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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

535 replies

purplepeony · 21/12/2009 18:50

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.

OP posts:
MIFLAW · 22/12/2009 17:18

I know.

I just find it richly ironic that a poster (not specifically this one, obviously - this is a general comment, not a personal attack) - can question other people's morals, child-rearing skills, household management skills, and, ultimately, the children of such unfortunates, and then come over all hurt if someone even suggests that he or she might also have flaws.

Me, I may be many things, but I'm no hypocrite.

I guess I was just brought up better than that ...

Flightattendant · 22/12/2009 17:20

I'm off to have some sausages...paid for in advance, obviously...Not a personal attack btw.

Original poster
purplepeony · 22/12/2009 17:24

MIFLAW for you ...

Note: Please bear in mind that this topic encourages posters to give their opinions - i.e. they might disagree with you. That said, in line with our Talk policy elsewhere, we don't allow personal attacks no matter how unreasonable you think someone is. Do report any you see

OP posts:
MIFLAW · 22/12/2009 17:28

Yes, thank you, peony - dragged up I may have been, but I managed to scrape together a basic grasp of reading en route.

I don't believe, however, that I made a personal attack. Indeed, I went out of my way to say that I could never know whether what I had suggested was true.

Unless you mean that when you say "maybe" it's just a harmless thinking aloud whereas when I say "maybe" it is a barbed and direct assault?

"Maybe I was brought up too well" - and therefore, as someone who disagrees, the implication is that I wasn't.

Seems like an attack to me.

Would that I had had your education so I could see the difference, OP!

pooexplosionsonthedustyroad · 22/12/2009 17:32

Its really pissing me off the assumption of some that I might give my toddler a bit of the french stick because he's unable to wait, or badly behaved, or because I'm a piss poor parent. (although any/all of these things may well be true!
I generally do it because he likes it, no other reason. And I, shock horror, prefer my child happy than not!

Please do come and take them away though, I clearly am unfit.....(no really, please so, I need some sleep...)

Flightattendant · 22/12/2009 17:33

You're allowed to make generalised personal attacks against every other poster on a thread, it's only if you differentiate that you get it pulled.

If I shout 'you are all horrible loonies' it would probably stand....much as OP's suggestion that we were all brought up very poorly.

MIFLAW · 22/12/2009 17:41

Ah, yes - that makes sense.

Or rather, it doesn't at all, but them's the rules.

However, we all know what hypocrisy is, rules or not.

Not an attractive quality at all, in my opinion.

But then again, a hundred and fifty years ago they'd have hung me for a felon, so what do I know?

MIFLAW · 22/12/2009 17:41

I mean, of course, hanged.

My poor upbringing showing through again there.

Flightattendant · 22/12/2009 17:45

I'd rather be hanged for a melon. Or some grapes. happy Christmas Mif.

PhaseolusNativitatus · 22/12/2009 17:48

that your post was deleted, MIFLAW. It was amusing and rounded the whole thing of rather well.

I am most that peony felt it necessary to have it removed. In fact, I am quite disgusted-of-tunbridge-wells that MN agreed.

Rindercella · 22/12/2009 17:51

MIFLAW, you sound lovely . Just wanted to say that. Oh, and I always read your name as MILF!

everlong · 22/12/2009 17:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

bluesparklypartydress · 22/12/2009 18:09

I've done this before - no problem. Usually something like a cheese string from a multi pack so not having to put an empty wrapper through at checkout

Once when we were kids my dad let me and my sisters eat cornettos out of a multipack in the supermarket and paid for the half-empty box. We thought this hilarious at the time. I don't see the big deal.

Think it's a bit cheeky eating fruit etc and not paying for it

MIFLAW · 22/12/2009 19:12

Thank you, kind friends - and a merry Christmas to you all.

Even to you, peony.

just make sure you don't start celebrating it a second before midnight. Hands off those mince pies!

lovechoc · 22/12/2009 19:19

I've never thought of feeding DS food in the supermarket that hasn't been paid for yet. I tend to rush it all, so that we get out the shop THEN he has a snack of some sorts.

