When I was childless, my aunt bemoaned the fact that keeping her sons in shoes was going to deplete her retirement account. While I’m sure she was engaging in hyperbole, I also mentally rolled my eyes and thought to myself, “How many times can they possible outgrow their shoes in a year?”
Like most parenting judgments, it’s come back to haunt me.
I realize now, it’s not so much about them growing out of shoes as them completely destroying them.
Little boys – at least mine – are not careful with their shoes. I’m not quite certain how he does it, but within weeks the velcro straps need to be re-glued to keep them together. Within a month, sometimes two, the canvas covering his toes are starting to wear thin. And by the end of two months – three if I’m lucky – I look down and see his big toe sticking out of the shoe.
I thought I was buying cheaply made shoes so I splurged on a step up so they would last at least six months. The more expensive shoes did the same. I watch him play. I think it has something to do with dragging his feet while on the swings and walking like a zombie and maybe playing kickball. While these are all things I did as a kid – except the zombie part, I don’t remember my shoes being torn to shreds in quite the same way.
Are your sons hard on their shoes? What about your daughters? Does anyone have an idea of where I can find an indestructible shoe?
