I have always had a quandry about buying kids shoes. Fall weather started here this week, and I realized that neither of the boys had running shoes that fit, and that in fact my oldest probably needed an extra pair for school, too. This meant I had to once more wade into my thoughts on kids shoes.
You see, I was one of those kids who always got good quality shoes. My mother firmly believed that bad shoes would ruin my feet and leave me forever awkward and flat footed (or high arched?). So every spring we would go and get me a good quality pair of buckle-up leather Buster Brown sandals for the summer. And every fall we would go to Sears and get two pairs of good quality running shoes for school, and one good quality pair of Mary Janes for church and skirts. Oh, how I envied all those girls in the early 80's that got to wear the little black Mary-Jane like slippers as their inside shoes at school while I had to endure my clunky, hard to put on running shoes. They seemed to float through the air, while I stomped along in my practical, quality shoes.
This lesson has stayed with me my whole life, and I still own a few pairs of good quality, generally clunky (but funky clunky) shoes.
When it comes to my kids' shoes, I do wonder, though. Is it worth the extra $20 to get my 5 year old Sketchers instead of Walmart shoes. Aside from the fact that I hate to shop at Walmart, is there really that much of a difference in quality? Its quite likely that both pairs of shoes were made in almost the exact same type of factory, with almost the exact same type of materials. And yet I am left with that voice in my head, saying "If you want to have good feet as an adult, you need good quality shoes."
So far, I tend to compromise. I get each kid one good quality pair of shoes -- their main outside shoes for playing at the park and walking around town. Then I get a cheaper pair of school shoes, since they do a lot of sitting at school, and if I feel like they need dress shoes, I will get another cheaper pair for those, too.
What do you think about kids shoes?
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Ha! I just bought Jeremy new shoes and rainboots today (at Walmart) - I realised he's gone up 4 sizes in one year. I can't afford anything other than Walmart or Superstore at that pace.
ReplyDeleteI just bought Lochlan shoes and boots at Wal Mart- I can't spend $40 on shoes he wears for 2-3 months, he is growing so fast. I was happy about the rubber boots from Wal Mart as they were inexpensive ($9) and made in Canada of recycled material. My mum would let me have those Mary Janes either-I wanted them so badly. Its one of the first moments I remember wanting something because other people had them, I must have been 3 or 4. My mum did let me choose the booster seat that all my friends had, but it did not last as long as the one my Mum chose for my sister (and would have chose for me).
ReplyDeleteI think sometimes you have to pay for quality. When I do spend more for shoes, I get them 1/2 size bigger (boots you can get a full size up) and they wear them until they fall apart. When I buy Payless or less expensive shoes, I know that in 3 months or so I will have to replace them. When I buy Skechers or uggs or shoes like that, they will last for a few years. So it doesn't matter which kind you buy, you are going to end up paying the same money, either spread out or all at once!
ReplyDeleteI should add, it's the classic styles that I pay more for, the trendy styles come and go too quickly so I usually get those at Payless or somewhere cheaper.
ReplyDeleteI inevitably end up at Payless for BOGO sales or I check out the Lands End overstocks page. I pay more for quality Mary Janes/boys dress shoes but then I commit the terrible no-no of passing on shoes to the next child.
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