Milestone: To sandal or not to sandal

[nanila]

Humuhumu now wears the same size shoes as I do.

Shoe theft has occurred. My Birkenstocks. Argh.

The bloke thinks she will be taller than I am, because she's only 11, and this will therefore only be a phase so eventually I'll get them back.

I face a burning question: do I go six months without Birkenstocks, and thus unable to wear the complete standard-issue academic scientist uniform, or do I purchase a new pair?

Poll #31720 To sandal or not to sandal

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 67

View Respondents

Do I buy a new pair of Birkenstocks?

View Answers

Yes, you should buy them in a different style (that one with the toe loop you were hankering after).
44 (65.7%)

No, you should wait until they return to you because Humuhumu has outgrown them.
2 (3.0%)

I think you should go with what you prefer and can afford.
33 (49.3%)

I like ticking boxes.
27 (40.3%)

Comments

[corvidology]

Buy the new style. When Humuhumu returns the old style, you'll have two pairs. PROFIT!

[nanila]

I have followed this advice! New style to arrive later in the week.

[conuly]

AFAB people generally stop growing about two years after menarche, though it's not uncommon to have a small growth spurt of an inch or so during the first pregnancy, especially if that's in the late teens or early 20s.

So... her final growth depends on those factors.

[conuly]

Also, you may enjoy one of my favorite poems

[nanila]

Indeed, I did. :D

Menarche has not yet occurred, so we're not on the two-year countdown quite yet.

[silveradept]

Choosing the sensible option, but also, if Humuhumu likes them sufficiently and can get away with those being her standard academic wear shoes, it may be prudent to have a set you like and she does not.

[nanila]

As long as they fit her, I'm certain I'm not getting them back. If her feet outgrow them, I suspect Birkenstocks will start appearing on her birthday / Christmas lists.

[silveradept]

This seems likely, so good that you got yourself a proper pair and now born of you can have comfortable enjoyable shoes. Although it would have been nicer to ask before absconding with your sandals.

[fred_mouse]

Having gone through this phase, although it was both Middlest and Youngest at the same size at the same time -- buy the shoes, assuming they don't break the budget. You should get them back, but they may not be in the state you want them.

I think the thing I most remember about that stage was it was during the very short period I was going to tap classes, and both of them were still doing tap, and I was Rather Aggrieved that I had to buy three pairs the same size, which were not going to actually get full use out of.

[nanila]

You should get them back, but they may not be in the state you want them.

This is the point made by you and others that has convinced me that replacing them now is the right choice!

The tap shoes sound particularly annoying, especially as I imagine they are not cheap.

[fred_mouse]

Tap shoes were about mid range in terms of shoe expenses at that point in my life, but it is relevant that at that point I think all three kids were skating, and that was significantly more expensive. But at least I wasn't having to buy a pair of pointe shoes every six months! I don't think Youngest ever made it to pointe, and for complicated reasons Middlest was in their late teens/early 20s before they were (and I'm still annoyed about the reasons).

[quoththeravyn]

Meanwhile your Birkies are forming themselves to fit her feet...

[nanila]

This is a very good point, and one of the reasons I elected to get myself a new pair!

[azurelunatic]

Mama made me a lot of clothes while I was in her dress size, for the very pragmatic reason that she would eventually get them back, and she might as well enjoy herself making them and later wearing them. (She was right: I did get both taller and wider.)

[nanila]

Your mama sounds both clever and dextrous. <3

[rmc28]

I think if you can afford new sandals for yourself and don't want to go 6 months without footwear you love, go for it. My sandal brand of choice is Teva, and I'm resigned to getting new ones every couple of years (it turns out if you walk a lot in sandals they eventually break).

[nanila]

I've never owned Tevas! They do look wonderfully comfortable.

[purplecthulhu]

I have no Birkenstocks, but I do have Clarke's sandals that I sometimes weear (though not this summer as they're stuck in London). Does this make me a fake academic?

[nanila]

I think the lack of sandals is more worrying than the brand. An un-sandaled academic in summer (particularly physicist) is not as comfortable as they should be!

[hilarita]

+1 on the idea that if they return, they may not return in a suitable stoat for your further use.

[nanila]

Yep. This is the point that convinced me to get a replacement now (also: looking forward to toe loops!).

[antisoppist]

Tell the child they are your bloody shoes and to give them back.
Then buy the child their own for their birthday or Christmas or when they would otherwise need a new pair of shoes.
Also buy yourself more shoes.

But the feet growing thing is a pain. I didn't buy mine DMs until they were 18 for this reason. However, my daughters both still have smaller feet than me (and I'm only a 39) so not much stealing has occurred apart from my ancient Swedish clogs that sit by the back door for putting the washing out or moving the bins that eldest keeps pinching when she has to nip down the road to feed neighbours' cats and then complains are too big and fall off and hurt her feet. And I say well why do you keep pinching them then?

[nanila]

Ha, to be fair they are now quite old and if they are going to be re-moulded to her feet then I don't want them back.

Why do they enjoy doing silly things that they know are silly, and we know are silly, and then moaning to us about them when they know they are going to get told off for being silly? It is exhausting. :(

[kirundo]

I know birkenstocks are relaxing and really lovely to wear but I can't get them to work for me, sadly. The foot part is so hard to get used to for me I don't hgave the patience.

These are local social worker uniform shoes :)

[nanila]

The breaking-in period is annoying, I agree. Humuhumu has the same shape of feet as I do, which is why I think she immediately fell in love with my Birkenstocks. We'll see what happens when she outgrows them and has to break in her own pair...!

There are some very comfortable and smart-looking sandals and boots in that brand. Nice.

[qian]

I recently bought a pair of sandals (mismatched rainbow/Pride Tevas) not because I needed them, but simply because I wanted them, and I love them and have been wearing them daily here in Malaysia and have zero regrets. So I think you should buy the toe loop pair! Even if Humuhumu returns the existing pair to you, apparently you are meant to let shoes rest between wears instead of wearing them daily, to ensure longevity.

[nanila]

I went looking at all the Pride Tevas and they are fantastic! :D

I have now gone for the toe loop pair. I'm bracing myself for breaking them in, but I know the rewards will be great once I do...