitises her hands. I don't need to bring her but I like the time with her. The drive, the picking out food, deciding on dinners, picking up bits for her HE class and her picking out a few things to try out cooking during the week, she runs back with the trolley too and helps me load the car.

We should all be doing everything we can to stick to it and try to get this bloody virus to bugger off

Going to the supermarket singly is not in any way going to 'make the virus bugger off'. Lockdown isn't going to make the virus bugger off either. That's not how it works. The virus isn't going to just bugger off. I go to the supermarket on my own because that's what I always do. Other people may have all kinds of reasons for going with another person.

@OpheIiaBaIls

YABVU.

We don't have a car, neither of us drive. I have mobility issues, thought you probably wouldn't guess it by looking at me (I use walking sticks occasionally, but not always). There is no way I can carry all the shopping home by myself so DH shops with me. And no, he can't do it alone because he'd have a job on carrying enough shopping for 3 people home by himself, too. Also I'm exempt from wearing a mask and I find I get far less abuse when DH is with me, particularly from men (this isn't the main reason I don't shop alone but it's certainly a consideration).

You have no idea of anyone else's circumstances so don't judge.

Oh, and it's not 'the rules' anyway, and not all shops are advising it.

Is home delivery an option for you? Best money ever spent if a delivery charge applies IMO.

Best of luck, but you have all the exceptions in there just the same and no solution either. But there are solutions. Shopping trolley for one. You can fit a ton in there, and DH could wheel it home. But it might not be manly lol.

We have to get over all this stuff and make it work for our circumstances really. Sorry if I offended anyone, didn't mean to, just trying to throw out some possible solutions.

@Cantthinkofausename

I think people have the right to go shopping with whoever they want if im honest..everyone in the family eats the food maybe they want to be there to pick some of the shopping.

In normal circumstances that's fine, but not during a pandemic lockdown when they need to see the bigger picture. One person and a list of what everyone wants seems sensible in that scenario.

Even before covid was a thing this used to drive me crazy. The supermarket is not a family day out!! Send one person with a list, don't stand blocking the aisles debating who's going to eat what for every fecking meal of the week! If people think Tesco is a family trip out they really need to get out more!

I'm a nurse. I'm really stressed right now, I'm fairly senior and need to make management decisions on covid across a few wards, but my Trust keeps changing it's guidance.

I went shopping with my baby and DH because I see them so little these days. I wanted to look at the christmas displays and christmas baby clothes with DH to cheer us up after a difficult week.

I sanitised my hands on entry and exit, and I wore a fluid repellent mask, so the risk of transmission is low.