If the shoe fits...

Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve been obsessed with footwear.

 

Trouble is, I’ve got wide feed. I used to cry as a kid, and tell my parents they should have thought before pro-creating, since they both have wide feet, so they should have realized that two wides make…an EVEN WIDER!

 

I remember vividly my visits to the shoe shop to get school shoes. I used to be so excited on the way there – even the smell as I walked into the shop used to do it for me (still does!) But then slowly it would dawn on me. I could NEVER have the cool shoes. EVER!

 

And you know what I mean by 'the cool shoes'! Clarks always had that must-have pair of slip-ons that every girl in school had or wanted. They were THE shoes of the season, and I’d covet them with every bone in my body. Except that they were never to be mine since they never came in the wider fittings.

 

I remember one sweet old man shop assistant prefacing his shoe selection for my Frodo feet with an 'I’m sorry my dear' as he saw the tears tumbling down my face – desperate for the cool slip ons, and distraught at the lace up offerings in front of me. I used to look longingly whenever I passed a Freeman, Hardy Willis - like it was some enchanted castle where only the most regal of princesses could get their footwear.

 

And now my kids are obsessed with shoes.

 

Kaya now loves wearing my shoes, in the same way I used to love stomping around in my grandma's heels (till I fell down the stairs!). I’ll often go into my bedroom to discover Kaya standing like some stripper in just her knickers and a pair of my killer heels! Slightly disturbing, but quite funny!

 

She thought all her Christmas’ had come at once when to my horror, age two, Aunty Nay bought her a set of princess shoes! Yes – those terrible Perspex ones with the heel - 'Ankle Breakers' as daddy calls them! And ever since then she’s been clomping round the house, proud as punch. My genius move was to convince her from a young age that princesses always come down the stairs on their bottoms, and so to this day, she’s never walked down the stairs in the shoes! I love it when a plan comes together!

 

Akira, at not even two yet, is also obsessed with shoes! When we’re out shopping I only need to turn my back for two minutes, and he’s clomping around in some shocker of a shoe. His current favourites are Kaya’s princess shoes, much to Trey’s dismay! I guess boys shoes are so much more dull than girls shoes, which is why he’s not that interested.

 

I’ve now sussed the perfect compromise. I let the kids have the most gaudy, hideous, character themed SLIPPERS they want (see what I did there!) Nobody’s gonna see those, so there’s no shame involved. Kaya’s last lot of school shoes actually had lights on, but only because there was a button where I could switch them off ;0

 

Shoe shopping is such a nightmare with a little girl. I instantly want to hide all the gaudy offerings out of sight and since I now have a younger boy, I’m always thinking ahead of the hand-me-down possibilities!

 

So in Mothercare at the weekend to get her some comfy shoes for playing in, I took her straight to the boys section without her realizing it. Before she knew it, she was trying on denim and cammo canvas boots! Sadly for me, she wasn’t having any of it.

She then spotted the most hideous, brightest pink, Hello Kitty shoes I’ve ever seen! Now don’t get me wrong, I like the kids to have things they like, but within reason. I tried to steer her away, but she was desperate to try the things on.

 

So - and here comes the mummy confession - she DID try them on. Oh, but sadly they 'weren’t very comfy on the toes'! Oh dear, what a shame - best take them off then.

 

I guess it might have had something to do with the fact that mummy had chosen to leave the tissue paper in the toe!!!!! ;-)

 

SHAME ON ME!

 

Have a lovely week …Enjoy the forecast big freeze this weekend! Talking shoes - last weekend I had to get the kids flip flops out of storeage again, this week, it looks like wellies all the way!

 

X

Gro First Duvet Cover

 

 

I decided it was time to try Akira with a duvet and I’ve done lots of research and discovered the most genius first duvet cover EVER! Yet another amazing invention from the Gro team. It’s available in Cotbed or Single size and comes with a fitted sheet, duvet cover and integrated pillowcase.

The clever bit about it? The duvet cover zips down the sides to attach to the fitted sheet. So it can’t get kicked off! Such a simple idea. Akira looked SO proud when I first put him to sleep in his 'big boy bed' (still in his cotbed!).

Gro suggest it from age two and a half, and since there’s a single bed option too, it’s perfect for older kids who like to move around at night. No more unnecessary midnight waking for you, because they’re cold. YAY! x