Why do people grocery shop with the whole family?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:See the thread on the NYTs article about the hyper burden of parenting these days. This includes shlepping to the grocery store as a family unit, which is literally the biggest waste of time.

Divide and conquer, folks. Your life will be better.

This. My parents never went to the grocery store together, as it made no sense to take in entire family out to do one thing. Unless you are a single parent you can divide and conquer all errands, or leave one parent at home with the kids while the other does the errands.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:See the thread on the NYTs article about the hyper burden of parenting these days. This includes shlepping to the grocery store as a family unit, which is literally the biggest waste of time.

Divide and conquer, folks. Your life will be better.

This. My parents never went to the grocery store together, as it made no sense to take in entire family out to do one thing. Unless you are a single parent you can divide and conquer all errands, or leave one parent at home with the kids while the other does the errands.

I literally just got home from grocery shopping with my family.

Look, I am a SAHM and 90% of the time I grocery shop with my toddler while my oldest is in school. But sometimes it's fun to make an event of it; the kids see things they want to try (and it's good for them to SEE the fruit and vegetable options, and to be involved in cooking), and my DH helps me load everything into the car. Today we went to the playground, then to the grocery store, then out to lunch together. We enjoyed spending time together, and tomorrow we're going to do a little cooking and baking - with the food we bought as a family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Giving this a real answer - during the week DH and I largely hand the kids back and forth and spend very little time together as a family of 4. On weekends we were in the habit of doing the same - one of us doing the "chores" and the other doing the kids - and it felt like one logistical schedule that was no fun.

So now we all run our errands together on the weekends - grocery, home depot, whatever else that needs to be done and the kids are just fine participating in those activities vs going to the playground or something thats "for the kids". If our kids were terrors then it probably wouldn't be enjoyable, but they're not and we're all together sat morning and in no rush so we relax and it no longer feels like a chore and instead feels like family time.

Unless your children are robots- they would prefer to go to the park. Use a grocery shopping app and take them somewhere fun.

I personally find this very indulgent. Everything does not have to be about being 'fun' for the kids. Kids need to learn to get through mundane, day to day tasks like laundry, dishes and grocery shopping.

We teach them about grocery products from different cultures, menu planning and cost planning when going to the grocery. They love going with me or my DH.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Giving this a real answer - during the week DH and I largely hand the kids back and forth and spend very little time together as a family of 4. On weekends we were in the habit of doing the same - one of us doing the "chores" and the other doing the kids - and it felt like one logistical schedule that was no fun.

So now we all run our errands together on the weekends - grocery, home depot, whatever else that needs to be done and the kids are just fine participating in those activities vs going to the playground or something thats "for the kids". If our kids were terrors then it probably wouldn't be enjoyable, but they're not and we're all together sat morning and in no rush so we relax and it no longer feels like a chore and instead feels like family time.

Unless your children are robots- they would prefer to go to the park. Use a grocery shopping app and take them somewhere fun.

Yes - clearly kids should be entertained at all times with kid activities and never exposed to life tasks like grocery shopping. That is a perfect way to raise responsible adults who will take on the tasks of the world well prepared.

I look forward to your post here in a few years about your lazy teenagers who don't think they have to contribute to the household in any way

[Anonymous]

I only grocery shop alone, and text ahead for unloading and putting away. I notice in the big box stores this seems to be some kind of family activity, why who knows. I want my kids at home reading or doing homework, and not whining at me for candy etc.

[Anonymous]

I rarely see entire families shopping together, but based on the date of OPs post the answer is obvious- planning meals for Christmas and associated festivities, and the kids are either too young to be left alone or they will be involved with food prep.
Not that hard to understand.

[Anonymous]

I ama SAHM and only shop on weekdays afternoons between 12:30-3pm do all the moms of crying toddlers have gone home for nap. Before long weekends or holidays I stock up I don’t have to go back until the holiday is over. It’s one of the best things about SAH.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:See the thread on the NYTs article about the hyper burden of parenting these days. This includes shlepping to the grocery store as a family unit, which is literally the biggest waste of time.

Divide and conquer, folks. Your life will be better.

This. My parents never went to the grocery store together, as it made no sense to take in entire family out to do one thing. Unless you are a single parent you can divide and conquer all errands, or leave one parent at home with the kids while the other does the errands.

I literally just got home from grocery shopping with my family.