YANBU - they won't starve to death because of a shopping trip!

RedSkyHearsSleighbellsRinging · 22/12/2009 19:24

I personally shove a snack like a packet of raisins or a fruit bar in my handbag before I go shopping and then if dd wants a snack once in the shop she's got one. I would never consider eating something from the shop until it was paid for, but it's not illegal either and what other people do is their business. If a child's hungry and someone doesn't have something on them then it would be more unfair to make a child wait, surely!

I think you are being ridiculous OP. Some people jump on and judge everything!!

YABU.

PrincessFiorimonde · 22/12/2009 19:33

Golly gosh, it's all sweetness and light here, isn't it?

Tethers it was ME wot said it first about Bran!!!!

H
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P
Y

C
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ijustwant8hours · 22/12/2009 20:01

I've had a shocking day. I feel like I am going to loose it at any minute. DH is out getting pissed, the kids are both ill and I should really be in hospital myself.

I feel shit enough as a parent as it is at the moment, I am really really finding it hard and now I feel worse because I give my kids food in supermarkets. I didn't realise that this is yet another I do that will ruin their lives

I so badly need to get a grip!

aseriouslyblondemoment · 22/12/2009 20:05

YANBU
it has always annoyed me
it's a shocking example to set to your kids
mind you i get just as cross seeing adults doing this as well

BellasSparklyBaubles · 22/12/2009 20:07

Crikey.

I fed my children unpaid for food in supermarkets for 2 years. Going shopping with 2 under two is no laughing matter.

None of the supermarkets complained.

Profits were probably up because I bought more than I would have done otherwise, and also other shoppers were not sent running from the store due to my screaming dc

My dc were happy.

So apparently the only people who don't like it are those sad feckers who have nowt better to do than get all het up over other [people feeding their children.

Get a life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

golgi · 22/12/2009 20:09

I think I'm going to make an effort to do this more often, now I know it annoys so many people.

shonaspurtle · 22/12/2009 20:32

Indeed Bella, I would never buy something like a little pre-packed bag of grapes & apple slices to take home - what a rip off! However, Tesco & Asda manage to sell me one for ds to eat in situ on a fairly regular basis.

They're quids in! They should be bleedin' grateful for my degeneracy.

Paolosgirl · 22/12/2009 20:33

Crikey, is this still going?!

I suggest, that in honour of PurplePeony, we (that is, all the slatterns who feed their kids on the way round the supermarket) make a point of feeding our offspring a snack from the shelves the next time we're wheeling a trolley filled with wailing, whiney children, with the words "here's to PurplePeony - enjoy!"

All those in favour say "aye"

loobylu3 · 22/12/2009 20:43

How is feeding a baby or toddler a bit of French stick going to teach them an "I want it now" attitude? In any case, a small child (toddler/ baby) is never going to understand waiting! Much better to have a happy child and survive the supermarket run!

ThingumyandBob · 22/12/2009 20:44

If you have a bad day at the office, make a huge fuck up, or are just ?new to role? and get it wrong you can do so in the privacy of your own work space, and people might say, oh he/she is new after all..

?..if you are a Mother however and you bad day and fuck up happens to coincide with a trip to the supermarket, it?s there for all to see?.great! You might disapprove of mothers feeding food on the way round, someone else will disapprove of child/children throwing a full blown hunger endued strop! You can?t win!

And you post this at Christmas time!!! THE most stressful time to go near a supermarket! So yes, today because I was not able to accurately predict the length of time it would take for me to complete my car journey in the Christmas traffic, my Childs hunger coincided with our trip to the supermarket so we visited the café afterwards, the food was overpriced and a bit nasty and I had to wait ages, frankly, now that I have seen how many people get away with it I think next time we will nibble on the way round?..thank you for your post OP?..I learn so many interesting tips from Mumsnet!!

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