No, I do not open food we haven't paid for. But, having said that, I will go to the till and buy one apple and let DS eat that while we're shopping. If we're at the end of the shopping he just has to wait. I also take toys, drinks, food etc if needed - ideally we go shopping just after he's eaten.
I was told off by my mother (a big one on denying her children anything they wanted) because she wanted to open food and give it to Liebling, even though he wasn't asking for it! I said no way, you don't do that and she told me off then was in a huff for about an hour. I do think it is important to teach a child that waiting for something and paying for what they want are virtues in society and things he should do.
I worked in a corner shop (no, not a large supermarket, a small corner shop) and trying to scan an item a child has already opened and eaten is a nightmare. Just pay for the sweet straight away, you're never more than ten seconds away from a cashier!
Depends how frazzled I am, and how little patience I have. But yes I have and I don't see a problem with it. However, if I do open something it's too keep the kids amused rather than the fact that they've asked for something.
THe definition of stealing at law must include the intent to permanently deprive - so to use something without any intent to pay for something. It's not stealing if you have intent to pay for it. I have more issue with people 'testing' the grapes and other produce by sampling them by the bunch
I do the shopping either online or with company, so generally no...but in a pinch I think I would - I remember my mum used to do it all the time.
I can't see the supermarkets really minding, given that you're probably buying an extra thing that you wouldn't normally buy, in order to lengthen your shopping time and keep your child more content for other shoppers. You're not going to spend as much if your child is screaming or fighting and you're racing round the aisles. I'd be interested to ask what they think. I'm all for teaching self control and discipline and manners, but if I was taking the kids shopping after kinder or in late afternoon when they're already exhausted and you've forgotten to prepare (or have no snacks, hence the shopping!), then fair's fair. You know your child's limits, as well as your own.
Depends with us. Not so often now the girls are getting older, DD1 can definitely understand waiting and DD2 is getting there. I often do give DD2 a bean or a snow pea to munch on. When DD1 was little we had to put the capsicums out of her reach, as she would eat them like apples whilst we were shopping.
Have found most checkout operators understanding about half eaten apples etc, many don't bother charging for them. I did have one operator who looked disgusted at having to scan a half open packet of chips (it was the big Christmas shop), but in general I found he was quite cranky about the kid's behaviour so I stopped going through his check out.
I was one of those people who before having kids always sad, no way.
Now, I go straight to the youghurt squeezies and DS gets one while I run around grabbing stuff, but thats it, only a squeezie, only one too.
He has on occasion grabbed a mushroom and started chomping it, the checkout peoples are always that surprised that he eats mushrooms they never charge me for it, but I always offer to pay
I don't do it. I think it is good to teach a child restraint in small doses so a toddler I would say no until we are out of the supermarket, and now my kids are older they have to wait until we are home and the shopping is unpacked. The only exception is on a really hot day, I will get a bottle of water at the counter and let them have some whilst we are waiting to be served.
We do sometimes and we dont other times. We have the concept of "We have to pay the lady" and i usually try and drum that in that we cant open things until we pay the lady, so DS has taken to grabbing an apple recently and just starts munching on it before we can even tell him no.. we have offered to pay for them (or get them to weigh an un eaten apple twice) but both times we were told no its ok! (ne of the check out ladies was just so impressed his special treat for the shopping trip was an apple that she said, "just have it!!!!!"
But I am trying to actually make an effort to stop him. Last time we went shopping he grabbed some chewy lifesaver things and just right away started to open them, DH took them off him and said no, not until we pay the lady and popped them in his pocket, and we darn near nearly stole them because Dh forgot about them til we were at the counter and DS asked where his lollies were for the lady!!! Also I am waiting for the day he goes to open something that i cant afford to pay for!! So I am trying to teach him that its not ok!!!
I find it really hard shopping with DS and DD.. often i will buy DS an icecream or something and pop him in the trolley bit of the trolley if i am just doing a little shop- otherwise if he is loose and i have DD in the trolley I seem to be forever abandoning her in the middle of the supermarket to chase after DS!!! Even when both DH and I take them both its a fun time trying to keep up with him!! So I am completely understanding of any parent who uses it as bribery!!!!! Its just that sometimes it backfires!!!
It depends really - often I buy something from the bakery before I go in for them to eat but that is usually because I need change for the trolley
These days I tell them to pick something and they can carry it around until we get to the checkout and then they can have it once we have paid- but then it also depends on their mood and if there is a tantrum brewing.
I have been known to let them eat and apple and take another the same size to pay and ask them to weigh it twice.
Also the deli always gives all the kids a piece of meat, so seeing kids eating in our spermarket is the norm. Gee I love living in such a friendly community!
I've done it for my kids & I've done it for me. I do try to do the shopping when they are all at school or DC, but even then DD3 will start sooking for something & a bikkie is easier than a boob when trying to unload a trolley (she ALWAYS wants it just as I get to the checkout!)
My girls are now older & understand that things have to be paid for first. They aren't allowed to have anything til its paid for. DS will open a milk pop top at the last isle or 2 (thats where they are located... good incentive for them ), or a yoghurt drink thingy. DS is VERY difficult to shop with & sadly by the time its shopping day, my house is all out of snacks to take with me & whats left was eaten while we did everything else in town!
When pg with DD3 there were quite a few times I had to open a drink while shopping to save the embarassment of morning sickness, especially since there is no public toilet close by. With HG its impossible to go anywhere without a toilet close by.
I don't have anyone close enough to have the kids while shopping if they're home & I know from experience that an open packet being scanned is better than the abuse you get if you have a screaming toddler the entire time!
Last edited by ~clover~; June 28th, 2011 at 09:23 PM.
I never allowed my girls to have anything to eat until we got to the car to go home. Even then they usually had to wait til we got home and the shopping was inside.
When I have the grandchildren with me and they want something they are told it has to go into the basket to be paid for before they are allowed to have it. 9 times out of 10 they have said OK and I hear no more, sometimes I have to remind them that we have to pay for it first.
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