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Why I will never buy my son Crocs
Categories: Just For Moms, Development
My parent's next door neighbours have a girl who is Nolan's age: a doe-eyed, graceful little peanut. She is rough and tumble, she plays hard like Nolan, and she scampers on lime green, plastic-encased feet, and those god-awful shoes detract from her cuteness, I swear.
"Maybe we should get Nolan some crocs,"my Mom ponders as we watch the two toddlers, and though I do not often say "No" to her when it comes to purchasing Nolan's gear, I look over and decide I'll be standing my ground on this one.
"Over my dead body."
I have fallen tragically far away from my old fashionista leanings, but there are still certain items that never ever come near my son's body for as long as I have any say in the matter:
1.) Fanny packs
2.) 100% acrylic sweaters.
3.) Crocs of any shade or colour.
I have heard the arguments that the shoes are comfortable, that my god, they're so comfortable that the owners wish to never take them off. And honestly, I hope they don't, because how bad would one's feet smell after being sausaged into crappy plastic clogs?
There will be a day soon where I will embarrass the hell out of my son, when he will make me drop him off half a block from the school because I am wearing white sneakers and saggy-bummed Mom jeans. There will be a day when he insists on dressing himself in a fashion I'll undoubtedly hate. I have a window of maybe two years where I can dress him in Hawaiian prints and cute jeans and little orange-striped rugby shirts, before he'll develop his own preferences.
If he decides to wear those awful plastic hunks of disaster on his own accord, bless him. But the day I put those things on his feet of my own accord is also the day I snap on a fanny pack and admit total defeat.
"Maybe we should get Nolan some crocs,"my Mom ponders as we watch the two toddlers, and though I do not often say "No" to her when it comes to purchasing Nolan's gear, I look over and decide I'll be standing my ground on this one.
"Over my dead body."
I have fallen tragically far away from my old fashionista leanings, but there are still certain items that never ever come near my son's body for as long as I have any say in the matter:
1.) Fanny packs
2.) 100% acrylic sweaters.
3.) Crocs of any shade or colour.
I have heard the arguments that the shoes are comfortable, that my god, they're so comfortable that the owners wish to never take them off. And honestly, I hope they don't, because how bad would one's feet smell after being sausaged into crappy plastic clogs?
There will be a day soon where I will embarrass the hell out of my son, when he will make me drop him off half a block from the school because I am wearing white sneakers and saggy-bummed Mom jeans. There will be a day when he insists on dressing himself in a fashion I'll undoubtedly hate. I have a window of maybe two years where I can dress him in Hawaiian prints and cute jeans and little orange-striped rugby shirts, before he'll develop his own preferences.
If he decides to wear those awful plastic hunks of disaster on his own accord, bless him. But the day I put those things on his feet of my own accord is also the day I snap on a fanny pack and admit total defeat.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
christine 6-19-2007 @ 9:40AM
I have admitted defeat. But in my defense, I'm 9 months pregnant, it is 90 degrees out, and my feet are killing me and are the size of tennis rackets.
Thank gawd for Crocs!
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Cathy 6-19-2007 @ 9:37AM
I think they're ugly, so I don't wear them. My 2 and 5 year old LOVE them so much that they sleep in them. I think flip flops are stupid shoes but my 13 year old adores them. I want my children to dress in the clothes of THEIR generation and not mine. Maybe you need to lighten up on the condescension.
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Kristin 6-19-2007 @ 10:25AM
I didn't mean to be condescending, Cathy. I am sure there are many things I wear that are despicable to legions of people who are welcome to hate them.
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Ginny 6-19-2007 @ 10:14AM
Amen Sistah!!!
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Groovymarlin 6-19-2007 @ 9:58AM
Surprisingly, they don't smell bad at all and don't make your feet smell bad either, I guess because they're made with this anti-microbial stuff. Go to any hospital and you'll see their number one target market - nurses and healthcare workers. I actually got turned on to them when my daughter was in the hospital and I saw all the PICU nurses wearing them. And believe me - they ARE comfortable, like walking on a cloud. But I only wear mine on weekends, and they're a muted color (sort of a dark sage green). I think the women wearing the bright colors perfectly coordinated with their outfits look pretty ridiculous!
However, to each his or her own. If you don't like them, don't wear them. I hope if Nolan asks for them someday (doubtful) you'll consider it, but until then I'm sure you have many other footwear choices for him. How do you feel about Birkenstocks? ;-)
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Maria 6-19-2007 @ 10:01AM
I have always disliked crocs too. When my mother in law first bought a pair for my baby girl I was disgusted, but then I realized that baby crocs are kind of cute. But I think crocs on children and adults are rather ugly. So as soon as my baby outgrows her baby crocs I hope my MIL doesn't buy her anymore. However, Like Nolan, if my daughter one day decides she wants to wear them, well, I guess I'll let her express herself.
