There are lots of things I enjoy much more now I’m a parent. Trips to the beach, walks in the countryside, film days cuddled up on the sofa are all just a few examples of activities that are more exciting when you have a little one in tow. An experience that hasn’t been enhanced in the slightest by having a child is a trip to the shops. Ever since becoming a mum I am much happier sitting at home doing some online shopping than I am when out dragging my reluctant toddler up and down the High Street. Let me tell you, there is nothing therapeutic about retail therapy when you have to take your child along with you, unless you count torture as a form of therapy – for the record, I don’t.
Here are some reasons why I can often be found doing online shopping rather than hitting the shops..
Firstly, Leo is not a fan of his pram. My boy would much prefer to run feral all over the shopping centre, nearly knocking people over and giving me a stress headache than sit in his buggy. No matter how much I want him to enjoy a leisurely browse around the shops, it just isn’t going to happen.
So I have two choices, let Leo run around and have minor panic attacks every time I loose sight of him or put him in his pram and put up with his moaning to get out. Not great options are they? Whichever I choose the shopping experience is still not going to be a relaxing one.
The pram is the cause of so many problems when out shopping, it’s biggest downfall being it stops you from using the stairs. Is there anything more frustrating than trying to squeeze a pram into a lift, a lift often full of people who could, actually, be using the stairs? The politics of lifts and prams is a rant another day but it is definitely a reason I prefer online shopping.
Finally, I avoid the real shops as much as possible now I’m a Mum as I always end up spending more than I want to. It is inevitable that Leo will get hungry just as we walk past his favourite fast food restaurant and I will have to go in and buy him something otherwise the end of the world may commence. Being a bookworm I often find myself browsing through the latest paperbacks that are all too often located right next to the children’s magazines. This often results in me spending a small fortune on a magazine for Leo that he so desperately needs, only for him to get bored with it way too quickly. It is not all Leo’s fault I spend so much of course, there is just too much temptation out there on the clothes racks and the pretty window displays.
Online shopping is the clear solution to all these problems, it actually makes retail therapy feel enjoyable again. Why would you put yourself through the stress of a shopping trip with kids when you could do it all from the comfort of your own home? The worry your child running off is gone as they can be sat right next to you while you shop away, the pram/lift dilemma is eradicated too. I’m also less likely to over spend and with amazing online shopping catalogues, that have everything I need in one place, why would I bother taking a trip to the shops that neither myself or Leo will enjoy?
Do you love online shopping even more now you’re a parent too? Are there any other perks to online shopping that you would add to this list? Do you find a trip to shops as stressful as I do? I would love to know your thoughts.
Disclaimer: This post is written in collaboration with Catalogues 247.
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I am a fan of online shopping it’s less stressful, your sizes are mostly in stock and you may see things you don’t it shops. I do love to go shopping online for other people at Christmas time…saves my time in the queues! #BestAndWorst!
Online shopping is the way forward! Who wants to deal with a tantrum in tesco, no one. #bloggerclubuk
As the parent of a nine year old who cannot walk and who does not cope well with the noise levels in shops, online shopping is awesome! #BloggerClubUK
Shopping with kids is literally hell on earth. Thanks God for the internet!!!
#bloggerclubuk
We probably do about 50/50. I love the stress-free nature of online shopping but sometimes I still like to have a good look around myself. Thankfully the supermarket is one of the few places T seems to enjoy lately so as long as I pass him things to hold or put in the trolley he is pretty happy X #bloggerclubuk
Laura recently posted…Why I Gave Up Fighting Anxiety
I love online shopping and have relied on it for food shopping for years. Can’t stand supermarket queues and I always pick the slow one!
Since falling pregnant, online shopping has been my saviour. Nothing worse than standing in queues for hours when you’re large and uncomfortable. And I love all the deliveries (the drivers are getting to know me now!) #coolmumclub
I have never tried online shopping, but I do hate taking my children with me. It makes a quick run around Tesco into an hour long nightmare! I’m going to bite the bullet and do my next shop online, stress free!
#coolmumclub
I cower behind my computer screen with a mouse too – so much easier! #bestandworst
Crummy Mummy recently posted…Poor Sam Cam
I loathe real life shopping and have yet to love online shopping, but it’s definitely the lesser of the two evils! Great post. #coolmumclub
DiscomBUBulated recently posted…Tongue-tie: Can anyone give me a straight answer?
YES! I spend nearly every spare minute I have online shopping….shops? what shops? Thanks for linking up to #coolmumclub lovely xx
Yep I am so with you – I hate actual shopping now especially FOOD shopping! Grim! The first thing we did after having our son was start getting food deliveries. I am always ordering things online, it’s possibly a problem – during night feeds when he was tiny I seemed to order something most nights and would often forget what I had bought, whoops! #ablogginggoodtime
Ellen recently posted…Breastfeeding
I couldn’t agree more with you on this one!! Shopping with a toddler is like trying to make sure world war 3 doesn’t happen. My little one is the same, HATES the pram and if you even suggest it to him, well, I might as well just run for cover! If someone isn’t a parent to I really don’t think they will understand how testing it is to take your little one shopping…. they wreck everything, want everything, scream about anything and anchor themselves to the group when told no! So exhausting haha I really relate to this, I do online shopping a lot now! #coolmumclub
Jordanne || Thelifeofaglasgowgirl.co.uk
Jordanne recently posted…Terrible twos; A never ending battle
How did we survive before the onslaught of online shopping?? It’s not all perfect though. Sometimes I end up with so many parcels to return my sitting room looks like a post office. #PickNMix
MotherofTeenagers recently posted…The Drunk Teenager
Online shopping is a godsend for everyone. Not just parents. I hate shopping when it’s really busy. If I can do it online I will do. I don’t blame kids for getting bored. It’s not that much fun for them after a few minutes.
