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 🍷

Completely agree but extend it to any shopping trip! So many times I’ve been at the supermarket with two parents dragging their so obviously bored children around, absolutely miserable or running around. I’m not talking about single parents who don’t have a choice but if there’s two of you, one should be entertaining the children away from a busy shop.

We have always gone together, we do not bother anyone and we can choose what we fancy. As she has been shopping since tiny, she knows how to behave.
Children need to learn about every day life, including the Christmas shopping.

Definitely
Majority of shops where I am in the UK are closed this year on Boxing Day which is great for the staff, unfortunately in the healthcare sector where I work, it never closes and people don’t get a lot of time off over Christmas and new year

Same here. I want to get into the shop, belt through my list and be back in the car before the heating cools down.

100% agree with OP. Selfish entitled behaviour, blocking aisles, kids messing around and as for kids in trollies. How dangerous and such a stupid thing to do. Rant over..

Hi op,

I am by all mean not thrilled with the level of noise coming from trillions of families together shopping. But if I choose to go last minute…I don’t also get to make the choice for others to not come 🤣

If you want to be shopping alone. Go 2 weeks in advance. Then it is calm.

If you are disorganized…there…these people are your crowd. Be happy to have found your people and cheer to the mess and noise 🫣

Problem is with the Christmas food shop is that fresh stuff needs to be bought especially if you are hosting and need to drive

In the past we have tried to buy most of it in advance then just walk to get a few last bits. We are fortunate to have a supermarket within walking distance

I've seen toddlers out shopping late at night, usually with very young parents. Their lives don't seem to change when they become a parent, mine where at home and in bed by 7pm.
Found the same when I worked for the NHS, families all come along for an outpatient appointment or visit to A&E. It was a day out!

We love a family Christmas shop. It’s the only time of year when we let the kids put what they want in the trolley. We end up with some strange dinner options over the Christmas period.

What a stupid thing to say.

Does that mean I should leave my kids outside next time I tuck myself into bed? Wait till they’re 18 so they can contribute to the mortgage??

Although I agree, I need DH to help me with the shopping when it's a big Christmas shop and my mother passed away so I don't have a babysitter. I would love to have the option to leave my kids with a sitter so I can get round the shop quicker but I don't have that option.

Yanbu - totally agree. Normally it’s just me, a few elderly ladies and a handful of single men in my local M&S early in the morning.
Today it was everyone in the whole city and they’d managed to bring their entire extended families with them 😭
Give it two weeks and it’ll be lovely and quiet again.

Hi Rosie! Nice to see a celeb turn up on here 🥰

You could have gone alone during the day in the week in last few weeks if you wanted to avoid children Tbf

How does that work with getting fresh stuff in date for Christmas? 🤯

I don’t get it. I normally go alone but don’t pay attention to who else is in different sized groups. I also wish my DD would come with me as it would be nice to have some company. If people enjoy doing family things together it’s up to them.

I generally couldn’t give a toss about who goes where but I do object to whole groups of people 4 abreast in the aisle with no awareness that anyone else exists and making it their mission to ignore you despite asking to be excused.

Frozen food?

Totally agree. I went for a pre op appointment last week and could barely get a seat in the waiting room. Everyone, other than me had one and sometimes two family members with them. There was even a family of five - for a 20 minute pre op! This meant everything took much longer than it should which was incredibly annoying as my daughter was getting married the next day!

Ok. So I'm not allowed and fresh food at all and I have to buy everything frozen weeks before Christmas when the kids are in school. Fucksake.

Quite.

OP will likely reply that she prefers fresh but, well, that's a choice not a need. Just like the people who preferred to bring their kids to the shops yesterday.

God, the whining is relentless.

Completely agree. So sick of seeing mum + dad + kids at supermarkets. *and kids often in wheelies charging around. So annoying!

Oh totally this!!!
Honestly, some of the parochial comments (especially from posters in the South/SE/ London area of England) are unbelievable-they clearly have no concept that Scotland can-and does-do things differently from their little corner of the UK...🤣🤣

Why do small children need to "learn to shop"? It's hardly rocket science!

Was just in Boots and Marks which thankfully weren't too awful, but the number of gormless men hanging round shelves getting in everyone's way, with a tribe of children in tow, was striking!!

I don't want bloody frozen food either - I want fresh, and I am not inconveniencing anyone by getting it, unlike you people with your unruly, bored kids!!