a long post about baby shoes

Remember those shoes I bought Kathryn at Target? The great deal I went through hell to get? I hate them. HATE THEM. They're thick and inflexible and she can barely walk in them. I guess that's what you get for $3.24.

I would keep Kathryn in Robeez forever, but she needs a shoe with more protection and support. So we headed to Stride Rite. And I spent a lot more than three bucks on a pair of sneakers. Sure she'll outgrow them in a month, but they're adorable and she's already walking better.

I guess it's family tradition to wear Stride Rite shoes. I wore their shoes up until I went in to adult sizes. Of course, that had to do with my pigeon toes. I literally tripped myself when I started walking as a toddler. I had to be in crazy expensive shoes to help my feet. I also had to wear a brace on my legs for nearly two years. This led to some horrible nightmares in which I couldn't run from the monsters that were chasing me. To this day I still have dreams where my legs drag and I can't get where I need to go fast enough.

All of this talk about shoes reminds me of a story from when I worked at Lil Things, The Big Store for Little Kids! Way back in the day when I was 16-years old, I started my first and only foray in to retail sales. I worked in their apparel department selling clothes and shoes to bratty children and their obnoxious parents.

One night this couple came in with their little boy. He had been walking for a while, but they were just then buying his first pair of shoes. The manager of our department always encouraged us to sell the most expensive shoes. These were the biggest no-nos for new walkers. Hard, thick soles, stiff leather. Think of traditional, high-top, white baby shoes.

I was standing there, bs-ing my way through why they needed to buy those shoes. I specifically remember saying, "Oh, they offer a lot of support in the ankles which is important." And they totally bought it! They walked out of the store with their screaming kid. He was pissed. Sorry little dude. Knowing what I know now, I never would have sold your parents those things. Kids don't need support in the ankles. They need lightweight, soft-soled moccasins in the beginning.

So there you have it. Every thing you never wanted to know about buying shoes for your toddler. To recap, cheap, hard-soled shoes blow. Learn from my mistakes, people.