Poll: How old is too old to ride in the cart?

BetchySprout

Am I a judgemental horrible woman for giving the side eye to the mom with a chubby 12 year old in her cart yesterday at Walmart? (Simmer down, I am chubs myself, but NEVER would my mom let me ride in the cart)

Am I wrong for giving the side eye to the mom with TWO at-least-10 year olds playing Gameboy in their cart at Wegmans?

 

I know I am not wrong for giving it to the 15 year old girl wearing hardly any clothes out with her 25 year old boyfriend.

618mom22boys

I have a 9 y/o and there is no way in hell I would push his big ass around in a shopping cart.  He tried to lay in the bottom sometimes but that doesn't fly well with me either.  lol

akiernan

I don't think its a matter of age. 

If they fit in the cart, they can sit in the cart. 

Look at it this way:  If you had two unruly almost-10 y/os, wouldn't you want them quietly playing their gameboys while you were grocery shopping so you could finish the errand quickly and get the heck out of there?

turtlesmom

i figure once its too hard to lift them into the cart without pulling a muscle, its about time to ditch the cart ride.

Mominator

I don't know if there is a specific age, but I can tell you that it is way before 12 y/o. And I would have totally given the side eye to the 12 y/o. I am far from skinny myself, trust me, but *** like that is contributing to the obesity epidemic in our youth, make the kid walk for godsake. And fwiw, there is no way I am picking up my 12 y/o, chubby or not, and putting them in the cart.

jen_k2

I saw a girl about DD's age, 9 y/o, in the back of a cart last week. I was about to give the side eye when I saw a cast on her leg.

But yeah, IMO that's way too old. DD stopped sitting in the cart around 3 y/o, I think.

turtlesmom

akiernan:

I don't think its a matter of age. 

If they fit in the cart, they can sit in the cart. 

Look at it this way:  If you had two unruly almost-10 y/os, wouldn't you want them quietly playing their gameboys while you were grocery shopping so you could finish the errand quickly and get the heck out of there?

 

that is a good point, otherwise the mom would never be able to get errands done.  but, why dont people just attempt to teach their children how to behave.  distractions are just that.

KNS_61805

If he was perfectly healthy then I would give the side eye too. But maybe he was chubby because he was on steroids or something... For our family I think we'll cap cart riding at 4. 

618mom22boys

akiernan:

I don't think its a matter of age. 

If they fit in the cart, they can sit in the cart. 

Look at it this way:  If you had two unruly almost-10 y/os, wouldn't you want them quietly playing their gameboys while you were grocery shopping so you could finish the errand quickly and get the heck out of there?

If I had 2 unruly 10 y/os they sure as hell wouldnt have a gameboy.   

exhausted_bride

It's weird, it seems I have been noticing a lot of that lately. I don't know if it's because I'm a new parent (so that means I "know it all" :-)  but I have been noticing a lot of that the past few months. It's strange to me but maybe there is a reason?? I abhored kid leashes until I heard the other side so I don't know. I have a feeling I will be telling DS he's got legs for a reason! I can't imagine allowing that.

BetchySprout

akiernan:

I don't think its a matter of age. 

If they fit in the cart, they can sit in the cart. 

Look at it this way:  If you had two unruly almost-10 y/os, wouldn't you want them quietly playing their gameboys while you were grocery shopping so you could finish the errand quickly and get the heck out of there?

But where is the age that you teach your kids to behave in public? Should they be 15 before they are told walk by the cart, don't let go?

kelbrian

When they can't fit? I don't know. I try not to judge, because what if those kids are hellions? I wouldn't want them running around the store, screaming, knocking food off the shelves, getting in my baby's face, etc. At least their mother is getting some quiet time. 

ETA: And yes, I more than likely would have given the side eye to the twelve year old. That's ridiculous. I can kind of see a ten year old sitting in the actual cart part if he's a brat, but other than that, no.

It's like when I see kids over the age of three riding in a tiny ass umbrella stroller. Seriously?!  Or a jogging stroller with their legs hanging out. Make your kid walk. 

violetblue72

akiernan:

I don't think its a matter of age. 

If they fit in the cart, they can sit in the cart. 

Look at it this way:  If you had two unruly almost-10 y/os, wouldn't you want them quietly playing their gameboys while you were grocery shopping so you could finish the errand quickly and get the heck out of there?

You know, I was with you at first but this is a good point.  She may not do it all the time.  I'm so not a fan of video games and kids (I guess in moderation it's okay but some kids are attached to those things).  It could have been a rough day, though.  To have them contained and calm may have been what she needed that day to avoid cracking! 

exhausted_bride

618mom22boys:

akiernan:

I don't think its a matter of age. 

If they fit in the cart, they can sit in the cart. 

Look at it this way:  If you had two unruly almost-10 y/os, wouldn't you want them quietly playing their gameboys while you were grocery shopping so you could finish the errand quickly and get the heck out of there?

If I had 2 unruly 10 y/os they sure as hell wouldnt have a gameboy.   

