Why do whole families grocery-shop together?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We were that family yesterday. DH with one kid in the "car" cart and me with another child in a "car" cart, separate car carts so that they can't fight. We just wanted to be together, as DH had been traveling for work during Thanksgiving. It was a circus, but we laugh about it and really don't care what anyone else thinks.

I wrote this and just wanted to add something. I always wonder about my friends who can't get anything done with their children around. I am a SAHM with a Dh who has traveled 36 times for work this year. I must run a ton of errands with the kids in tow. There is no choice. I just can't imagine that I should stay in my house all day and order my groceries online because I have children. Plus, isn't it important for children to be taken out of the house, even with both parents, and taught HOW to behave in public? Mind you, I don't think children should be in fancy restaurants or making noise in movie theaters, and I'm certainly not an advocate for allowing children to disrupt others' expectation of privacy/quiet/intimacy, but the grocery store? If you see my family and the adults look stressed, maybe we are, but that's the price we pay for having children and teaching them about the world.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank goodness there are normal people here on DCUM.

I think there are a lot of impatient parents around here that can't get their act together and get things done with their kids. Or want a well orchestrated life. Or maybe they have the resources to outsource their child care while they shop.

[Anonymous]

Family shopper here. Believe it or not, we actually enjoy each other's company. Our children behave themselves. Yes, it takes a bit longer, so we don't do this every week, but when we do, we involve the kids in food selection and meal planning, they enjoy "helping," and my husband and I always get a few laughs out of the experience.

You think that's bad??? We also go to restaurants as a family. >>GASP!<<

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DH, DS(7) and I often hit the grocery store together to pick up a few things on the weekend, and we always have. Granted, DS has always been "easy," low energy and verbal so it's been pretty pain-free all these years, even in toddler-hood.

To answer OP's question, we go as a group to get everyone's input on meal planning, and because we were out together already on foot.

This has been the best way for our three kids to try new food, to learn about deceptive packaging/marketing and pricing/money. DH doesn't usually accompany us because he's using the time at home to get stuff done. Two of my three kids have special needs (not readily apparent to the casual observer) and we also use the time to reinforce language and motor planning skills. We can get a lot of practice in a very short period by going to the grocery store.

[Anonymous]

I'm a nanny who grocery shops alone with the kids twice a week, how hard is this? I'm always amazed when parents act like it's the hardest thing in the world to be alone with their own chidren. I put the baby in a sling, the toddler in the basket. She gets to hold my list and we talk about whatever goes in the basket, she loves it!

If a nanny can do it, why can't parents... UGH!! Hats off to you single moms.

[Anonymous]

(And by basket I meant the shopping trolley basket!)

[Anonymous]

I shop with my three kids because they help with the bags and I like teaching them about value, bargain shopping, reading labels, meal planning, etc. I can't stand shopping with DH though, because he wants to buy tons of crap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We were that family yesterday. DH with one kid in the "car" cart and me with another child in a "car" cart, separate car carts so that they can't fight. We just wanted to be together, as DH had been traveling for work during Thanksgiving. It was a circus, but we laugh about it and really don't care what anyone else thinks.

I wrote this and just wanted to add something. I always wonder about my friends who can't get anything done with their children around. I am a SAHM with a Dh who has traveled 36 times for work this year. I must run a ton of errands with the kids in tow. There is no choice. I just can't imagine that I should stay in my house all day and order my groceries online because I have children. Plus, isn't it important for children to be taken out of the house, even with both parents, and taught HOW to behave in public? Mind you, I don't think children should be in fancy restaurants or making noise in movie theaters, and I'm certainly not an advocate for allowing children to disrupt others' expectation of privacy/quiet/intimacy, but the grocery store? If you see my family and the adults look stressed, maybe we are, but that's the price we pay for having children and teaching them about the world.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank goodness there are normal people here on DCUM.

I think there are a lot of impatient parents around here that can't get their act together and get things done with their kids. Or want a well orchestrated life. Or maybe they have the resources to outsource their child care while they shop.

We're homebodies. Sometimes grocery shopping is our date night. DS sits in the cart seat and we take turns grabbing things as we stroll down the aisles. I wish we could do it every week.

[Anonymous]

Usually I shop alone, but sometimes we do it as a family - for us - it is fun - we talk about the foods, weigh things, plan meals, ENJOY EACH OTHERS COMPANY - it is a special time for us - it is much more efficient for me to do it alone and I am grateful I can go alone when I need to do things quickly - but I'm also glad we can do it all together at times.

[Anonymous]

This ranks as one of the stupidest posts ever.

I think I've learned that there are people who LIKE to grocery shop (like myself) and those who don't. I think OP falls in the latter category and is now just lumping it on.

[Anonymous]

We sometimes grocery shop together because it's nice to have each other's input and help each other. Im pregnant and hate grocery shopping but I also realize it's unfair for DH to always have to do it and we have a 12mth old who cant be left alone. Woweee. Do we really bother you this much?

[Anonymous]

I like my kids. And I like my husband. Neither my kids nor my husband misbehave while at the grocery store, so for us it is a pleasant family experience.

My kids are also now quite experienced in hearing "no, we don't need X" and understanding that (1) wants and needs are not the same; and (2) no means no and asking again won't change that; and (3) even though there are lots if things we want, we have to make good choices about how to spend our money. All valuable lessons learned from a lifetime of family grocery shopping.

[Anonymous]

Nanny here:

19:43 sounds like a great parent, someone who is consistent. I would love to work for someone like that

[Anonymous]

I am totally with OP. It drives me crazy when I am trying to accomplish my grocery shopping and there is vibrating stressed out mom with one in seat portion of the cart and another one or more trailing behind crying and/or whining about whatever and dad standing there too. Why is it disturbing? Because I don't like listening to the crying and whining. I left mine at home to avoid the CHANCE of crying and whining. Um. The kids are crying and whining all the way through the store. Maybe one of you stays at home with them or goes somewhere with them while the other shops. Here let me help you. "Honey, I know you want to watch the game today. I am going to go grocery shopping at 1pm since I know you'll be home then. I will be back in an hour."

Or my personal favorite, the floor sprawling tantrum in front of the busiest part of the dairy case with the wussy parent who feels the need to talk to their toddler about their very strong feelings and using their words while the rest of us stand by for 10 minutes waiting for one of the two parents wringing their hands to grow a pair, pick the kid up, and let the rest of us get on with our day. I don't think anyone has any complaints about families who shop without incident. Do what you want if your kids are behaving and this is what you think is fun, good for you. Not my cup of tea at all, but if that is a fun outing for you, I am envious. Single parents, my screed does not apply to you and please don't think it does. But for those of you who have toddlers who whine and cry their way through the store or kids prone to floor sprawling tantrums, it is not your imagination, I am totally giving you the stink eye and I am not sympathetic in the least. Oh, and I am not the only one.

[Anonymous]

I want to be friends with the PP, FYI.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I want to be friends with the PP, FYI.

Me too.