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 🍷

Yes the A and E thing

I can't get worked up about it tbh. I would never do it, but don't care seeing other DC around - it's Christmas.

Not one reason for couples shopping has ever entered your head?

Solo parents fine obvs, but so many couples with whinging toddlers in tow - just WTF would you all go supermarket shopping on the busiest day of the year. Here's a thought - one of you do the food shop, the other stay home entertaining the kids!

I don’t know why some people bring their partners with them. Some are clearly not regulars in the store and are basically a hindrance to the rest of us who want to get in and out in the shortest possible time. Endless bloody debates about bread sauce, vegetable quantities or nibbles! Blokes (it tends to be blokes) inspecting the packaging or suddenly doing a U turn in the middle of the aisle is just irritating.

They should be left in their cars!

MN hates kids in supermarkets. We tend to shop online anyway but if we do need to go to a supermarket, we often all go together as we tie it in with something else (we live fairly rurally so can't just 'pop in'). My two always enjoy a supermarket trip! Youngest is in trolley, eldest likes to help pick stuff and the obligatory browse of the toy aisle. I remember as a kid my granny would take me from supermarket to supermarket looking for bargains!

I think doing a supermarket shop three days before Xmas at the weekend is bound to be miserable, which is why our online Tesco shop just arrived

Sartre nailed this many decades ago. If we all realised this, we'd have much calmer lives, although 90% of AIBU would have to do.

(Not many people know that this line, from the play No Exit, was preceded by "Ooooh, don't get me started!".)

I agree and who on earth thinks it’s a good idea when it’s already rammed to give their little darlings their own tiny trolley? Boothes was carnage yesterday and one family taking up an entire isle with the kids throwing apples at each other (tiny trolleys abandoned in the middle) and mum taking her time trying various cheeses at the counter, dad completely oblivious reading a wine bottle.

In England we don't have that option as larger stores can only open for 6 hours on a Sunday and they're not open that late. I was in Sainsbury's yesterday and there were a lot of partners who clearly didn't know where anything was "helping" with the big shop.

It doesn't bother me tbh, find the kids better behaved then the adults and a lot more friendly

Lovely bit of ageism there.

Haha, we've just come back from a shopping trip as a family of five (no kids though, we range from 20 to 84). Doubtless there will have been a few grumpy lone shoppers eyeing us with catsbum faces. Our reason was that DH finally got a pay packet after six months of insecurity and being pissed about (long story) so we all wanted to choose a few extra luxuries for Christmas. We thoroughly enjoyed it and weren't hurting anyone 🤷🏻‍♀️

I agree that it's good for kids to experience going shopping. But there are many, many, MANY other weeks of the year where they can do this. Go on your own, get what you need as quickly as you can, and then get the hell out of there.

For one thing, there's so much illness around at the moment, the last thing you need as a family is the lot of you going to crowded places when it can be avoided.

😂

I felt like this yesterday in town — not kids, but dogs. Honestly, it must be one of the busiest shopping days of the year and it seemed as though every other person was there with their dog. Inside shops too. Now I LIKE dogs but not everyone does — DD’s best friend is really scared of them — and it just seemed ridiculous. It’s not as though it can be fun for them either, nearly getting trampled on the whole time.

I know what you mean, especially if they're younger kids or misbehaving. They're just a nuisance and in the way.
However, once they are older it's good to use them as minions. I have 3 and a well -practised Christmas grocery shop routine. Each one is given a list. I then take the trolley and cruise slowly up and down each aisle in turn. They retrieve the items on the list and bring them to me. I scan and pack. We're in and out in a few minutes. Job done.

When my boys were younger I would rather have left them with a stranger than take them into busy shops at Xmas.😂

It might knock some Christmas spirit into you 😜

Ultimately it doesn’t matter what anyone thinks. Children have just as much right to be in a supermarket or other public space as anyone else, no matter who likes it or not. It’s not a nightclub at 3am.

I’ll put myself out here as a source of hate, but we are that family. We went today me, DH and my 1 year old.

The weather was miserable so going to the park was out of the question, it got us out of the house and my LO really enjoys looking at all the people and things 🤷‍♀️

DH and I go with no list and like to decide between us what looks good.

We enjoy food shopping and didn’t realise it should be treated like a military mission where you have to be in and out as quickly as possible.

This seems to happen more and more.

I don't understand family outings for food shopping at any time of year - like weekends.

Dad's usually standing around looking oblivious to everything, Mums struggling with kids, buggies, family discussions over what to buy.

As does the habit of taking kids into the supermarket after school and letting then run wild. I avoid shopping from 3-4 for this very same reason.

FGS either do your shopping online if you have kids or go when they are in school or at home (if there is another parent around.)

Everyone has the right to be there just as much as you, OP! Not sure why you think you're entitled to a quiet shopping experience 3 days before Christmas.

You'll be happy to know we took our two dc yesterday to do our food shop. My dh wanted to come to choose things he'd like and our dc loved choosing little treats and biscuits and mince pies for Santa.
Get a grip.

The people that annoy me are the OAPs who stop and chat in the middle of the aisle meaning they block the entire thing. Just sod off and get a coffee together.

Why doesn't one of you go alone?

And why no list?

It doesn't take 2 adults and a 1 year old to do the food shopping.

Or why not shop online? Not now cos all the slots have gone but in future?