Shopping alone during lock down

[AnxiousSM]

This applies to the current lockdown not in general.
Why can’t people shop alone? The only exception to this would be a parent with a child they don’t have childcare for. Zero excuse for family outings to the supermarket. If you have to be driven then can’t partner stay in the car?
All this bollocks about being unable to shop alone, there’s no reasonable excuse.

Maybe we just shouldn't bother with lockdowns and restrictions, since everyone is exempt anyway. I am sure I could whisk up few reasons too

In theory you’re not wrong - those who can shop alone probably (should) do it alone.

But the fact is you do not know the many many many many many (get my point?) reasons why they are not shopping alone.

The second fact is that it’s no ones business but the person shopping.

It is not yours nor anyone else’s business to enquire or wonder or give the side eye or snarky comments just out of ear shot.

Same as the mask police.

It’s simply not possible to know why someone is doing what they are doing, end of.

@Doggybiccys

I’m with you OP, pandemic or not. I cannot understand why entire families go on shopping trips. DC crying as they troop round the aisles. Bored men traipsing round after women in M&S. I posted about this in the past and got told toddlers were being trained about budgets and it was a chance for quality family time!

Mind your business 😂

I agree, but I live in a share house, where I am the only driver. I would happily buy things for my three flatmates, but doing a week's shopping for 4 individuals is hard. They could get the bus to the supermarket, but that increases their risk. They could walk, but then they'd need to go more often and so increase risk.

The least-worst solution is for me to drive everyone. We enter, shop and pay separately, and meet back at the car.

This is a very different to mum, dad, two kids and the baby going to Tesco for "family time" or because dad can't possibly look after the children or do a food shop all by himself.

Oh god forbid, me an adult, chooses to do what I like without the pandemic police having their input. It’s not against “the rules”, therefore mind your own business

Dd is 18 has asd and anxiety. The only way I could her out was to get her to come to the shop with me to buy the ingredients for baking.
So that's a reason why some people don't shop alone.

Here's a thread also running about exactly the same thing. Been going on for days...

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/4132897-Supermarkets-need-to-get-real?pg=1

Because (I'm willing to be flamed) I think its fucked up that DD (16m) should be confined to the house for a week straight because it's been pissing rain and she's outgrown her waterproof and the new one ordered online has been delayed in the post.

@AllPlayedOut

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

And some of us have family members who work in those supermarkets who are getting ignorant customers walking around in groups, not socially distancing, reaching over them while they are stocking shelves

So yes I will judge people like that

Yawn. Why don't you ask people in real life? I dare you.

You'll judge people like me who have disabilities for shopping?

Wow some of these "reasons" are just laughable. The entitlement of some people is beyond me.

And did I mention behaving like that? No.

People always think their reasons for shopping with someone are justified.

Its the only place to go now. May as well make it a family outing! I'm sure people have their reasons and it's not my place to judge any of them tbh

@Newmama29

Maybe because when I get to go to a shop it’s the only interaction with other adults I have in weeks. I wish people would stop telling others what to do. It must be great to live such a perfect life that you can do nothing wrong.

If I’m honest, I’m more annoyed about people in shops that come right up my arse when I’m trying to get something off the shelf or wearing their mask on their chin than I am with people shopping in pairs

But I thought you wanted interaction with people? Can't have it both ways.

Meh - if a couple splits up and it takes them half the time I can't get too worked up really. Doesn't that come to the same thing as shopping alone?

The thing is as you've no doubt found from the responses...
Everyone can think up a reason they shouldn't have to shop alone.
My DH works away, I have a child under 2, I could take someone with me based on others reasoning... However I would much rather leave him with DM (who is my childcare whilst I work), go alone, lessen any risk and yes if she needs shopping I get that also... And vice versa if she is going and I am not...
My DS is also in need of 'getting out of the house' but I firmly believe a supermarket isn't for entertainment purposes...

I was very furiously thinking this today. Went to do my weekly shop and while waiting in the queue I saw a group of three adults all shopping together. They were blocking the aisle, and one removed his mask to open and smell a variety of fabric conditioners. I was just staring in utter dismay. It wasn't just them, it's impossible to socially distance, you move out of the way of one family and another two come up behind you. One woman pulled her mask of to SNEEZE directly behind me and put it back on. Having groups of adults or couples shopping together just makes it that much harder to create a distance. Why on earth can the majority of adults not find a way to shop alone? I am obviously not referring to single parents who need to take their child with them. If someone needs help because of whatever excuse, surely they can wait at home while the person "helping" them does the shopping by themselves.

For the love of god "getting out of the house" is not a good enough excuse, go for a bloody walk and allow the rest of us to socially distance as we've been told to do.

If someone needs help because of whatever excuse, surely they can wait at home while the person "helping" them does the shopping by themselves.

No. Some of us value our independence and do not wish to be treated like children just because we are disabled. I'm not being imprisoned just because I'm not NT and I have physical disabilities. Also going out is literally part of my ongoing therapy after spending the best part of two years stuck in the house due to mental health issues. I'm not going back there again. It almost killed me.

@Newmama29

Oh god forbid, me an adult, chooses to do what I like without the pandemic police having their input. It’s not against “the rules”, therefore mind your own business

The thing is, the more that people do what the fuck they like, despite the rules and recommendations, the longer my disabled child is kept out of the school that supports his needs. So yes you will find that people find you selfish and obnoxious.

Dear god how many threads do we need on this?

And I don't get out much at present because of the weather as my balance and nerve damage can be poor as it is, let alone on ice. But those few opportunities to get out are a lifeline for me.

Maybe supermarkets near to make it clear that they are not 'COVID secure' places.
Reintroducing the one way systems would be good.