Major pet peeve, just me?

[DaisyChain505]

It really bugs me when I see whole families doing the weekly food shop in supermarkets.

The aisle are jam packed with whole families doing the food shop. Why is it necessary for both parents and the kids to all be there to do it?

They take up more space, the kids are ultimately in other shoppers way as they don’t have any spacial or situational awareness and are just wondering around aimlessly and it must be a more stressful trip for the parents compared to if one parent stayed home with the kids and the other went and did the food shop solo.

There was a thread on here one Christmas asking whether it was unreasonable to go both parents and 2 kids to do the big Christmas shop all together at 6am on Christmas Eve or some such. Apparently it was the only way they could do it and it simply wasn't manageable for one parent to go by themselves.

Why SHOULDN'T people go shopping as a family, or why SHOULDN'T retired people shop on a weekend? The entitlement is fucking outrageous.

When my children were little we all went to do the big shop, i don't drive so husband had to drive the 15 miles to the supermarket and as we lived hundreds of miles from family the kids had to come too. Sorry if i would have bugged you if you had seen us but would you rather i left the kids home alone ?

The entitlement is fucking outrageous.

You're not wrong there! But it's not coming from the OP! 😂

so if you couldn’t drive why couldn’t your husband go alone and you stay home with the children? This is the question I’m trying to figure out in these situations. By you saying you all had to go because you couldn’t drive you’re basically saying it was your job and responsibility and no other choice but for you all to go when actually there was another capable adult who could drive and go alone.

Surely it wasn’t a pleasant experience having one kid crying because they want something they’ve just spotted on the shelf, one refusing to sit in the trolley, one running round and you having to constantly keep on eye on them etc.

Surely it’s easier for one parent to stay home and one to go shopping.

It’s how children learn to shop.

Maybe you should shop online if you find the presence of others in a shop an issue.

Maybe they're on their way back from somewhere and it's easier to just pop in on the way.

Yes, that too - and budget, cook etc.

What I hate seeing more are young primary age children I know being dragged round the local superstore late on weekday evenings, well past sensible bedtimes, by their poor mums when they should be in bed. And I'm not talking about single mums doing the best they can. I'm talking about children whose fathers can't be arsed to watch their own children.

Families and retired people have the same right to shop whenever they like as you do.

I always think when you see this there's usually a controlling relationship or selfish dynamic in play: mum isn't allowed to do the shopping alone as he wants to see what she's spending and why. Or she can't drive and he won't do the shopping. Or he won't watch the children by himself at home.

Exactly. Bringing along the whole family is bizarre.

Well the have to learn shopping and special awareness somehow

This again?!

I personally think it’s really important for children to experience day to day life and not just have kids activities to do. It teaches them about food, money, manners, queuing etc.

And for everyone saying it’s easier to leave them at home. Well yes, if they never do these slower activities they will play up.

It’s an open shop with no age restrictions

Who decides to go with which family members is their choice

If I end up in a busy supermarket it’s up to me to not let other people piss me off

I excuse annoying kids, it’s not their fault their parents let them behave like that, there are just as many rude, entitled grown adults.

It’s just a busy supermarket.

Exactly. Kids need to learn how to behave in all environments, not just kid-friendly ones. I spent loads of time as a kid queuing in banks or post offices, returning things to shops, visiting garden centres etc. It's just part of life.

We'd often go out for the day and pop via the shops on the way home because it was easier than going home then one parent coming back out again.

We had times, getting back late, not enough time to cook what was in. So there we all are looking at the stick in oven ready made section. And then think “whilst we are here do we need anything?”

Is this not allowed in some people’s mind?

Well, luckily for some, I am no longer able to go shopping with my husband who has Alzheimer's and I shop online.
What used to piss me off when shopping with him when we were able to, was entitled single shoppers who felt we were in their way, whatever the time of day or day of the week, who pushed past this frail confused old bloke and tut tutted as if he shouldn't be there.
Perhaps people should try not to judge others without understanding different people's circumstances. They should also campaign for shops for entitled single shoppers if dealing with the rest of society is such a burden for them. Last I knew, we lived in a society which means rubbing along with other people which includes families.

I hate everything about supermarkets so I refuse to step foot in them. Click and collect or home delivery only!

@DaisyChain505 if you don't like the people in the supermarket, get your shopping delivered. It's you with the problem.

People are free to shop as they wish.

Because i was the one doing the cooking and he would not stick to a list and would have had the children eating chicken nuggets and waffles. I wanted real food not just pizza and lager.

And my children didn't run around or refuse to sit in a trolley. They went shopping until the eldest was old enough to look after them.

Not pathetic at all.....!

I have great memories of my kids doing exactly that and skidding around....God forbid they should have some fun....stop being so miserable. Of course I would only allow them to do this if the aisle was quiet so they weren't annoying any other shoppers else etc but c'mon, you were young once! And yes, of course we had/have lots of lovely days out elsewhere, but when they're that little it's normal for them to see everywhere as a playground, even the supermarket. Live and let live I say a long as they're not in people's way.....

I like joining a checkout when there are two adults and older children in front. They pack quicker than individual shoppers because they can't wait to get out and go home and also many hands.

Didn't it used to be 'kids should be seen and not heard'? I guess now they shouldn't be seen either!

Just an idea, if you can't bear to see children in a shop you could get yours delivered.