Oct 8th, 2007
Winter Boots
Fall has arrived, kind of - it’s still warm out during the day, but chilly in the a.m. The forecast for yesterday called for snow in the higher elevations - yeah! That was my cue to buy snow boots for the kiddos. We’ve tried on everything else and nobody needs anything - it all fits from last year - woo hoo! So the kids and I headed to the store. My kids have 2 of everything, except coats. When they were at Montesorri it wast just so much easier to have one set at school that we left there and one set at home. That also allowed us to have one dry set of boots and gloves at all times . . . not easy to do when the kids are outside in the snow so much. Anywho, I figured I’d get Keira 2 pair of boots and Jason just one . . . since he won’t leave his stuff at school this year. And keep in mind, I’m not looking for heavy duty stuff here - I’m looking for stuff that will keep their feet try and a bit warm and will last the 3 months I need them to last.
Off we head to Walmart. I couldn’t bring myself to buy the boots there. They were so stiff and plastic that they had no movement. Both of my kids, who will wear pretty much any shoe, complained that they hurt their feet, no matter what size of style we tried. So off to Target! K found one pair of boots that fit well and were only $12 . . . J tried on every style and size and didn’t find any. The dude has goofy shaped feet and it’s hard to find boots for him - K has the longest narrowest feet of any 4 year old I know, so it’s tough for her, too. So here we were, 2 stores later, with only 1 pair of boots - 2 to go.
We head to a sporting good store “just to see” - I figured they’d be too spendy, and they were - $35!!! No way I’m spending that much on boots for my kids who are so hard on shoes! And, just on principle I couldn’t do it. I barely spend that much on shoes for ME! Off to the mall. We tried Burlington Coat Factory, which I thought was supposed to be a bit discounted . . . um WRONG! $30 for boots there, too . . . for a preschooler! Are you friggin’ kidding me? So off to Famous Footwear . . . same thing . . . $35 for snow boots. And I’m not talking heavy duty go to Alaska in January boots . . . I’m talking about barely keep your feet dry snow boots for kids.
Finally, we’re off to Payless - with the requisite stop at the petstore to see the puppies in the window. Here we broke below the $30 mark, but still - $25 for kids’ snow boots at Payless!!! Remember, both of my kids are still under the kids’ size 1 mark . . . so technically in toddler size shoes according to the charts. $25!!! However, true to form Payless had their BOGO 1/2 off thing going . . . and each of my kids found a pair of boots that 1) would keep their feet dry, 2) they could get on and off by themselves, 3) fit their feet.
But really, who thought it would be so difficult to find snow boots for kids and at a price that didn’t break the bank? Sheesh…
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I think it is so difficult to buy anything for kids and not need a loan to do it….I don’t understand why prices have to be so high. I don’t spend that much on me…why would I spend it on someone who’s feet are 1/4 my size?? You are on to something here! I just wish I knew how to change it and make it better for those of us on a budget!
I went to buy shoes for Hailey the other day- a one year old and they were so expensive. She’ll probably only wear them for a couple of months- if even that long. So frustrating!!
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