To think that Xmas food shopping isn't a sodding family day out?

[loveawineloveacrisp]

Just been to M&S for final food shop and the bloody place was over run with entire families shopping together. Just why? If the kids are old enough to be left then they shouldn't be traipsing around and getting in the way when the place is crowded as it is at this time of year.

And as for people who can't drive the right way round a one way car park: kindly fuck off and don't drive if you can't follow road signs.

That's all. Now can someone please pass the 🍷

But dps need to make sure nothing gets broken

I'm in NE Scotland,our local ASDA stopped the 24 HR opening due to serious youth disorder.

Should have added that was a number of years ago but the policy not to open 24 hrs at Xmas was kept in place.

As always, it's not so much the kids as the parents. You know, the ones who look on indulgently as their precious child(ren) run amok in the aisles (planes or supermarkets) or kick the back of your seat relentlessly. (Planes)
Bring on the child-free flights, bet there will be plenty of customers willing to pay a little extra. Or late adult-only night shopping, just on one weeknight?

I don't mind children in supermarkets tbh, so long as they aren't:

Riding a fucking scooter
Riding the trolley
Running races in the aisles
Screaming (babies are excepted, because babies are gonna baby)

Some children I've encountered recently have been truly charming- one little girl was warbling away singing Christmas songs. To be fair, her father kept trying to redirect her attention, and tell her that not everybody wanted to hear her singing, but I thought it was lovely. V festive.

And some children fetching bits and bobs for their parents too.

I personally like taking my ds shopping- but he's 17 and can go and get stuff from one end of the shop while I get from the other. Plus he can heft the heavy bags in and out of the car.

Why should they do any of these things?
Why are you policing how other people do their shopping?

I know others have said similar things but your comment stood out.

We go as a family for the Christmas shop so we all get to choose items we want. We’re a family of 3 but even if we had 6 kids, as long as they were well behaved it would be none of anyone else’s business.

YANBU. Of course they should leave the kids home alone to convenience you.

Only read page 1 & I agree with OP. Waitrose last week had no end of civilians, as I think of them: people of either sex & any age who don't normally do supermarket shopping but have been included in a family group - why? They moon about the place not actually doing anything or 'engaging with the shopping process' as it might be put these days, simply getting in the way & generally not knowing supermarket etiquette & being more likely to run you down if pushing a trolley than even the most harassed everyday shopper who tends to be fully alert.

They are a hazard & a nuisance & should be banned.

Merry Christmas to one & all.😂

Maybe more than one person went from each household because there was a lot to carry?

Can’t help but laugh at the prevalence of M&S and Waitrose amongst all these miserable posts and people that seem to have no concept of anything other than a 2.4 family (with first world problems of how to park the defender). Honestly - first world problems!

You're crazy lol!!

We always went separately. Kids running amok in a busy supermarket drive me nuts especially if they have one of those sodding mini trollies!!

I don’t mind kids, I have two of my own. But why on earth do parents feel the need to go out as a whole family at 7-30 in the morning to get the huge Christmas shop? One family, teenagers, a couple of tiny tots running about plus Mum and dad. Why can’t the parents go themselves and the older teens stay at home? Then I don’t know how many parents allow their young children push those tiny little trolleys about. They should be banned when it’s busy. I know I know I’m crabit but some folk have no common sense.

At least you’re not passive aggressive! Oh — hang on…

Because they want to go together?

When one of my kids (preteens) moans about coming shopping I always reply "You might hate shopping, but you definitely like eating! I don't particularly want to go myself, so get your shoes on you lazy little shit"

But generally speaking they enjoy the Christmas shop and want to choose treats for the trolley. It's good to teach children that sometimes we have to do things that aren't all that fun. I want them out in world, doing things, not staring at a screen all day while I run around making Christmas happen.

I really don't care if we are in your way OP

I don’t mind a 15 year old who’s adept with Self Scan, they’re an asset.

Sorry, it’s a sexist stereotype but it’s bloody true, but my issue is some men, gormless bloody men, who’ve rocked up today offering “help” to their significant others, or more likely being dragged along.

Yes they’ve parked the car in a teeny, tiny space, but have spent the next fucking hour with their trolley abandoned in the middle of the aisle gawping at the peanuts, expecting other shoppers to move around them, happy to let you lean across them to get the item they aren’t even wanting but are happy to block you from, completely oblivious to the rest of the shopping world. Stood at the check out watching their other half load the shit onto the belt then pack it at the other end. They are neither use nor ornament and would be better off out of the shop sat in the car. Never have I seen anyone as poor at trolley etiquette than the middle aged man.

Reader, I am middle aged.

Young men seem far more capable with getting in, getting done and getting out. Thank you mums of my age who’ve trained their sons to be better so their daughters don’t have to watch this shit.

We went first thing, after a treat of breakfast out. My little one loves sitting in the trolley and waving at people.

It doesn't bother me at all. I like to see families with children getting involved. All siblings went when I was a kid, and our kids come with us now. They're well behaved and enjoy choosing things, seeing what we're buying and helping out. They've got just as much right to be there as anyone else does.

It's also good for them to be a part of it from a young age; it certainly gave me an insight into the effort and price of things when I was young, and the work my dad (widower) put into making things special.

It's Christmas, we want to do nice things as a family. Choosing fancy food is a nice thing; we want our children there to be a part of it.

Don't worry though, we're in Norway shopping at Christmas time so we won't annoy you too much. Children are actually accepted in public spaces here, which is a nice reprieve.

I genuinely don’t understand people who get arsey when shopping at this time of year. These days there are so many alternatives to not having to do it, so if you’re at the shops at 2pm you’re choosing to be there!
I personally am one of those insufferable people who love it. Yes, it’s busy, and takes longer, but I find by being friendly and smiling, people respond in a similar way.

I think if people could accept that everyone wants to be in the same place at the same time, slap a smile on their face and let people out (in the car park), the world would be a much nicer place!

Maybe you could discuss it and then one of you goes.

Suspect it’s more to do with the fact most SEN parents can’t get their kids ‘watches’ as easily as other and leaving them home alone is often laughable. So many SEN parents end up with no choice but to take them, I hate HATE taking my ASD non verbal son to supermarkets especially this time of year but choice is a luxury many don’t have.

In terms of the original post…

There are no special rules for using supermarkets at Christmas time. If you want a quiet childfree shop then the owness is on you to go at irregular times to avoid families. Not everyone has two parent households to leave small children at home and even those that do may want to both go and choose their own Christmas foods without having to debate or argue it out between themselves. Having small children is isolating enough for relationships without having to do every task singularly lest your problematic small people inconvenience any other adult in any way.
‘old enough to be left at home’ reads as ‘old enough to want to choose their own food and have every right to do so as they’re independent young people. Why can’t they come along?

Frankly old people do my head in moving at 3 miles an hour, taking 30 minutes to chose their item and telling cashiers their life stories, I’m much faster with both toddlers and DH in tow. But you know what, they have every bit as much right to shop as I do so I just smile and crack on accepting it’s not everyone else’s responsibility to get out of my way. I suggest you do the same.

Ah the hapless once a year shopping husband totally oblivious to their surroundings can spot them a mile off.

Maybe they could just carry on as they are. How about that?

I can think of soooo many nicer things to do as a family that don't involve food shopping!!! It's a necessary evil so far as I'm concerned!!

I don't feel much like smiling when I'm being jostled and pushed, trolleys bashed into me, kids running screaming round the place, and everything taking twice as long because there's so many goddamn people!

God bless online shopping!

@TimeForATerf Yes, yes, yes!