Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Whole families going food shopping

746 replies

Shiningstarr · 18/09/2022 15:01

Just came back from food shopping, there were a couple of young families in there, one in particular, the mum was pushing the trolley, her two young children walking near her and the dad was following with a pram and carrying another toddler.

Surely it would be easier for just mum to go and do the food shop, or just dad? Why bring all those children plus pram? I can't think of anything worse. Both mum and dad looked stressed.

OP posts:
MariC · 21/09/2022 08:59

Well said

MariC · 21/09/2022 09:05

MariC · 21/09/2022 08:59

Well said

To all those who have provided a reasonable explanation for this and to those who have said really it is no-one else's business how a family chose to spend their time together ❤️

Ilikepinacoladass · 21/09/2022 18:37

Dinomummy2 · 20/09/2022 19:01

Supermarkets are the cheapest place to buy children's clothes and shoes.

Children often need to try on said clothes and shoes for fit.

Therefore we take our child to the supermarket.

The lack of tolerance for children in our society is atrocious. There are very few free and safe indoor venues where you can take a child these days.

You buy your children clothes every week?

Dinomummy2 · 21/09/2022 19:02

Ilikepinacoladass · 21/09/2022 18:37

You buy your children clothes every week?

Show quote history

Nope, we get our regular shop delivered. But we do visit a supermarket about once a month to pick up clothes for her, children grow fast and supermarkets vary their ranges so not everything is in store at once.

Dinodigger · 21/09/2022 19:50

You would hate us. Our whole family of 6 go shopping together. Hadn't occurred to me that it wasn't allowed... surely this is how children learn about life be doing errands etc with their parents?

itsgettingweird · 21/09/2022 19:53

My family consists of ds and I.

Even the idea of shopping with just him brings me out in a cold sweat after years of having to do it.

We do still shop together. Sat at the iPad and the online shopping app Grin

He's 18 now and contributes to the household financially so he either writes stuff on the list or comes and stands over me requesting stuff!

I think actual shopping with him would be harder now than when he was a toddler and I could stick him in the trolley seat!

MariC · 21/09/2022 20:37

Dinodigger · 21/09/2022 19:50

You would hate us. Our whole family of 6 go shopping together. Hadn't occurred to me that it wasn't allowed... surely this is how children learn about life be doing errands etc with their parents?

Nothing wrong with that you are giving your children a good grounding in valuable lifestyles.

SillySausage81 · 22/09/2022 09:28

Why tf is everyone suddenly spending 2 hours in the supermarket? Is this just another strawman so all the misery-guts can find even more reasons to complain about people doing perfectly acceptable things that are none of their business?

I don't think I've ever spent more than 40 minutes in a supermarket, and that probably would have included browsing for clothes.

Skynorth · 22/09/2022 11:57

Maybe they don’t have anyone to look after the children, have you thought about that?

sue20 · 22/09/2022 21:00

SpinningFloppa · 18/09/2022 15:10

Maybe they was already out and then going home and stopped along the way? I am a single mum so all my kids have to come shopping with me.

Yes but this isn’t about single parents. The point is that these families have 2 parents so why do both parentsAND all kids come shopping at once?

sue20 · 22/09/2022 21:05

mamabear715 · 18/09/2022 15:08

I did that when I HAD to.
Isn't that why online grocery shopping was invented?

But why did you have to? This post isn’t about one parent taking children shopping with them it’s questioning the need to have both parents plus kids

sue20 · 22/09/2022 21:08

Skynorth · 22/09/2022 11:57

Maybe they don’t have anyone to look after the children, have you thought about that?

One parent stays at home with children while the other goes shopping? Please read OP it’s not about single parents

sue20 · 22/09/2022 21:14

Gemmanorthdevon · 20/09/2022 15:59

My husband and I both work full time. We spend 5 days a week passing the baton, and hardly lay eyes on each other.. If its humanly possibly, we do everything together at the weekend - including the food shop. Because aswell as being quite fond of each other, he likes to help with the heavier stuff and I like to see what I'm buying!

Online shops are not cheap when you factor in availability, minimum spends and delivery costs, unsuitable substitutes you havnt got time to sort out and freshness ( or lack of ) of fruit and veg...I've even noticed that a lot of the cheaper items are routinely unavailable to buy online.

