coming out of my shell

coming out of my shell

Sunday, August 7, 2022

Buying shoes for the boy

I offered to buy new school shoes for grandson, N. 

I struggle figuring out things like the right size, what's cool, what's appropriate. A couple of years ago I took him shopping alone for new shoes and got shoes that were way too big. The parents had to take them back to exchange them.  

My daughter, M, was supposed to go with N and me to the shoe store, but she was sick. So I took him alone. Again. Surely they knew it wasn't a good idea, right?

As always with N and Grandma, it quickly became a comedy of errors. For some reason (COVID?) the store had removed all the metal shoe measures. Instead, they pointed us to diagrams on the floor where you put your foot down and try to guess what size you are. I don't want to guess. I want to know. 

Twice I kindly asked an employee to go get me the metal measure. He said he would, but he never did. Remember when there were actual shoe salespeople who fit a child for shoes? Not anymore. It's all a guessing game now. No service, no metal measures, no help. Just N and me squabbling. 

N liked the first pair he saw. Adidas high tops. Based on the guessing game, he tried a few sizes on. I went with the smaller size, as he said they were comfortable. We bought them and I took him home.

Surprise, surprise, they were an entire size too big. His father took him back to the store to exchange them. He made N look around and try on other shoes. They ended up getting two pairs for the price I paid for the way too big shoes. N seems happy.  

I refuse to take him shoe shopping alone in the future. 




22 comments:

  1. What a kind and generous grandma you are! It is difficult as they get older to know what to get. I am usually just clicking on an Amazon link they have sent me but it really doesn't feel right to me! I am trying to get them to go on a birthday shopping trip with me so we can have time together and I can create a memory with them!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Ellen. I usually do the same (amazon or other link). That works best for me.

      Delete
  2. I remember my mum buying shoes when I was little and the salesperson with the metal measuring thingie. Yes, those days are long past. Well, at least he got two pair of shoes out of the deal:)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Too funny! No wonder I hate shoes.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wow! Your shoe drawing! And an "A for effort" in shoe shopping for your grandson!

    It's been a long time since I bought shoes for myself except for sandals and Ugg boots. My feet blister so easily that I have not worn any other shoes for years. I know my size so when they wear out, I order new ones via the internet. One of the two local independent shoe stores with salespeople who measured feet went out of business during the pandemic. A great loss in our small town. The remaining store caters to younger people's taste in shoes. Long may that store thrive!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hear you. I mostly wear flip flops. I live in terror of having to wear leather shoes with backs on the heels.

      Delete
  5. I don't blame you for calling off future shoe shopping trips! I've only shopped for myself in ages. I usually order on line and *usually* the size is right. Well, you get points for trying, right? - Tara, my864000sec.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I sure hope I get some points, because I tried really hard.

      Delete
  6. It was so kind of you to offer and take your grandson shoe shopping, but that really is quite a task. You definitely get some points for trying, Grandma!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I decided to buy a pair of shoes for an ignored neighbor child. She visited another neighbor often, and I enlisted her to draw around the little girl's feet. When I gave the drawing to the clerk, she laughed, but cut out the feet and came back with two pair of shoes that accommodated the drawings. I bought both pair, shiny red Mary Janes and sensible sneakers. Day in and day out, the only pair I saw on her were the Mary Janes. My kinda kid.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Awww! Great story. Shiny red Mary Janes would be my favorite, too.

      Delete
  8. Ugh. What a nightmare. It's a shame that customer service has declined so much in so many sectors of retail. I used to love being fitted for shoes when I was a kid.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Well done, the drawing I mean. I utterly failed being a pleasant mum when shopping with a teenage girl, so much so that we often parted as enemies, and who knows what I would have been like with a boy . . .

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He was definitely sick of being with me by the time I took him home.

      Delete
  10. Sounds like a bit of an ordeal. Shoe sizes seem to be totally unpredictable nowadays. I'm anything between (British) size 9 and size 11 so finding the right fit is pretty much trial and error. And of course you can only be sure the shoes are the right size after you've done a bit of serious walking, which isn't possible in the shoe shop.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Among the many hazards involved in shoe buying it is absolutely impossible - with certitude - to buy them online. Oh, and another problem. My feet are technically 10½ (UK measurement system) but ½-grades are now as rare as hens' teeth; I have to settle for 11s and fitting is essential.

    Footnote re. recent holiday on the Mediterranean coast. I prefer lightweight shoes for driving and I bought cheapo plimsolls (£4! Yeah, I definitely got what I paid for.). By the time I arrived at the rented villa almost 1000 miles away my rh big toe nail had turned a delicious shade of ultramarine. Clearly I needed a replacement (they were the only footwear I took) but France is shockingly expensive when it comes to clothing etc. My daughter drove me to a nearby shoe shop with only half an hour before closing. Suddenly my tendency towards cheapos disappeared and I found myself paying more than twice the maximum I'd ever previously paid for footwear to acquire a pair of skimpy - but utterly fashionable - sandals. I'd say they fitted like a glove but that would be stupid. Even now, when I think of the price, I sweat a little. But I was on holiday and it was a holiday that could have been cancelled for a myriad of horrible reasons.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm delighted you purchased the upscale French sandals. When you are on holiday, things like prices don't seem to matter. Live a little.

      Delete

So, whadayathink?