AIBU to be fed up with screaming children in the supermarket?

[Njuy]

I went to the supermarket about half an hour ago and OMFG! Every child was screaming. There were at least 15 children aged (guessing) 18 months - 9 years old. Not one parent was bothered.

I was in the store for 5 mins

I was planning to have an alcohol free evening. Not anymore.

I remember thinking the same thing many years ago, then a few years later it was me with a screaming toddler! It really was a case of unregulated, meltdown behaviour and it was bloody hard every time it happened.

Knowing that was the only time I had I would try my best but on several occasions I've had to drag out, literally by the feet more than once.

I do agree however that some parents do let their kids run around and don't pay attention to them or people around but most are desperately trying to get through the nightmare so they don't have e to come back again.

They should be chained up outside the supermarket

I mean, maybe there is a case for little padded 'soft play' boxes with toys that you could lock your child in and collect them at the end? There could be some sort of cloakroom system, where you're issued with an electronic ticket that unlocks your child's box.

My kids would love to be locked inside a box like that, they'd think it was great.

Like the trolly storage lockers by the cafe in Morrisons 😂

lol I often think about ppl like you when I am at the supermarket with my screaming children but then I tbink at least when they leave the supermarket it stops for them I’m stuck with it ! It’s not pleasant for anyone tbh but everyone needs shopping at the end of the day ! Maybe try going later on in the evening or buying ear plugs

Maybe they are escaping their screaming children leaving them home with their partner for a break 🤷🏻‍♀️

They're about the right size. Maybe knock two of them together? You could definitely fit a kid or two in each.

I do food shop online, get it delivered. Sorted.

There might also be the risk that the parent might accidentally 'lose' their ticket & insist that their child is the angelic-looking one, too young to say "but you're not my mummy/daddy" while their little monster is the one left in the box at the end of the day...!

Reminds me of my auntie who used customer services in the supermarket as childcare. The tannoy would announce "please can the mum of Jenny come to customer services where her daughter is waiting ". My auntie would just carry on with her shopping. 15 mins later: "Would Jenny's mum PLEASE come to customer services right away!!!"

@Thebinisrightthere . I have been known to hiss to my DH, "Let's pretend that they're not ours", but I haven't yet reached the point of trying to appropriate someone's angelic curly haired tot in their place. Partly out of misplaced loyalty, but partly also because I'm not sure a child like that would be tough enough to survive and thrive in our house...

It's a bit like when DMIL gives us an M&S orchid for Christmas and we all take bets on how long it will last.

Maybe ! I’d love that luxury ! I have been known on occasion to be out food shopping at 6am when my husband is around to
avoid having to take mIne. It is truly tortuous at times ! I’ve definitely considered abandoning my trolley half way thru !

One of the reasons I do online shopping 🤣

Toddler age and under, crying and meltdowns are common and pretty much acceptable. Any screaming and tantruming above that age, and it’s unacceptable, but unfortunately, short of banning parents who can’t control their older DCs, there’s not a lot people can do. It shouldn’t be difficult for a parent to stop their older children from using the supermarket isles like a playground.

I don't blame the kids, I blame the parents dragging kids to the supermarket after school when they're tired. I used to drop mine off, or now wave the last school age one off, and then go to Costa in the supermarket for breakfast, and then do the shopping.

I think you're perfectly well aware OP's not just talking about 'a couple of upset children'. I also think you're perfectly well aware of the scale and nature of the screaming OP's talking about - I suspect we've all experienced it - and are just being disingenuous here.

Only annoys me if the whole family is out together including dad and they take up every single aisle they go down🫠🫠 surely one of them would have been better staying at home or the park. It's not a weekend activity! even couples shopping together with no kids drives me mad. Slowly debating each item on their list. Parents on their own who have had to go to the supermarket usually aren't doing it out of choice 😂

If they are not my children I don't even hear them. And if I happen to hear or notice, I don't care, again as long as they are not my children.

Or get them out of the shop to settle so they do not disturb others.

We need more of this. Screaming children are just an excuse for p* poor parenting.

I really don’t think anyone is taking their kids shopping after school out of choice. Not everyone has the luxury of having someone to drop them off to or having time on their own for a coffee before heading out shopping.

So you're saying you think children have literally no choice but to scream and are powerless to not do so?

So in your world anyone who minds a small child tripping people up and getting in their way is a 'miserable witch', do you? Lovely. 🙄There are plenty of places a child can laugh and play around, there's no need for it to happen where people are trying to shop.

And presumably it's occurred to you that if she trips someone up, she herself could get hurt?

Put headphones on and play music while you shop.

I see lots of kids about but never find them badly behaved or a problem. I can only think from seeing all these posts on Mumsnet that some people who feel negatively towards families and children have had some kind of karmic sentence passed on them to be perceiving themselves to be followed around by screaming kids and indifferent parents, as I just don't see it and never have, even when I was in the trenches with my own kids.

I work in a supermarket and there was a girl of about 5 at my till the other day repeatedly kicking her father because he wouldn’t let her have a doughnut. She was screaming the place down. Babies crying and toddler tantrums I can tolerate but not that kind of behaviour.