The world would be such a nicer place if people just concentrated on themselves and not others. 🤦‍♀️

So you don’t mention kids? This post isn’t about more than one person doing a shop, nor single parents with kids it’s about a whole family including 2 parents all shopping together.

piegone · 22/09/2022 21:17

@sue20

Are you OP with a name change?

sue20 · 22/09/2022 21:21

Wouldloveanother · 20/09/2022 11:32

She doesn’t need a counterpoint though. The fact the Smiths are there because little Johnny enjoys counting the apples, or because Mr Smith won’t sniff the veg, is totally irrelevant to the fact they’re blocking the aisle and crowding the shop. They’re perfectly entitled to do what they’re doing of course, but OP is also entitled to be annoyed.

Show quote history

Finally a sensible reply. I’ve never seen such a misunderstood post nor one that got everyone so heated as well as misunderstanding. I even had someone swearing at me for supposedly suggesting they shouldn’t be shopping with their disabled friend. Where the hell did that come from?

sue20 · 22/09/2022 21:41

Blix · 18/09/2022 15:12

I had a friend who did this every weekend. I could never understand why she didn't leave the DC at home with OH. They did all shopping as a family, even with newborns. I later found out he was controlling and abusive. She wasn't allowed money or to go out alone but he wasn't willing to do the shopping himself. So they all went.
They are now divorced.

Yes I always suspect it’s something to do with money controlling

TheKeatingFive · 22/09/2022 22:19

they’re blocking the aisle and crowding the shop

She's talking about 3 additional people who happen to be related to each other. People need to get over themselves. If the shop isn't prepared to make rules about this or set quotas, then it isn't the individuals you should be getting annoyed with. Take it up with the supermarket.

Wouldloveanother · 22/09/2022 22:21

TheKeatingFive · 22/09/2022 22:19

they’re blocking the aisle and crowding the shop

She's talking about 3 additional people who happen to be related to each other. People need to get over themselves. If the shop isn't prepared to make rules about this or set quotas, then it isn't the individuals you should be getting annoyed with. Take it up with the supermarket.

Maybe I don’t want to engage in a battle of words with Asda.

Maybe I just want to moan on an anonymous forum.

If this annoys you, take it up with MNHQ.

TheKeatingFive · 22/09/2022 23:09

Maybe I just want to moan on an anonymous forum.

I think that point has been well established.

Keep whinging sister. 😆

Wouldloveanother · 22/09/2022 23:10

TheKeatingFive · 22/09/2022 23:09

Maybe I just want to moan on an anonymous forum.

I think that point has been well established.

Keep whinging sister. 😆

will do! Keep sniffing them tomatoes 🍅

TheKeatingFive · 22/09/2022 23:14

Keep sniffing them tomatoes

Gotta get quality 😉

Wilburisagirl · 23/09/2022 11:49

We occasionally do this, though definitely not every shop. Sometimes it's because we shop on the way home from somewhere but sometimes it's just because I see it as one of those easy ways to teach children some life skills. They learn by doing. Getting involved with list writing, seeing all the different vegetables etc on display, adding up in our heads along the way... It has also helped my fussy eater a little as she has occasionally picked a new vegetable to try because she is curious about something that caught her eye.

gatehouseoffleet · 23/09/2022 11:51

MariC · 21/09/2022 09:05

To all those who have provided a reasonable explanation for this and to those who have said really it is no-one else's business how a family chose to spend their time together ❤️

Show quote history

It is when it inconveniences others, such as kids screaming, running round the supermarket and ploughing into other customers with their scooters, supermarket trolleys etc.

It's about people generally making sure their lifestyle choices do not have an undue negative impact on others.

gatehouseoffleet · 23/09/2022 11:54

surely this is how children learn about life be doing errands etc with their parents

MNers seem to think that children need extensive training in every aspect of life. Other than the infernal self-service tills which I still can't always get to work even when I think I have it sussed, shopping is actually very easy. Go into shop, pick up item, go to till. It doesn't need 18 years of intensive training as a family.

woodhill · 23/09/2022 12:14

Exactly

They don't need to go to the supermarket every single week

Swipe left for the next trending thread