Monday, November 10, 2008

The words you thought you would never hear me say

"If I never go shoe shopping again, it will be too soon."

It started back in July. We were in Phoenix on our way to Boston. We went to a mall in Scotsdale to buy tennis shoes for the boys. We went to Foot Locker and just let them pick out whatever they wanted. Mistake number one.

I usually have them choose shoes that are gray or black because white shoes look old faster. But, I thought, "Hey, we are on vacation, try not to micro-manage every aspect of their life for a change." Mistake number two.

Boy #1 picked out a pair of $55.00 shoes. I didn't even look at the price of Boy #2's shoes, assuming that they were a similar price. Mistake number three.

I didn't realize until we rang them up that they were $80.00 shoes! For a 9-year-old?! Are you kidding me? I went ahead and bought them. What has been long suspected was then confirmed, I do, in fact, have brain damage. Mistake number four.

Two weeks ago, Boy #2 gave up wearing his $80.00 shoes. He developed a corn on his little toe and it was rubbing against his shoe. He helped himself to my tennis shoes. He didn't seem to mind that they were ladies tennis shoes. I've medicated his corn and it is fading away, but I guess I will need a stronger medication to rid him of his penchant for ladies shoes. He even wears my tennis shoes to church, insisting that his church shoes are so small that he walks on top of his toes.

If you know me at all, you know how much it kills me to have my kids wear tennis shoes to church, let alone, my tennis shoes!

So, tonight, we went to the mall, the kids and I. This time around was different.

Boy #2 got ten dollar tennis shoes instead of $80.00. Both he and his brother, at my insistence picked out gray and black shoes.

But, I did cave on the "color rule" with Mini Me. She picked out a pair of black Skechers for $34.99. Again, she is only seven, what does she need $34.00 shoes for? We compromised on a white pair of "High School Musical" shoes for $16.99, with half off of that price for also buying Boy #1's shoes in the same store. I hate character shoes, I think they are lame, but for that price, I was willing to let Mini Me walk on Zac Efron's face.

We were able to buy three pairs of tennis shoes for under $80.00. I know my thrifty friends could out frugal me. They could get six pairs of shoes with pizza money to spare for that amount, but it's still a massive improvement. Don't ya think?

But, alas the boys still needed new dress shoes. Everywhere.we.went.in.the.mall. boys dress shoes were $20.00. It felt like a conspiracy. I hated to pay that price especially since I cannot keep up with their ever increasing growth rate. We ended up buying shoes that are two sizes too big. It may look like they are wearing flippers for awhile, but at least I won't have to buy them dress shoes until their Senior Prom.

At one point during the evening, if you were in close enough proximity, you could hear me do that "mad mom" whisper, you know the one.

"This is a store, not your living room. Quit touching each other, stop making those noises, apologize for hiting your sister in the face with your shoebox, and stop laying on the benches. Is it too much to ask that we leave the mall with a little bit of dignity?!"

Apparently it is.

33 comments:

  1. And that is the reason my son's shoes are nearly worn through at the heel. I am going to have to brave the shoe store since winter is officially here and I am feeling guilty about his damp feet.

    I never even thought of the gray/black shoe looking newer longer rule (maybe that means my brain is more damaged?)

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  2. What you need to do is make a plaster cast of everyone's feet and bring that to the store so that you can pick out the shoes for them.

    Seriously though I feel your pain. When Evan got his foot brace I not only had to get him new shoes but I had to find ones that would fit over his brace and that is not an easy thing.

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  3. MOm + Mall + 3 kids in tow = I left my dignity somewhere between the house and the car. ;) They'll grow out of it one day...Fortunately by that time they'll be saying the same thing to their kids ;)

    $80.00 for shoes? Crazy! i didn't pay that much for a pair until at least 10 years after my feet quit growing. LOL then they shrunk.

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  4. *sniff* I miss those days with my mom. *sniff*

    Seriously though, $80 is way too much for shoes, let alone kid shoes. At the rate my husband goes through shoes, I might as well have a growing boy on my hands. Thankfully, Miss Fabulous doesn't have an opinion on shoes. Yet.

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  5. You brought all three of your kids to the mall????? Good graceous woman what were you thinking?????!!

    I know how you feel about the price. Thankfully my oldest is so cheep she can squeeze a nickle 'til the buffalo poops. It's my son that I go broke with. Little dd is still oblivious to fashion (at 11) and I can get her to wear pretty much whatever.

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  6. Shoe shopping! My son is 16 1/2, he wears a size 14. Which are hard to fine at a good price. Last pair I got him, cost me about $60 on sale. I felt like I was getting a bargin. I really don't like shoe shopping for children. I understand about the dress shoes. I love to shop the mall though. I had not been to the mall in ages. And have spent the last 2 Saturday's there. We have been at Build a Bear.

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  7. I freaking love you.

    This is my life.

    Except 3 girls and one boy. So there must be sneakers and flats and churchy shoes.

    Will you take me shoe shopping sometime?

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  8. I've got an idea let's ditch the kids and go shoe shopping together. I really need a cute pair of red shoes.

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  9. Oh yeah? Well, my 11 year old son won't stop wearing Crocs everywhere we go. And not only that they're MY Crocs. They're black, and stinky, and the strap is broken on one of them.

    I only bought them to wear to the pool and the beach. They're not part of my approved mini-Infidel public uniform. Because yeah, mean mom that I am I examine and authorize every single outfit on every single kid before we walk out the door.

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  10. I do have to say, I saw your son wearing the tennis shoes at church a few weeks ago and it did seem a little odd that you would allow it. Of course I wouldn't say anything though, until now!

