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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to have not picked up the sweets DS chucked all over Sainsbury's floor?

191 replies

YoMoJo · 19/05/2010 17:17

popped into local "convenience" store earlier today.

Long queue as always, which is directed along the aisle that is packed with crisps, chocolate & sweets.

More sweets & chocolates at till points.

DS (2.5 yrs) fed up of continuously being told "NO" he couldnt have any sweets/chocolate/crisps then proceeded to chuck about 10 Mars Bars on the floor whilst I packed & paid for my shopping at the till.

In protest at having to queue in the said aisle I left them all on the floor & walked out the store.

so AIBU

OP posts:
cupcakesandbunting · 19/05/2010 17:33

"Part of that equation (for me anyway) is the supermarket taking responsibility when the child they are targeting acts like children do and throws them around."

Bollocks. The OP is the adult so she should have behaved like one and picked them the fuck up. Part of the equation of being a parent = your LO makes a mess, you or they pick it up. FGS...

Original poster
YoMoJo · 19/05/2010 17:38

I dont have an issue with queuing, just that you have to queue amongst the sweets, they know that 90% of people will chuck a chocolate bar or packet of crisps in their basket without a second thought.

but yes, my-one-women-takes-on-the-world-of-global-commercialism attitude should have been directed more responsibly.

OP posts:
cupcakesandbunting · 19/05/2010 17:44

Yes, I understand that you have a problem with sweets being located near the till. Personally, I hate kid's comics being near the till as DS always bawls for one but I wouldn't protest about it by letting him hoy them all over the floor then flounce off in my self-righteousness leaving minimum wagers to pick them up. It's not like the manager who actually has some influence is going to come out and pick them up.

Sorry to keep going on but as someone who has to deal with people like this in my job, it has rankled with me a fair bit.

mangoandlime · 19/05/2010 17:47

I expect you will have a good guffaw with your friends about it though, right? You showed 'em.

Fibilou · 19/05/2010 17:48

You were definitely being U. It's not the store's fault it was busy and certainly not their fault that your son had a paddy. Why should the staff have to clear it up ?

Goblinchild · 19/05/2010 17:48

YABU, but I bet you were judged in a negative light by everyone in the shop.
Not having sweeties at the till is a fairly recent development, M&S still have them.

MilkNoSugarPlease · 19/05/2010 17:48

YABU...that's shockingly rude and downright selfish

cupcakesandbunting · 19/05/2010 17:51

Also, lots of parents manage to get through the sweet-adorned checkouts without their wunderkind throwing a benny because they can't have any so maybe this little episode says more about your parenting than about the supermarket. Little Montague can't have sweeties so little Montague throws them all over the floor. And you signal to him that this is fine by not admonishing him or picking them up

herbietea · 19/05/2010 17:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

BabyDubsEverywhere · 19/05/2010 17:56

Its a shop! of course they want you to buy stuff you silly woman! Its marketing, they want you to buy the most stuff possible, and market each item accordingly - if you dont like it dont use 'shops' anymore. What gives you the right to go into the shop and decide that your brat can do what he likes cause you dont like to que by chocolate - I have never heard anythin so ridiculous. Grow up.

usualsuspect · 19/05/2010 17:58

I understand how difficult it is to get children through the checkouts with sweets tempting them ...not everyone has perfect peter children still think yabu

janeite · 19/05/2010 17:59

I think that you are being a) unreasonable and b) deliberately setting out for a reaction on here.

Good God - you are going to end up bringing up gorgeous children if you can't control a 2 year old AND you're teaching him that throwing a strop and leaving litter is acceptable.

Classy.

lovebugs · 19/05/2010 18:01

I am a retail manager and have no say on product placement within my store.Your attitude stinks, my staff,and me,are not paid to pick up your "protest".If you did that in my store i would have told you to pick the bloody stuff up or pay for it.If a child does that of course the staff have no issue, but when their parent-the supposed adult- just leaves it on the floor thats just disrespectful to the people working there.Retail can be very rewarding but ignorant people like you can make it shit.
And breathe......

jessiealbright · 19/05/2010 18:02

YABU

The only way I can see this being a legitimate protest is if you'd written a letter to the store manager BEFORE your visit, telling him or her they needed to have more tills open, so you weren't forced to queue up the confectionery aisle, and warning him/her that you'd let your toddler throw a tantrum, otherwise.

And that's pushing it.

differentID · 19/05/2010 18:03

yabu- what an example to set your child. Disgraceful behaviour.

So when your dc refuses to pick something up what will you do when they say- "but you didn't mummy!"

TopsyKretts · 19/05/2010 18:09

Er, hasn't the OP been back and acknowledged our replies? No need to keep kicking!

FabIsGoingToGetFit · 19/05/2010 18:11

YWBU

What was your point?

It will teach your child they can just throw things around without having to pick them up. It won't stop the shop having sweets at the check out.

FabIsGoingToGetFit · 19/05/2010 18:13

WTF is an indigo child?

differentID · 19/05/2010 18:17

I know it's wiki, but still...

Morloth · 19/05/2010 18:17

Fab Indigo child is the modern term for brat.

FabIsGoingToGetFit · 19/05/2010 18:18

Thanks Morloth.

I don't have any indigo children

An indogo cat at times, maybe..

misdee · 19/05/2010 18:20

in case you dont know. YABU

differentID · 19/05/2010 18:23

Morloth- I didn't dare type that, not having dc yet myself.

FabIsGoingToGetFit · 19/05/2010 18:25

lol at my typo

indogo when talking about my cat.

Spatchadoodledo · 19/05/2010 18:35

"so now your child thinks that if he is told 'no' then he can have a tantrum and then doesn't even clean up after himself! i would have stood there and made my dd pick them all up."
This.

"Your child should be kept under control - quite simple really and if you don't like what is clearly regularly queueing in this shop then shop elsewhere. "
And this.