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!

If you never take children anywhere, they don't learn how to behave in public.

I don't love supermarket shopping with my DC and don't take them every time, but they do need to see that food has to be bought and paid for, and to learn how to queue etc.

My kids used to enjoy coming with us to the supermarket!
They got to look around the toy aisle and add to their never ending Christmas list. They also loved looking at the books and magazines or the clothes, they liked picking things like new pyjamas etc.
I worked/work full time, weekends were insane and spending as much time with the kids as possible was something I wanted to do. We also did the usual days to theme parks, trips to the cinema, bowling, the park etc but unfortunately we still needed to shop for food.
If you really can't stand being around families trying to spend time together maybe get your shopping after 10pm when the kids will be in bed.

This sounds totally different to my experience, which is probably why we see it differently. I don’t care if other people take their kids shopping and see it as nice family time, it doesn’t change my “torture” 😂 Plus the sensory overload and crowd of the supermarket makes it completely intolerable anyway.

This

Love going with the kids. Discussing meals and planning. Teaching them about prices and how to shop economically and not fall into price traps. When very little food treasure hunts and getting them to find the apples. Teaching them how to look for fresh produce and looking at fates etc.

It's a huge learning opportunity, if you choose it to be. It's good fun and time together. Chores and daily life admin should include children. Otherwise, how do they learn? Someone has to teach them.

Amazing how many people think others are 'crazy' for not wanting to do things the same way as they do. Some people really have no imagination or ability to consider things from another point of view.

Does it really baffle you, even after reading all the threads on this subject? What age did you first take your children shopping, to teach them how to do it?

"Fun activity"

That's why the kids are screaming and yelling and whining, because they are having "fun".

This. It's ridiculous

It never occurred to me that people would have a problem with this before joining Mumsnet. I find that it’s a great activity for families and there are lots of positive things that a child can learn from a trip to the grocery store.

It’s nice to see families doing normal everyday things like this together.

Completely agree.

If you don't like interacting with other humans shop online.

Oh my goodness, do they piss me off!

Them and the idiots who can see you approaching to grab something, then move their trolley in the way 🙄

I presume this is why the op is up at 6:25 waiting for the supermarket to open.

This is why I love the flexibility of wfh and being able to go at 10am Monday. Absolute heaven of a time to shop. 😁

I can't speak for everyone else but I hated going food shopping with my mum.
Me and my sisters all hated it my mother would make us go even at the age of 14-16.
Still now I hate it so I do it online.
Never made my own kids come food shopping.
The last time I went to Tesco's I walked out.
Due to two screaming children.
Not babies 5-6 year olds running up and down shouting screaming crying I want I want.
MUMMY.
I thought fuck this and walked out.

That's why the kids are screaming and yelling and whining, because they are having "fun".

Children range from 0-18 years and have many different personalities.

My 2.5 year old asks to go to the shops and hold the bag of carrots etc. Sometimes he screams because he's 2.

As a kid shops were fun, Costco, ikea, big supermarkets if you were allowed to choose something.

Whereas being dragged around the shops when you're starving or would rather be at the park on a sunny day is not fun.

It's not really that hard to grasp.

She mentioned later in the thread she works there. So it’s not about a brief shopping experience for her.

Depending on how families shop it can be a really educational activity for kids which evolves as they age from talking about colours and textures to counting out items to budgeting and meal planning. I always take my children and make an activity out of it. I wouldn’t however have them running round the aisles or demanding things

Each to their own isn’t it.

I try to either get a delivery or go on my own. My kids go bananas at the supermarket so I avoid taking them if at all possible.

I often go on my lunch break as there’s a big Morrisons just down the road.

I love doing a nice big Tesco shop and don’t give a shit how many children are there. Bet op hates old people daring to shop as well.
Newsflash - you were an annoying kid once.

That is kinda sad.

I understand where the OP is coming from. It’s too much - mum + dad + elderly grandma + 3 or 4 kids. It’s weird.

I noticed during lockdown in my country that people were grocery shopping in huge groups as a social activity.

I remember sitting in the trolley seat but can’t remember the stages between that and the age of say 12.

Though remember going shopping on my own aged 16. My mum had sciatica and dad was on a business trip. Dad left some money to cover cost of taxi back and shopping.

I had to go this morning, whilst navigating the masses I overheard someone declaring 'who goes shopping on a Saturday, madness!' Well clearly you do!!!