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  11. I'm with you on character shoes and clothing along with character themed bedrooms. It's kind of tacky and ages out too fast. The only winners here are the ones who invested in Star Wars bedrooms because that's been going strong for 30 years now.

    I always wonder why people plop down 30-40 bucks for an outfit at the Disney Store when it looks like the same exact thing you could find at any Wal Mart for 10.

    My boys wear their cowboy boots as formal footwear and church shoes.

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  12. I have to say that's a bit funny because I can since I've been there. You know my oldest is five and already miss fashion diva (who loooves shoes). Very particular about the shoes area. Little Miss A. used to want shoes that had Dora on them, and I like you, do not like shoes with characters on them. I will admit to breaking down and getting a few pairs with her on them. And then little man loves Dora also...they do not make "boy" shoes with Dora on them, so in the store we fight him on trying on shoes that don't have her on them. Shoe shopping used to be fun!

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  13. Oh, how I remember the days of "mom has an endless pocket book so I'll get the cool costly shoes." When my kids started destroying their shoes about ages 11 and 13 I decided to make them earn them. They did extra chores and stuff for the neighbors to earn money. Then I took them shoe shopping.

    They were very careful about how they spent their money and even had some left over.

    Those shoes where made of gold. The one's I bought were not. They took very good care of them and so I have continued the tradition with them.

    My girls will adore anything on the clearance rack, cause they can get two! :)

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  14. I hate character shoes too... not going to do it... EVER. Once my oldest boy turned 8 or so... I thought $80+ shoes were normal. He totally has me fooled. :) I need to be better about my little miss too - I always have to buy the cute shoes in EVERY color and she has worn them all about once. grrrrrr. I'll never learn.
    Their feet grow SO fast. I may try the 2 sizes too big thing - next time around. :)

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  15. What? You actually found boy church shoes? Lucky you. I searched 4 stores before I found something for my boy to wear to church.

    To avoid getting character shoes, I always use the excuse, "I'm sorry. These Spiderman shoes are made of plastic, therefore your feet will stink when you wear them. I insist that your shoes are leather." They don't like stinky feet, so they say okay.

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  16. This is the kind of post that makes me love you even more than I already do.
    You're making me laugh here in my little closet.

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  17. Omigosh, been there, done that! I buy my boys Sunday shoes at Payless! LOL... but, as they get older, they HAVE to have the "cool" tennis shoes... just you wait!

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  18. Giiiiiiirl - I feel your pain.

    I will buy the children anything else - if you don't make me buy them shoes.

    Like you, I loathe character shoes (and I usually cajole them into brown shoes -but black and gray are good ideas, as well!) and that is all my 3 angels want. Sometimes, I pay them $5 to get the shoes I like. Is that wrong?

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  19. Oh! Been there done that. Don't think it will get better either! The Daughter and The Son STILL act like that when we go shopping (and you know how old they are). And the prices for kids clothing and accessories are outragous!!!

    Hey, nice to hear from you! I sure am missing going to lunch and hanging out. You are way more fun to go shopping with than the kids.

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  20. OMGoodness. I nearly died when I read the title. Much to my relief I realized you were talking about shoe shopping for THEM and not yourself.

    Happy to hear you survived!

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  21. OMGoodness. I nearly died when I read the title. Much to my relief I realized you were talking about shoe shopping for THEM and not yourself.

    Happy to hear you survived!

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  22. I am thrilled that my 3-year-old daughter will wear Dora and Princess shoes because it means that she will wear them and I don't have to wrestle her like a calf at the rodeo to get them on her.

    But I'm a fashion nerd. I probably don't belong here...

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  23. Shoe secret #1: We try to buy whatever's cheap and fits and looks good for our kids. It doesn't always work and we find ourselves shelling out big bucks sometimes. The cheap shoes have come back to bite us a few times because with three boys and two girls, those $$ shoes have been classic and well-made enough to last through two or three kids. It depends on what we can find on the Saturday night we've decided that they absolutely cannot squeeze their toes into those too-small church shoes anymore. Sometimes we do well, other times not.

    My other secret is I make Bunny do all the shoe shopping. :)

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  24. P.S. Roz is the only baby left who likes character shoes, so we buy them. She's the last one, so yeah, we're spoiling her bad.

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  25. Buy the cheap stuff now because in a few years, they won't like it. Save save save!

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  26. I would pay big money to find adult sizes of Zac Efron shoes. Is that too much to ask?!

    I think you did a fantastic job getting three pairs of shoes for under 80 bones. Especially with crazy mall shoe store prices!

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  27. Never say never Annie.

    Kdds don't need expensive shoes and that's a fact.
    Now, teenagers, they can get whatever price they want with their own money ;)

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  28. Enjoyed your experience of shoe shopping with kids, it's not an easy task.

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  29. Oh goodness, I'm not looking forward to shoe shopping with my boys....

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  30. Tristan's foot grows an inch every other week. It's ridiculous and I am poor. I feel your pain.

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  31. I try to get their shoes for around $15 or less because those shoes are going to be worn out within six months, even if they are name brand shoes.
    At least with church shoes, since they only wear them once a week, they last well enough to pass on down the line.

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  32. I busted out laughing when I saw this:

    "I hate character shoes, I think they are lame, but for that price, I was willing to let Mini Me walk on Zac Efron's face."

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  33. I thought that was the awesomest, but then I saw this:

    "It may look like they are wearing flippers for awhile, but at least I won't have to buy them dress shoes until their Senior Prom."

    HAHAHAHA! :D

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