Families shopping together

[Mokel]

Do entire families need to do their grocery shopping together? See both parents, 4 kids and another relative (grandparent, aunt etc). It does not need 7 people do a shop.

Clog up the aisles, kids demanding that they want this and that and kids running around. Shops are not playgrounds!

Grocery shopping isn’t a hobby, it’s a chore!

No way would I do a shop with my dh or ds. They would drive me to distraction and shop would cost twice as much. Dd on the other hand will suggest dinners and help pack etc.. However, the manner in which other families choose to shop or the reasons why they choose to shop that way has never crossed my mind. I didn't realise there was a right or wrong way to shop, just that it was a necessary part of life and it is up to each individual or family to do it whatever way suits their own particular circumstances. And if I did have an issue, I would assume it was my issue and change my own behaviour if I found something outside my control was annoying me.

i collect the kids from school then dh from station and then, as we’re in town do the shopping together. My kids don’t run off, they don’t mess, yes there’s 6 of us so I get it’s annoying for some people (we do get looks sometimes as we try to figure stuff out- especially in the fruit section (can’t afford to go crazy but everyone wants something different), but it’s our Friday evening thing. I get that it adds to the chaos numbers wise though

Families have more time together if they do an online shop with delivery.

I'd say... YABU It must be a special occasion.

I just hate busy shops. So I sort of get the reason for the post. So I go when it's quiet, Wed or Thur nights are usually best for me. Got a shopping list, know what I want, where it is (as long as stores haven't fecking moved it). I'm in and out like a ninja. Years of practice.

YABU

Shopping is a chore so they take the family to make it less of a chore. Sounds nice to have all those people with you.

It only takes one idiot to clog, an aisle families are not the sole cause.

I’m annoyed by children running around and screaming in supermarkets. I’m annoying by people parking their trolleys in front of the cabinets, so I can’t get to them. I’m annoyed by short dates, especially on online shopping.

Other people are annoyed by older people shopping at the weekend.

I guess we’re all being entitled and doing what we want.

Also agree with others that it's miserable to complain about this.

My children love coming with me and I'm certainly not going to stop because of someone miserable like you.

When I was a child we all went shopping together. We didn’t really have much money so the ‘big shop’ was the event.

I think it’s a time filler for people. Would I like this? No. But it’s easy enough to step around them.

YABU

Heartily agree.
If someone came on here and moaned that their DH never took part in grocery shopping and the lifting etc required they'd be on it like a shot!

If you don't like it, go early or late... you are entitled.

That anyone would thing doing a large supermarket shop with their children would think it's fun. They are entitled to their opinion, obviously.

Putting LOs in the trolley is very fun. People can find joy in life, it's not that shocking. If it was stated as a hobby, then sure, that's over the top.

It depends on the context. Recently, Dh, 2dc, MIL and I were all in town for something and we needed to stop at the store to get food for dinner. It was too hot for anyone to stay in the car. And not really safe for them to run around a busy car park. So everyone came in. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I imagine there are plenty of families who have to drive a family member to the shop and do their shopping at the same time.

Now personally I’d never by choice take the whole family shopping. I order my shopping for home delivery, but 10 years ago, when that wasn’t so much the norm, yes, we did go shopping as a family because the closest shop was 30 minutes away and we would combine it with a day out to save on travel time and costs.

For some people without much going on in their lives, a trip to the supermarket is an ‘activity’. Then again, I’d say the same for someone who thought looking yellow stickers was the best bit of shopping.

It annoys me too so I just shop online - problem solved for me, a very easy and convenient solution!
I don’t see it as a leisure activity, to me it’s a chore.

How are we making fun of people for enjoying life? I don't see how being miserable and hating 90% of life is better.

Reminds me of the thread on parties where people scoffed at the idea of two parents attending. All of the ones I've been to had couples, and people chatted to other parents and enjoyed watching their dc. I don't see how standing there alone is much fun.

Possibly not, but at least they would be out of other people's way.

They don’t need to be out of other peoples way, if you don’t like it do your shopping online, it’s your problem not theirs.

I don’t think you meant to reply to me? I enjoy life, but wouldn’t include supermarket shopping in that enjoyment. We didn’t have any childcare outside of school/wraparound when DS was of an age of needing a parent to stay at parties, so one of us would go and the other go off and do something fun. Though since we moved countries, we’ve actually become very good friends with DS’s friends’ parents, and the kids playing often involves us also have adjacent plans.

I'm not a fan, I find large groups of people claustrophobic. In my experience I've found families blocking a whole aisle, shouting at the kids etc. I find it massively overwhelming sensory wise. HOWEVER this is a me problem so I order online or go in the week when it's quieter. If families want to shop together then they do them and I do me.

I have read about other annoying groups - old folk and women with babies and young children who have all day to shop are cluttering up the aisles and checkouts at lunchtime This is the only time when busy and more important people who “work” are able to shop.

I dislike rude people far more than specific groups of people, most people are fine though and just concentrating on their own stuff. I go shopping and am back home packing it away by 8am. Definitely a chore that causes anxiety (have social phobia so just going outside/being around people worries me a lot). I always try to avoid Sundays as they open so late and are always way too busy for me.

Go during school hours then... or early in the morning

Going shopping with your kids is normal. Shopping on your own during family time weekends is sad if you don’t have to. Children need to learn to go shopping.

Going as a family group with GPs etc. also nice and good example to kids.