Mum hits back at the 'no socks' shamers: 'His feet are bare but he is fine'
Sometimes it's tricky to get a toddler to keep their shoes on. So, have you ever felt judged for this one?
Another day, another reason to mum-shame, right? ?
And this time, the story's come from mum of 3 Ashley Moore, writing as Puzzle of Five, who's been judged for the fact her 2-year-old wasn't wearing shoes or socks in her local Target supermarket.
She shared the above pic on Facebook, and wrote...
Ashley's post in full
"Hi. You know that mom you’re judging because her kid has no shoes or socks on at the store? Yeah, that’s me.
"Listen, I know you are super concerned about my child.. I mean someone has to, right? But I got it covered.
"I see you pulling out that hard judgement card, but I’m going to need you to go ahead and stick that back into your pocket. Actually, just rip it up and throw it in the trash because you shouldn’t have it anyway.
"I’m aware his feet are bare. I’m aware it might be a little chilly out (or maybe it’s warm, I still get the same looks) I’m fully aware his poor little toes may of gotten a tad bit chilly on the walk from the car to the store. How. Dare. I.
"Here’s the thing.. in the midst of your judgement on my parenting I’ve become extremely tired of picking up his socks from the floor.
"I’ve become extremely tired of realising a shoe is missing and retracing my steps through Target to find it. I’ve become extremely tired of grabbing something off a shelf and having a shoe fly right by my face.
"I used to try to make him be fully dressed head to toe while we made our trips to the store, and chances are his socks are tucked safely in my diaper bag because I tried to put them on and he took them right back off.
"But my patience is low with silly things so I probably already gave up.
"He hates things touching his feet, but do we blame him? Socks and shoes are just little sweaty feet prisons, screw them. And I’m in no position to pick this small battle with a 2 year old.
"So I thank you, I thank you so much for your concern, but I got it. His feet are bare, but he is fine. He’s happy and I have some of my sanity in tact.
"So excuse me while I go grab the laundry soap I came here for and 738,291 other things I don’t need."
The response
It turns out that - no surprise - lots of parents have been in this exact position.
Many applauded Ashely for her post, confirming that it's just a reflection of everyday mum reality for so many of us.
"This is so my daughter," said one. "She always takes her shoes and socks off. They aren't cheap to replace if your kid throws them in every store.
"Don't judge a mom - she actually does know her child better than you."
Another agreed: "Literally shouldn't even be an issue. My 3 year old darts out my back door into the garden any chance she gets.
"And she never wears shoes/socks in the house. She did it in barefeet last week straight into the snow. ?
"Yes, her feet were perhaps a little colder than they had been for about a minute. But guess what? She's fine. ?
"As this lady states you gotta pick your battles with toddlers. C'mon people there are kids all over the world who will never wear shoes a day in their lives. Yet this mom's a child abuser who doesn't deserve her kids? Grow up."
Though, not everyone agreed. A critic commented: "Well my kids never liked diapers or clothes but I don't find it acceptable for them to be without just because I don't want to deal with it.
"I have 5 children. So trust me I'm exhausted also. But I'm the mom and they're the kid... it's my job to make sure they are wearing the appropriate clothing. And they do as I say not the other way around."
Another was also less than impressed, saying: "I always had socks on my 2 kids when they where babies and when they walked they always had socks and shoes on.
"It makes me upset when I see babies and kids are outside in the cold with no shoes or socks on.
"Babies can't say that their feet are cold. Being a parent is not easy but we have to take care of our babies."
What do you think?
Now, we don't know how cold it was where Ashley was - or whether her little one was walking on the floor at all (the pic suggests he was in the trolley for at least some of the time).
That said, do you think it's sheer laziness not to have your child 'fully' dressed?
Or, if you have a child who takes their socks and shoes off every time you try and put them on, do you totally get this story?
Tell us in the comments below or over on Facebook.
Image: Puzzle of Five/Facebook
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Authors
Tara is mum to 1 daughter, Bodhi Rae, and has worked as Content Editor and Social Media Producer at MadeForMums since 2015
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