Arwen,
My husband & I grocery shop together, too! We love it! It also helps as a great bonding time for us. The place where we shop also has a play center for the kids ( ages 3-9) with an employee watching them...it’s free & my daughter loves it! I wish every grocery store had a play center! However, before she was of age to join, I dreaded grocery shopping, too! And, like you I always asked myself “If my mom could do it, why can’t I?” =)

I miss it! When we first started with Bj’s then Costco’s, then the bulk butcher shop nearby we went as a team. Now he works near Costco’s so he just brings things home as we need them.

I do one big shop on Saturday morning, very early before the crowds get there, and a smaller shop on Wed or Thur, mostly for fresh food like produce and milk.  That mid-week shop is very difficult because I have to take all five kids with me.  We’ve got a system down, and they really behave well.  But I’ve got to be 100% on the ball to prevent total annihilation.  I’ve got to have an airtight list.  I have to make sure it’s our only errand, or the kids get weary.  And I have to warn them in advance that we are only getting dinner food.  Still, if I could do that trip at night, alone, I would.  It’s just impossible.  I can’t save Everything for Saturday or evenings!  I want that time to be free for us to do nice things together.

We used to shop as a family when our oldest was a baby & I had to work full time.  I would pick him up at my mother’s & we would meet dh at the grocery store on Friday night & we would shop before going home.  Once I became a sahm that changed and I’ve usually got at least 3 kids w/me on any given shopping trip.  The few times I was able to get out alone, I felt lost as if I couldn’t even think clearly.  lol It was strange b/c I thought I would take time & read labels, etc., but, instead, I hurried through as we normally do & headed home still feeling lonely.  Until they grumbled at the door about bringing the bags in...then I knew for sure that I was “home”!  ; )

I agree that you have to find what works for you.  I enjoy shopping, my husband does not.  The main reason is that I like to take my time and comparison shop, so taking 7 kids to the grocery store is usually horrible.  They have even less patience for my putzing than my husband.  So I try to shop at times when my husband can be with the kids.  Late at night or very early in the morning when there are no crowds is my favorite time to shop.

I’m so excited to read this.  I am the only one in my circle of friends that grocery shops together.  I don’t feel so alone anymore! We have been happily for three years now.  I used to do most of it but not after the little ones came.  We really enjoy it and we make it a fun outing for the family complete with free cookies from the bakery for the children. 
I agree you have to do what works best for your family and thank God we are all so unique.

I’m glad to hear that there are things that Moms don’t prefer to do that we feel like we should be doing.  I feel like such a bad mom for not liking swim lessons!  My daughter is 2 and I hate putting on my bathing suit (5 months pregnant at that) and having to pretend it’s fun.  She absolutely loves the water though.  I asked my husband to do it once and found out that he loves taking her and it gives me an hour to get some things done around the house.  I’m thankful to have a husband that will jump in (literally) in areas where I slack!

Oh goodness, you’re a better woman than I! 

Right now, my kids are pretty young--7 mo. and 19 mo.  I suspect attempting to take both of them would end in disaster.  I could do it if I took hubby along, but I know that none of us would enjoy it.  Shopping, even grocery shopping, is just not his thing.

But I also have to admit, I have selfish reasons, too:  I enjoy grocery shopping by myself.  I’m alone, I don’t have to talk to anyone, I can get a coffee to sip on as I stroll up and down the aisles.  No diapers to change, just peace and quiet.  So I think I might be glad that DH doesn’t like shopping!

Hi, all you commenters!  I’m Arwen’s Mom, and I’m glad she figured it out.  I did what I did because I LIKE to grocery shop.  I always knew she didn’t. ;-D

Arwen, your post reminds me of the old chestnut I’m sure everyone’s heard about the “right” way to make spaghetti. Two Italian spouses got to arguing over whether the noodles ought to be broken up before being put in the water.

The wife was certain her Neapolitan grandmother’s way was “the” “right” “Italian” way. But when she asked, her mother said she’d done it that way because her mother did. And Grandma said she did it that way because she never had a very big pot.

I wonder how many of our small-t traditions began as what worked best for someone’s family.

When I was growing up, my whole family shopped together after Mass.  I have great memories of this time - Daddy would check out what meat was on sale and plan the menu for the week and my sister and I got to give our input for our school lunches.

Now, I walk to the store across the street a couple of times a week with our baby.  We don’t need much as we have a CSA membership and buy our meat in bulk from another farm, but this is good as I can’t carry much when I’m also wearing a baby!

My parents always shopped together as my mom didn’t get a driver’s licence until I was about sixteen. It couldn’t be a mom job. : -) (now gardening ......)

In our family my husband does most of the shopping as he likes to run errands (It’s a rare day off that he can’t find some errand to run).  Sometimes he’ll take a child or two with him for Daddy time, while I stay home with the three month old and the other children. 

He started to do the shopping by himself when his work was closer to the store then home was so it saved time not going home to pick up everyone.

We shop as a family sometimes and sometimes I even get to shop by myself but it’s mostly my hubby.

When I was a kid, one of 6, my dad always did the grocery shopping, usually with a few of us kids along.  After I had my 6th baby when the oldest was 7, along with home schooling, getting to the store became difficult.  My dad came to the rescue again - I would fax him my grocery list and he would get my groceries!  He’s such a great man.  Somewhere along the way my husband took over the shopping (he wanted to use all the coupons he clips - no joke) to feed our family of 11 now.  I don’t know where I’d find the time to get groceries - and my husband and now oldest daughter (17) enjoy the shopping.  When I do get to the store sometimes, I’m always amazed at all the new stuff out there!

There are enough job/chores in most households to go around.  No need to feel guilty about how they’re divided up.