THANK YOU. Sorry but that statement is ridiculous to me. "oh, okay. make them sit in the cart and play video games, that'll fix it..." Mkay.

BetchySprout

jen_k2:

I saw a girl about DD's age, 9 y/o, in the back of a cart last week. I was about to give the side eye when I saw a cast on her leg.

But yeah, IMO that's way too old. DD stopped sitting in the cart around 3 y/o, I think.

I forgot to add that as a disclaimer! I wouldn't side eye anyone (I have seen adults riding in carts) who had a cast on.

akiernan

This thread just makes me laugh.

All of the *side-eyes* and the judging and the pearl clutching is really getting old, IMO. 

None of you have any idea what kind of day that family had.  While I agree that children of that age should know how to behave in public, let me ask the OP:  Were they behaving?  Were they quietly minding their own business playing their gameboys while you looked on judging them because they were doing something that you would not allow your own child at that age? 

Or were they running through the aisles, throwing tantrums, pulling crap off the shelves, and acting like little jerkholes?  THEN I would give the *side-eye*

So go ahead and judge, because you all obviously are the end-all, be-all of what's proper and good. *nods*

BetchySprout

akiernan:

This thread just makes me laugh.

All of the *side-eyes* and the judging and the pearl clutching is really getting old, IMO. 

None of you have any idea what kind of day that family had.  While I agree that children of that age should know how to behave in public, let me ask the OP:  Were they behaving?  Were they quietly minding their own business playing their gameboys while you looked on judging them because they were doing something that you would not allow your own child at that age? 

Or were they running through the aisles, throwing tantrums, pulling crap off the shelves, and acting like little jerkholes?  THEN I would give the *side-eye*

So go ahead and judge, because you all obviously are the end-all, be-all of what's proper and good. *nods*

Hmm interesting, isn't your judging them for tantrum throwing just as pearl-clutchy? After all, you don't know what kind of day that family had. How dare you give their little schnookums the side eye for not behaving.

So you think by that age they should know how to behave? I really would love to know where you draw the line.

alheystek

IMO, I would leave the kid at home with DH if all he/she wanted to do was sit in the cart and play video games.It would save me the head/back ache.

fIowerchild

Hmmm, I'm not sure. But I think I'd do whatever I had to with an unruly 10 year old to get my shopping done and keep the kid in my sight.

fIowerchild

OK, I've read this whole thread. I liken it to us when we were back on the trimester boards making proclamations about what we WOULD do and WOULD NOT do.  And you see now that we had no idea.

I'd like to think that I won't have a 10-year old who is unruly from time to time and wants to play a GameBoy in the shopping cart, but I have no idea. 

dpdw

turtlesmom:

akiernan:

I don't think its a matter of age. 

If they fit in the cart, they can sit in the cart. 

Look at it this way:  If you had two unruly almost-10 y/os, wouldn't you want them quietly playing their gameboys while you were grocery shopping so you could finish the errand quickly and get the heck out of there?

 

that is a good point, otherwise the mom would never be able to get errands done.  but, why dont people just attempt to teach their children how to behave.  distractions are just that.

snort. 

jen_k2

I gues my "side eye" comes from the fact that I couldn't imagine 9 y/o DD acting up enough in a store that would warrant putting her in the cart. Plus she's a bit big for her age at 4'11".

If she did act up, I wouldn't put her in the cart anyways. She'd be grounded from something, not getting a free ride while playing video games. Judge me for judging then;)

Toni1019

My son is 6 and when he is in the cart I can't push it at all.

exhausted_bride

akiernan:

This thread just makes me laugh.

All of the *side-eyes* and the judging and the pearl clutching is really getting old, IMO. 

None of you have any idea what kind of day that family had.  While I agree that children of that age should know how to behave in public, let me ask the OP:  Were they behaving?  Were they quietly minding their own business playing their gameboys while you looked on judging them because they were doing something that you would not allow your own child at that age? 

Or were they running through the aisles, throwing tantrums, pulling crap off the shelves, and acting like little jerkholes?  THEN I would give the *side-eye*

So go ahead and judge, because you all obviously are the end-all, be-all of what's proper and good. *nods*

Okay, I totally follow the point on not to be judgy because we don't know what kind of day they had. Okay, fine. I just know my parents never allowed that, ever. They found a way to deal with us that didn't mean putting us in the cart so I'm going to aim high and say, no, I don't think I'd ever do that. But I do see your point, I just don't agree with it.

rlthomas7

I was in a hospital waiting room one time and saw two 10-ish year old boys sitting quietly and playing their game boys for a VERY long time. I finally said something to the mom like, "wow, those keep them entertained, don't they" while thinking "seriously kids, don't you ever come up for air - do you just play video games all day long?"

The mom explained that they have a few special games that they ONLY get to play when they are out and need to be quiet for a very long time. I thought that was a pretty smart idea. And I keep a few very special toys in my purse for those occasions now.

Didn't mean to steal your post, but the game boy mention made me remember that.