Sally @ Life Loving
Life Loving recently posted…By: Sally
I definitley use online shopping loads more than I used to, much less stressful! I do very much miss popping to the shops at times though. Thanks for linking up #bestandworst
helen gandy recently posted…Holiday 2016!
I have a love/hate relationship with online shopping. Great because it’s super convenient but then if I need to return something I very often don’t get around to it so I have all of this extra stuff in my house! I guess I just need to be more organized returning the purchases I don’t like or don’t need. Otherwise love the idea of shopping in my pjs. #KCACOLS
I buy everything online. Well apart from clothes because they never fit…Ocado and Amazon prime are my heroes! #KCACOLS
Fran @ Whinge Whinge Wine recently posted…So she made sushi: Getting healthy food inside your toddler
I love online shopping. I choose online first most of the time. Although I’m not a fan of online grocery shopping. Never seems to save me money but that’s my fault haha #fortheloveofBlog
I used to love shopping before and still do. However, shopping with kids always end up a nightmare and that puts me off straight away. I do a lot of shopping online too for my personal stuff, so convenient, less hassle and no nightmares, lol #KCACOLS
Cheryl @ ReimerandRuby recently posted…Reimer turns 6
I love online shopping, my debit card doesn’t lol. It is so much easier to do it online, and you can stay in your pj’s X
I do love ordering my food shopping online, mostly as it saves me lugging it all in myself! Other shopping though, I actually love mooching around the shops, especially small local ones 🙂 Thanks for linking up to #PicknMix
Stevie x
A Cornish Mum recently posted…Pick ‘n Mix Fridays – 15th July
It really helpful for budgeting too as you can put stuff back when you get to check out if youve overspent, rather than just chucking it all in the trolley which is what I normally do. #kcacols
Despite spending most of my teenage Saturdays trawling the shopping centre, as an adult I’ve never really enjoyed shopping (shops don’t cater for tall people!). So for a while Online shopping has been my saviour, especially now that return policies and things are so good (all hail Collect+!). With my daughter, I basically avoid clothes shops as they are dull and the aisles are narrow. She’ll tolerate 15 mins in John Lewis as there is a lot to see and she knows we’ll usually then go and get a scone so she can people watch!
Food shopping is certainly an online activity except for one-offs. Although we recently started putting my daughter in the trolley which she things is great fun!
#forTheLoveOfBlog
hmm interesting post and I feel your pain re the pram. it brings back memories of when I tried getting my pram (and it wasn’t big) through a local fabric shop door and I had a huddle of old people stand there watching me struggle, complaining at how the prams of today are so huge. I felt like saying “and this is why your high street stores are going out of business” but anyway…even though that happened and I left the store nearly in tears (early baby days, hormonal and all), I still prefer to go to a shop. the only stuff I don’t mind getting online is food and amazon things – gifts and books!! Thanks so much for linking up at #KCACOLS. Hope you come back again next Sunday 🙂
I agree… Thank god ti’r online shopping! Especially groceries which is so quick to do online but would take forever with a toddler and baby in tow!
#KCACOLS
Yummyblogger recently posted…REVIEW: toTs by SmarTrike Chic Blue Mélange changing bag
I think there is something about little ones called Leo that result in utter chaos! I love shopping online because I can do it at night in my pjs! Also my Leo at 5 no longer has a pram or sits in trolleys and likes to hide under clothes rails or in shelves..it is exhausting! #KCACOLS
I am lucky in that Alyssa enjoys shopping purely because she waves and is social and gets a lot of attention – I do miss how easy it used to be to shop pre-baby and dont remember the last time I bought something for myself. I love internet shopping for its ease and speed however find it dangerous as its much easier to over buy than in the shops!!
Thanks for linking to #ablogginggoodtime
Mummy in a TuTu (@mummyinatutu) recently posted…Lali Handmade Accessories: Review & Giveaway!
I seriously couldn’t survive without online shopping. I find ‘proper shopping’ too stressful since having a child – even when I’m on my own I feel like I need to rush! Thank goodness for the internet! #AnythingGoes
Jaki recently posted…Want to host a Macmillan Coffee Morning?
Online shopping is totally where its at in this house. It actually saves me money! I just need to remember to book a delivery slot far enough in advance. #fortheloveofBLOG
A Mum Track Mind recently posted…Packing For Our Holiday
I do pretty much all my shopping online these days! So much easier than going into town! x #KCACOLS
Madeline (This Glorious Life) recently posted…Living arrows 28/52 and 29/52
Yes, my days of browsing the shops seem to be over too. I think online is great. #KCACOLS
Nadia – ScandiMummy x
I hate clothes shopping. The only shops I like is for books and video games, everything else I avoid if I can. #kcacols