Look, I am a SAHM and 90% of the time I grocery shop with my toddler while my oldest is in school. But sometimes it's fun to make an event of it; the kids see things they want to try (and it's good for them to SEE the fruit and vegetable options, and to be involved in cooking), and my DH helps me load everything into the car. Today we went to the playground, then to the grocery store, then out to lunch together. We enjoyed spending time together, and tomorrow we're going to do a little cooking and baking - with the food we bought as a family.

Omg.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
See the thread on the NYTs article about the hyper burden of parenting these days. This includes shlepping to the grocery store as a family unit, which is literally the biggest waste of time.

Divide and conquer, folks. Your life will be better.


This. My parents never went to the grocery store together, as it made no sense to take in entire family out to do one thing. Unless you are a single parent you can divide and conquer all errands, or leave one parent at home with the kids while the other does the errands.


I literally just got home from grocery shopping with my family.

Look, I am a SAHM and 90% of the time I grocery shop with my toddler while my oldest is in school. But sometimes it's fun to make an event of it; the kids see things they want to try (and it's good for them to SEE the fruit and vegetable options, and to be involved in cooking), and my DH helps me load everything into the car. Today we went to the playground, then to the grocery store, then out to lunch together. We enjoyed spending time together, and tomorrow we're going to do a little cooking and baking - with the food we bought as a family.


Omg.

Thanks for the laugh!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Giving this a real answer - during the week DH and I largely hand the kids back and forth and spend very little time together as a family of 4. On weekends we were in the habit of doing the same - one of us doing the "chores" and the other doing the kids - and it felt like one logistical schedule that was no fun.

So now we all run our errands together on the weekends - grocery, home depot, whatever else that needs to be done and the kids are just fine participating in those activities vs going to the playground or something thats "for the kids". If our kids were terrors then it probably wouldn't be enjoyable, but they're not and we're all together sat morning and in no rush so we relax and it no longer feels like a chore and instead feels like family time.

Unless your children are robots- they would prefer to go to the park. Use a grocery shopping app and take them somewhere fun.

Yes - clearly kids should be entertained at all times with kid activities and never exposed to life tasks like grocery shopping. That is a perfect way to raise responsible adults who will take on the tasks of the world well prepared.

I look forward to your post here in a few years about your lazy teenagers who don't think they have to contribute to the household in any way

Ok so not going to the grocery store the five of us means that my kids are going to be lazy entitled turds. Did you bother to ask what chores they have?

I didn't say they never go grocery shopping, just that we divide and conquer to be efficient. For example- DHbis running to the store with the three of them as we speak so I can mop the floors really well- hard to do with other people around. Then we will have time to do an actual fun family activity like a board game b.c we have accomplished so much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
See the thread on the NYTs article about the hyper burden of parenting these days. This includes shlepping to the grocery store as a family unit, which is literally the biggest waste of time.

Divide and conquer, folks. Your life will be better.


This. My parents never went to the grocery store together, as it made no sense to take in entire family out to do one thing. Unless you are a single parent you can divide and conquer all errands, or leave one parent at home with the kids while the other does the errands.


I literally just got home from grocery shopping with my family.

Look, I am a SAHM and 90% of the time I grocery shop with my toddler while my oldest is in school. But sometimes it's fun to make an event of it; the kids see things they want to try (and it's good for them to SEE the fruit and vegetable options, and to be involved in cooking), and my DH helps me load everything into the car. Today we went to the playground, then to the grocery store, then out to lunch together. We enjoyed spending time together, and tomorrow we're going to do a little cooking and baking - with the food we bought as a family.


Omg.

Thanks for the laugh!

PP here. Seriously don't understand what's funny, unless you're just trolling. Is it so shocking that two parents and their kids could enjoy going out together to the playground, grocery store, and lunch? If so - I'm sorry your life is so miserable.

[Anonymous]

I grew up going food shopping as a family in the 80's. My mom was the one who mostly cooked so she bought the food. My dad drove (even though my mom had a car and drove locally I think she didn't like driving) and packed the food and loaded and unloaded the car, and my brother and I were too young/badly behaved to be left home alone. So we went too.

Any time my mom was sick and couldn't go I remember we'd follow her list to a T, and yet she'd always complain we got the wrong things or didn't magically read her mind by getting things she left off the list. Eventually my dad refused to go with my mom. He'd drop us off and come pick us up later.

My mom didn't get out much and I think she saw food shopping as An Outting! So she'd meander through the aisles, read the backs of packages, and it would take two hours to get through the supermarket. I'd push while reading a magazine. My brother would try to hurry our mom along. We all hated it.

[Anonymous]

We kids loved grocery shopping with our mom when we were young. I am in my 50s and to this day I love grocery shopping. Thank you mom!