Opening something for your child/ren to eat whilst shopping?

[Lenny]

Rouge - you aren't the only one clearly neglecting their kids - DS1 hugged a block of cheese for a whole supermarket trip. Why to they choose the cold things?

I have opened a water bottle for myself - i was ridiculously thirsty and hot.
I have also opened a packet of arrowroots and givem one to each child.

I don't, as a rule, give the children things to eat at the supermarket. But rules get broken sometimes.

[sloane]

I actually put everything on the counter in order of how I think it should be packed.

same. i just can't let anyone else put things on the belt for that reason. when i was uni i worked on the checkouts & we were absolutely drilled on how bags should be packed & any gaps in knowledge were soon fileld by customers. as a result, 20 years down the track, i am still so particular. DP doesn't even try to put them on the belt anymore

sorry, i digress...just thought i was the only one so particular

[Phteven]

I don't just put them on the belt in the right order - if I can I pack them too
It's one of the advantages of re-usable bags. You can pop them down on the other side of the till and get the check-out people to pass your stuff to you for the correct OCD packing procedure.

And my poor children are already starting to make sure everything is going on in the right order

We could start a support group for fussy grocery packers.

[Glamourcide]

Hahaha phew, at least now I know I'm not alone with the picky packing! I unload my trolley onto the belt in order of how I want things packed, too It's an unconscious thing these days, but gee do I get some odd looks from people behind me as they watch me dig among the boxes and bags in order to get that sneaky packet of paracetamol tablets to get packed with the other bathroom/cleaning/laundry/non-food items!

[Livinthedream]

Another "non caring about eating unpaid for goods but anal about my packing" poster here

There is nothing I loathe more than un un economical bag packer and nothing turns me on more than a checkout chic who can pack an enviro sack so efficiently that it weighs more than a bag of cement!

I am curious to know are y'all as anal about how your washing gets sorted and hung on the line?

[Jellyfish]

I haven't opened things for myself or my daughter, she hasn't ever complained. Never really thought to and don't think it is something I would do, personally but each to their own.

[Boo Boo]

I don't do it with my kids. It is just the way I was brought up and I would feel like a thief doing it. I'm a bit neurotic and my biggest fear in life is going to jail. I always take the kids water bottles and snacks for the kids. They know they don't open anything until they have handed it to the check out person and I have paid. I don't' care what other people do, none of my business, and too busy to notice or judge, I just want the shopping done and to get the hell out of there.

[~StarBright~]

We could start a support group for fussy grocery packers.

I would like to join this group please! I hate it when i load them up the way i want them packed, and some silly check out operator still manages to put my toothpaste with my milk!!!! So frustrating!!!! I should speak up more!!

[Traveller]

That's one of the reasons I love shopping at Aldi's, I get to pack my own groceries every time!

[Just Me]

It's when they put watermelon on my bread that I get really narky. I stand there and repack the bags if I am not happy with the way they do it.

DH has also given up trying to load the conveyer belt with me too. If he does, I stand and rearrange all the items so they go through the way I want them packed. I hate it when the checkout person takes things from all over the belt rather than just next to them. Drives me batty!

I also get it from my mum

[helle]

pfft, forget the kids self control. 9 times out of 10 i will open a bottle of water up for myself that i haven't paid for.

[Erin_25]

Wow I had not expected so many replies, love the turn this thread has taken. Yes I do put items up in order also - it's a whole new thread "best order to pack food"

Must admit when I started the thread I was thinking little ones who don't know how to wait or scream and you just want some peace. Had never thought about opening for them as they got older, I don't much for DS1 so I guess I will slowly phase it out unless desperate.

I actually don't see it as stealing though, you are walking around with a trolley full of food you fully intend to pay for. To steal is to take something without paying - you pay for it in the end be it open or not. But like the idea of grab a apple etc pay first then go shopping...Had never thought of that wish I had, beats a pack of biscuits. I had actually never thought about choosing something that needs to be weighed as price isn't set.

Anyway, great to read all the replies.

[Erin_25]

I forgot to add, I think if you open something you should offer it at the cashiers first and tell them it has been opened, beats them picking them up & half you biscuits falling to the floor

I saw a lady one day give child a pack of smarties, sat in the trolley at the counter eating them then just put then down to be paid for when it was her turn. The checkout person didn't know they were open, picked them up & away they went all over the floor. The checkout person aplogised and offered another pack for free & what did the mum do............said nothing & took the free pack, so didn't pay for what they started eating & got another packet. That I think was very wrong!!

[Traveller]

I forgot to add, I think if you open something you should offer it at the cashiers first and tell them it has been opened, beats them picking them up & half you biscuits falling to the floor

I saw a lady one day give child a pack of smarties, sat in the trolley at the counter eating them then just put then down to be paid for when it was her turn. The checkout person didn't know they were open, picked them up & away they went all over the floor. The checkout person aplogised and offered another pack for free & what did the mum do............said nothing & took the free pack, so didn't pay for what they started eating & got another packet. That I think was very wrong!!

not to mention she was feeding her child Nestle, tut tut tut

[Erin_25]

not to mention she was feeding her child nestle, tut tut tut

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

I haven't read all the replies as yet BUT my experience is this.

i never took snacks for my girls, DD1 never asked for food in the shops and i quiet easily managed to get through without bribing her to be quiet etc, DD2 came along and having DD1 in the back of the trolley where she could reach things made life difficult, she is allowed to hold things but is generally not allowed to eat anything until AFTER were out of the shop.
That said she has on occassion grabbed an apple and taken a bite, so i always grab an extra apple ask them to weight it and then get them to put it back and explain to DD she's not supposed to eat it.

I don't have an issue with people who give their child something to eat aslong as they pay for it, i don't agree with giving kids grapes etc to eat and then not weighing a right amount.. thats stealing.

[~clover~]

Not that Nestle has anything to do with the thread......

Anyway, I've thought a bit more about it & other than the pop top at the end, its more a matchbox car or toy I'll open to let them have then hand over the packaging. Or standing in line at the check out I might have a mouthful of coke.

I remember when I first saw someone do it. We didn't as kids that I remember, but my brother & I were at school when mum did the shopping with my sister, so who knows. I was standing in a servo I think, waiting for petrol. A lady also waiting to pay opened her drink & had a swig. I was shocked! But then with small kids (more DS & DD3) I started doing it on occasion.

I do what ever makes life easier. I don't care what anyone else thinks. If I do something like this, I'll be really obvious with my packaging & leave it where it can be seen. I don't abuse or neglect my kids, I try not to do the wrong thing. As long as they are looked after why should anyone else care?

As with everything in life. Its a personal choice. I don't get how people get so offensive when the act doesn't affect their lives? I'm not putting it in your hand & telling you to run...

[Cherished]

Some people totally have their head up their you know whats. If my child is hungry and for some reason I don't have any food and we are in a food store I will open food and give it to my child. it has nothing to do with self control or teaching the child anything! It has to do with feeding my hungry child