I was unaware of this until I visited her just recently. My nephew is 8 now, and his mom only lets him wear these special orthopedic sandals to school and other places where shoes are required. - although she'd rather him be barefoot... He doesn't have any foot problems or anything, but as a baby and toddler, my sister was fanatical about him not wearing shoes, over concern for his feet developing properly, and attaining correct balance and flexibility, etc. She showed me several articles by different pediatric orthopedists. The articles made a strong point, and convinced me she was doing right, but that was back when he was 2 ½ years old. I had no idea she was still continuing with it now that he's 8, though, and it also surprises me, because she wouldn't be caught out of her house without her shoes... He hates having to wear sandals to school when the other boys are all into and wearing the latest tennis shoes, etc. They fight and argue over his protests and complaining about not being able to wear his tennis shoes to school. She has several pair of these non slip grip socks that she makes him wear when she takes him with her shopping and places. It's what she made him put on in the van before going into mcdonalds, one time when I was with them. They fought then, and I could tell he was embarrassed for having to wear them. She's real defensive about it, and I couldn't really do any good by talking to her about it. I feel so bad for him...
8 years old he should be aloud to wear shoes if he wants to. there are plenty of shoes out there that are not bad for your feet. http://www.eccousa.com/?utm_campaig...ogle-adwords&gclid=CKfF5_G2g5QCFQmdnAodtDsfWQ http://www.simpleshoes.com/kidsLanding.aspx?g=Kids http://www.converse.com/index.aspx?mode=shoescat#shoes http://www.teva.com/productslist.aspx?g=k&categoryid=50&page=1 just to name a few. HTH
Ok so she thinks wearing shoes is going to hurt his feet but happily lets him eat Macdonalds? Messed Poor kid, should wear shoes if he wants to, i dont know i single person who has bad feet because of shoes they wore as a kid
Thats nutso. At 2 and a half, sure...but at 8, lets be reasonable. The poor kid will likely grow up detesting his mom for that if she lets it continue
maybe you should privately tell your nephew to talk to his doc about it next time he has a checkup or physical. Maybe if Doc tells mom that he's old enough and his feet are developed, she'll loosen up a bit?
I was under the impression that shoes help support the arch and the growth of the childs feet, but as they get older, like 8 yrs old, he should wear shoes if he wants to. I dont see any problem that would happen to his feet. it protects his feet from stepping in glass, any kind of nastys on the ground and pavement, and helps your back. why does she fight him, when he WANTS to wear the shoes? he should be allowed to wear shoes, if she looks around, shes not going to see any other kids in his class wearing special grip socks to walmart. maybe you should point out the other kids, or have him explain it to his doc, like the other poster said,.. i dont know, thats pretty wierd that shes doing that. poor kid.
I really dont think its a big deal, Yes your sister is a bit extreme, Bur the kid is only 8 years old. If He was 13 years old then I would definatly agree he could be a bit embarrased having to be without shoes around other teens, but at his age he probably likes being barefoot as many kids do, I would not worry about this too much. tara
no at 8 i was jealous that all the cool kids had the new air Jordans. I was stuck with British Knights. By the time I was thirteen, I was like, "why would i want you to spend 150 dollars on shoes for me? spend $30 on shoes and buy me $120 worth of other stuff." I could fully understand shame at 8 as would most people
My mom actually had/still has the same strong feelings about babies and shoes--the key word being BABIES. I was allowed shoes when I was 3. You should offer to babysit for a day and then take him out and buy him shoes and let him wear them in public. Maybe he could sneak them to school in his backpack and change after she drops him off. It might help him to know that not every adult in his life is a foot-obsessed psycho. Is his dad or any other adult in his life that might offer some sanity to balance things out? Poor kid.
Just checking, since one post wonder had long checked out. My son hated shoes until he was 10 or so, really got into them, now they are a tool for his softy feet. He wore birkalikes for years. His choice. Now it's boots cause he's so brutal metal. (Snork)
