to wonder why parents give their children food in supermarkets when it is not yet paid for?

[purplepeony]

Do you?

is your child so hungry that you have to grab a frnech stick, break bits off and feed it to them then present the empty packet at the checkout?

Are mums so disorganised that they cannot feed teir child before they shop?

Are they keen to feed (ha!) the "I want it now" mentality?

It really annoys me when I see this going on, asit means kids grow up not being able to wait one second from asking to being given.

Is it really neccessary to be offensive and personal because someone has a different viewpoint?

I used to share the OP's point of view. I wouldn't have dreamed of giving my children snacks from the shopping (or snacks I'd bought from home either) whilst in the supermarket. Looking back, I don't know how I achieved this, and I was certainly lucky that my dses didn't have tantrums or meltdowns in the supermarket - if they had done, I might have ended up giving them something to eat. And they certainly weren't little Peter Perfects either, which is why I say I am not sure how I managed tantrum-free supermarket shopping.

However, having read threads like this, my opinion has changed somewhat. Supermarket shopping is stressful enough without coping with screaming, stropping, fighting, bored toddlers, and if giving them something from a barcoded pack enables you to shop in peace and quiet, fair do's to you. I don't think it is right to do this with food that has to be weighed and priced at the checkout, though - a view that, it seems, the vast majority here share.

But the posters who convinced me to change my opinion are the ones who made their points without going on the offensive and name calling. The OP isn't saying she's a saint or her children are perfect, any more than I am.

I agree with Bran.

Confession time...
My DH has been known to eat a gingerbread man in the supermarket and finish up the buttons too, thereby disposing of all evidence. And he didn't 'fess up at the checkout.

His 'justification' is that we are suppliers to said supermarket. Every time we get an invoice from them for retrospective discounts, promotional support, compulsory fee for featuring in the Christmas brochure etc etc he thinks of the gingerbread man and smirks.

I'm sure most parents would prefer not to have to open a pack of something whilst in the supermarket because it's a hassle but sometimes needs must and let's face it, it's not the most inspiring of past-times for small children to be on a trolley in a supermarket for, say, 45 mins while their parent does a big food shop.
You could feed a child a great big lunch and there's still no saying that they wouldn't get hungry again an hour later while you're in the shop. That's the thing with kids, they're often pretty unpredictable!

it really is no issue

...unless they're being given liqueur chocolates to satiate them of course

Flight- I won't waste my time answering any of your posts- as you told me most charmingly, to fuck off.
But I will report you to MN for being offensive and out of order.
If you can't have a proper debate without being personal and swearing- and I have made no personal attacks on anyone here, despite being attacked ferociously- then you shouldn't post at all.

That's the thing with kids, they're often pretty unpredictable and drink it

purplepeony - maybe if your OP hadn't been so condescending you might not have had such strongly worded replies? This is AIBU after all.
Just a thought for next time

Beyond tosh.

"Are mums so disorganised that they cannot feed teir child before they shop?"

As a dad, who picks up his daughter straight from work, I often have to go home via the shops. Sorry that this puts me in the disorganised category of people who cannot feed their children before they shop - in future, I'll take her to the office with me and give her a biscuit on the bus home, shall I?

"Are they keen to feed (ha!) the "I want it now" mentality?" No - more tosh. I feed the "your mum and dad will decide what you can have, when you have it, and how much of it you have, end of" mentality.

And also the "we give food to hungry children" mentality.

And most especially the "MYOFB" mentality.

UTGSN = Unless They've Got Special Needs.

Bran put it best. I agree with Bran.

yabu - shopping is boring for youg children. I often time it on purpose so they can have their lunch in the trolley whilst I shop - I normally take a packed lunch but if I haven't I think nothing of giving them something from a pack before I pay for it.

When I was pregnant with DS, I had a real craving for Foxes Glacier mints - a real drooling, got to have one now kind of craving and I remember being so deperate for one in Sainsbos that I opened a packet on my way round and had practically finished it by the time I got to the checkout!
The lady at the checkout was really nice about it, though, and obviously I paid for the packet...and the other 5!

If you want to change someone's mind, as mine has been changed, it's not best done by being offensive, imo. And I do feel that people's responses on this thread have been out of all proportion to the original post.

finish up the buttons

I don't have strong feelings about this, sometimes my kids have a snack, sometimes they don't, I agree with the poster who said its in their nature to be unpredictable. Although my DS could have the biggest lunch imaginable and then if he is faced with wall-to-wall food (his favourite pastime) he will probably still claim to be hungry. I'm sure somebody can explain better than me the difference between live, human babies and toddlers who have a mind of their own and robots?!

Personally, I would rather not hear a screeching child whilst shopping so I am pretty inclined to go with the flow and if the parents feel its best to give a snack to their child then so be it.

However, I also work in education and completely oppose the view that 'wanting it now' is the root of all evil for today's children. Absolutely none of the problems faced by the children i teach stem back to parents giving them a few grapes in the supermarket.
A few slaps....yes
Giving hardly any food at all....yes
Not knowing what a grape is.....yes
Not knowing what a parent is.... yes.

Have a good xmas

Hully, I have reported your post.

I don't know how I achieved this

I just thought you might appreciate a 'thank you' from MN. You brighten up the thread

Beyond tosh.

Haven't read through the entire thread, but I think YABU.

I often take something with me for my toddler to have when we're shopping, but get equally irritated looks from people who assume that it's food from the supermarket which I've not yet paid for. I think people should be concentrating on their shopping and not what mothers are doing with theirs, unless of course they're hankering after a career as a store detective and need the practice!

Bran agrees. Tether doesn't, but she has ishoos (and shares in Tescos).

hasnt this been done before?? actually several times!! boring!!!!!!

No, I don't think so.