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 🍷

If that many men are getting it wrong, maybe learning to shop isn't as simple as you think.

Learning to shop isn't difficult. Most men are hanging around gormlessly because they have no reason or purpose for being there, and their partner is doing the shopping! Or because of learned helplessness. They're only there getting in the way. I had to trolley dodge one man and his three kids several times because they kept plonking themselves in front of the shelves I wanted to access. His partner was nowhere to be seen!

Plenty of men can shop like an adult.

I mostly agree with you, I can’t think of anything worse than taking the whole clan out food shopping! That said, I did have to take my two daughters into Tesco with me earlier, as I needed a last few bits and was passing on the way home from an activity. I’m talking about 5 items though. Perhaps others are in similar situations?

The large number of people stood around having a Mother’s meeting in the aisles was highly annoying though!!

Out of genuine interest did you have flu jabs?

Supermarkets really need to crack down on this sort of thing.

Your little additions to threads are honestly my highlight sometimes

What do supermarkets need to crack down on?

Seriously you think you can dictate who goes to M&S and when? Bizarre 😁

I don't think she thinks she can - she's talking 'ideal world' territory!

I don't take my children anywhere unless I'm desperate.......but I can't leave the 6 year old at home to fend for himself, so I have no choice but to drag him with me. Besides, if I never took him shopping, how would he learn the proper etiquette of queueing patiently and respecting other people's personal space. These kids spend too much time on screens.

It's a solution someone has given. I have to take my teenage sons with he when I go shopping to help carry it all as I don't drive. In your op you are suggesting I do it alone.That would take 3 trips so so no thankyou. It's not all about you

Ok one DC was annoying and don’t enjoy supermarkets and taking DC - but still think YABU not to expect a crowd and families in Christmas holidays shopping.

The other option is to just get on with it when it's busy, and accept that other people are doing the same.

Yep! Buy whatever you like, don't throw stones in your glass foodhall when you've chosen to be there at that time and are taking up space buying inessentials yourself.

"Round the head"? How big was this child?

Weird that it's never been as bad as thus year. Wonder why.
Our M&S was like a kids & Dad day out too. All just getting in the way and not actually helping the mums. One dad was asked what cheese they should get and he just shrugged whilst on his phone. Kids grabbing and asking how about this one for about a dozen. I usually go past and come back, but on third attempt, had to budge through.
Annoying indeed.

If you were bending down to get something from a low shelf, it's feasible....or of the child is in a trolley they are likely to reach head height?

Because it is a normal part of life. You need to walk by your adult in charge, close to the trolley, mind others, be quiet, focus on something for 30 min, instead of being restless and shouting around.
From the beginning of humankind till the end, children are part of normal everyday life. And they need to learn to be bored, doing something serious. Instead of flopping around. Also, once they grow up enough, you send them to get items you forgot or are in other aisle, so you finish your shopping faster.

Frozen lettuce, cucumber,tomatoes, beans, broccoli! Really?🤔

I work in a supermarket, a lot of the time on on the self service tills. It’s not the children that bother me it’s when you get four adults standing around a till and you’re trying to authorise a transaction. Especially when it only takes one person to actually do anything and the other 3 are just standing there🤦‍♀️

This, I said multiple times yesterday if you want me to help you, your going to actually have to move. By the end of my shift I was "accidentally" stepping on people's feet that also makes them move 🤣

This ^^.

Probably needs two people at the most.

Wish kids stop mucking around. Jump from bagging area scales onto the floor- this damages them, swing on the barriers etc.

If they are well behave and not bothering anybody whats the problem i had no choice when mine were little i had to take them everywhere with me gp appointments even intimate ones, dentists optician shopping etc i didn't have family close buy etc hubby was a hgv driver so worked during the week. Fortunately my kids were well behaved

Most on MN don't seem aware that some people work over Christmas, don't have all day off on Christmas Eve off etc. Thank you for being at work so that the rest of us know we are safe.

I think you should stop worrying about this. Most of us cannot afford to do a whole Christmas shop in M&S - Aldi is more likely. And yes, there were people with children when I nipped in this morning to buy some beer - all very well behaved, too.
Anyway, why not Ocado instead?

20 years ago, I worked at a mobile network. Volunteered to work CD as customers got mobiles for presents and if any issues, could ring us.

Work paid for taxis both ways and got triple pay.

Unsure if any mobile networks have call centre staff on tomorrow. Obviously have those who fix masts, some will be on call JIC there is an issue with any on the network or gets damaged by an idiot driving into one.

Much better doing this than would be planning to spend a few hours with 6 under 10 - my ex's nieces and nephew and their cousins.