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Jeniffer 6-19-2007 @ 11:57AM
HaHa! I have to admit, Crocs are stupid to me, however, I think that ppl are buying them because they are the "trend" right now...Remember "mall"bangs, and holey jeans? We all did them, or wanted to. Think about doing that now....Hahahaha!!!
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Ethel 6-19-2007 @ 10:13AM
I personally wish they came in a brighter red color for adults. Kelly green too. For adult women with man feet like myself. I figure if my feet are going to be so freaking huge, I'd like to highlight them - so I am jealous of all those little kids with their little ugly shoes on.
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caitlin 6-19-2007 @ 10:24AM
I dislike them, but they're great summer shoes for messy tasks. I think I spent $8 for a pair for both of us and they're great for gardening shoes. I'm not ruining my sandals or tennis shoes when my son suddenly can't resist the urge to water my feet or dump mud on me. And they're way more comfortable than cheap flip flops or sandals I used for gardening previously.
My crocs stay in the backyard. Sitting out in the rain doesn't seem to affect them. As for my son, he also uses them as water shoes when we go to Harper's Ferry. There are nicer water shoes, but none I want to spend the money it takes to buy a new size 3 months running. And at 2, my son doesn't care what he's wearing, so long as it's comfortable.
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Amanda 6-19-2007 @ 11:29AM
I personally place crocs right up there with jerusalem crusers...I don't like them either, but, that's just my opinion. And what about those hideous shoes that have the large bed springs under the heels?? GAWD now those are F U G L Y!!!!
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michelle 6-19-2007 @ 11:21AM
I don't know how comfortable they can possibly be, maybe for around the house or gardening, but for running around like kids do? My daughter's school actually had to put a note in the weekly newsletter: "Crocs are not appropriate footwear for P.E." Luckily, she thinks they are super ugly too, and at age 6, prides herself in not doing or wearing stuff just because everyone else does. I can only pray that lasts until the teen years . . .
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Tom 6-19-2007 @ 11:13AM
Tsk, tsk, tsk...what snobs! You can't judge a foot by it's cover. Crocs are very comfortable and so far, for me, smell-free.
As for the 'ugly factor,' I'm married with a toddler. Who am I trying to impress?
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Alena 6-19-2007 @ 11:23AM
I've always thought that crocs were ugly too, but then I gave in. My 2 year old son's "girlfriend" has a pair, and he really wanted one too. He LOVES them. Plus, tell me they don't look cute:
http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/1777/crocsvs4.jpg
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me 6-19-2007 @ 11:53AM
Alena - they look *so* cute. Great picture!
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Karen 6-19-2007 @ 11:42AM
Bless you! I thought I was the only person out there immune to the Croc fad. Ugly, trendy, stupid shoes!!
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leian 6-19-2007 @ 7:01PM
Why does caring how you look make you a snob? I think crocs are hideous too and will not be purchasing any for my 3-year old either. Thank God she doesn't want any. And it's not about trying to "impress" anyone but there's nothing that says that just because you are a mother that you should no longer give a hoot about your appearance. I try - don't achieve but I certainly try - to look decent because it makes ME feel better. Because I'm married with a toddler I should just give up all effort and let myself go to hell? Gee, that shows some self-esteem. I know it's not easy and I certainly have my days where I'm just happy I have on a clean set of underwear, but I like looking nice for myself. Not for nothing, but most husbands appreciate it too - even if they never say anything about your looking like crap.
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Croft 6-19-2007 @ 12:02PM
I second you on that - My daughter (2) does not own a pair of Crocs and if I am lucky she will not ask for them at all. But eventually she will start wanting things her friends have and I will just hope that when that day comes all those crocs are somewhere sitting in landfills for eternity.
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Misty 6-19-2007 @ 12:18PM
Sure, they're not pretty. And no, they're not at all appropriate for sports-play. But don't diss their comfort. I wore mine for three days at Disney World last fall, and it was the first time I didn't end up lame afterward. Keds and Nikes never supported my feet like my Crocs do.
And they don't smell. They're designed not to.
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Jessica 6-19-2007 @ 12:34PM
Oh, Kristin! I agree 10,000%.
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Laura AS1 6-19-2007 @ 12:42PM
I've heard all the positives also--they are soooo comfy and your feet don't hurt and blah blah blah, but I agree. I just don't like the looks of them.
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