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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:
luxxlisbon · 18/09/2022 16:16

I thought this was the most annoying thing until yesterday the supermarket was full of full families food shopping but it was adult kids and grannies, uncles etc. I’m taking multiple groups of 8+ adults crowding around one trolley and blocking half the shop. So annoying!

AhhSlippedOnMahBeansRitaaa · 18/09/2022 16:17

Oooh I thought this was a zombie thread from COVID times then!

Hugasauras · 18/09/2022 16:18

We go together 🤷‍♀️ not for a whole food shop as we get those delivered but we needed some bits today so all four of us went. One of us could have gone side. but we like spending time together and it's more enjoyable to do together so why not? Never really understand the angst about this!

If we annoy anyone then I genuinely don't give a shit as there are plenty of other annoying people going around in the world! Grin

MoggyMittens23 · 18/09/2022 16:19

This reply has been deleted

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

Luckily no one has monopoly on supermarkets so luckily no one owes you an explanation anyway. Why not shop online if you find it so annoying? (waiting for the list of reasons why you are so special that you can't......)

Prinnny · 18/09/2022 16:20

Drives me barmy. Was the same in Tesco earlier mum, dad, toddler and two young boys, who kept running off then dad was storming down the aisles screaming at them! There’s literally a park next door, if you all need to go for transport reasons or to carry the shopping blah di blah do the kids actually need to be in the shop? Especially if they can’t behave!

Whynobreadpudding · 18/09/2022 16:21

if you are doing a weekly shop, it is exhausting doing it on your own, so I take my son who loves helping.

maddy68 · 18/09/2022 16:22

We always stop off to go food shopping after we have visited family so we are usually en mass

pompomdaisy · 18/09/2022 16:22

Yet there my husband is getting sworn at in Asda for daring to push his trolley where a family of 6 wanted to be! I think these families haven't got much else going on in their lives. Surely one parent could take the kids to the park?

Countingdowntodecember · 18/09/2022 16:24

Me and DH take our toddler to do the food shopping sometimes (when we can be bothered!). Yeah, it’s easier for one of us to go alone, but it’s good for children of all ages to be involved in real life tasks. It’s also quicker not to let him help with washing etc. but that doesn’t mean it’s not good for him.

My LO is only small so he mainly likes to help by putting items into the trolley but we also name what we are buying and talk about what we will use it for… When he’s older we’ll get him involved in meal planning and talk about money etc.

It’s a free and convenient learning experience, why wouldn’t you take them sometimes?

longtompot · 18/09/2022 16:25

We used to do this before ours kids were old enough to leave home alone. I can't drive & dh does so we all went.

piefacedClique · 18/09/2022 16:26

There is a special place in hell for people who do this!

LemonSwan · 18/09/2022 16:26

YABU, unless I go to the food shop then I end up with half of what I need. If I select meals for DPs cooking turns he can turn round and say he cba to cook them.

I am not going to be the only one who does a food shop and all the cooking. So we go together sometimes.

And now we have a baby so babe comes too. It’s a good day out for him to see other people and a new environment. I don’t like going with babe alone because if he kicks off I am screwed carrying a babe over shoulder and pushing a trolley.

YABVU.

Mind your own.

YellowTreeHouse · 18/09/2022 16:27

pompomdaisy · 18/09/2022 16:22

Yet there my husband is getting sworn at in Asda for daring to push his trolley where a family of 6 wanted to be! I think these families haven't got much else going on in their lives. Surely one parent could take the kids to the park?

Surely you can shop online if you’re so annoyed at other people?

Gr33ngr33ngr4ss · 18/09/2022 16:27

It annoys me more when people claim to be baffled but actually just wanted to be judgy & mean.

If you genuinely can't think of any reasons why people might do things differentlyto you, your lack of empathy is outstanding.

If you want to be bitchy, at least own it. The faux bafflement is nauseating.

Readaboutyourself · 18/09/2022 16:28

YANBU ~ Aisle hoggers. Just take them to the park as the other parent shops.

letmeknowwhenyourfree · 18/09/2022 16:28

Couldn't think of anything worse. I won't even take them to do click and collect. NO WAY

BadNomad · 18/09/2022 16:30

Maybe mum does the shopping but can't drive

Maybe they don't get much time together the rest of the week

Maybe one parent has a disability and needs help with lifting heavy things/full bags

Maybe they want their children to learn how to act appropriately in public

Maybe they did this with their parents growing up

Maybe they want to do it

Maybe they enjoy the experience

There are many reasons families do this.

fyn · 18/09/2022 16:30

We do sometimes, especially if we are out already doing something else. My two year old really enjoys a trip to the supermarket, she scans all the food and puts it in the trolley.

Our dietician actually recommend that she get involved with shopping to help her with picky eating and it has helped. We name everything that goes in the trolley too so she picks up new words and counts things into the trolley too.

nokidshere · 18/09/2022 16:32

If you hate supermarkets being full of people you don't think should be there then why do you go? Just do your shopping online.

Grandeur · 18/09/2022 16:32

YellowTreeHouse · 18/09/2022 16:27

Surely you can shop online if you’re so annoyed at other people?

Show quote history

It was the aisle hoggers who were annoyed at her poor DH, actually. Maybe you and your tribe should online shop if you can't stand people voicing their opinion on how people like you inconvenience others. Hope that helps!

Xmasbaby11 · 18/09/2022 16:34

I would never do it myself but can't say it really bothers me unless say we were on the way to / from a day / weekend away and calling in. I just feel grateful I generally get to go on my own!

I can think of a few families who do everything together and it's usually to do with convenience (already out together so stop off), only one parent drives or they just love doing everything together.

RiftGibbon · 18/09/2022 16:36

We did this yesterday. We had an invite to go to someone's house. Needed some shopping, and had to pass the supermarket to get to their house. Seemed sensible to stop off on the way and get what we needed rather than take a separate trip.

yikesanotherbooboo · 18/09/2022 16:36

I used to take the DC shopping because I would do it in the day time when I was in sole charge. If DH had been available I would have left them with him. I can't imagine all going together .

mondaytosunday · 18/09/2022 16:36

Totally agree. If this is considered entertaining the kids - wow.
Many places do delivery deals now but even paying £5 for a delivery is preferable to dragging everyone around - they'd spend that on the petrol to get there, plus the inevitable treat or two to placate the kids.

jennakong · 18/09/2022 16:37

Yes, I've always thought this. Not a driver, but my other half used to pick me up after the weekly shop with the children in the car. And just back from a dreadful family-packed Tesco today, which was like Easter Saturday or Christmas Eve. The fact that we still have this half-assed social distancing rule which means everyone queuing down aisles makes everything far worse too.