To ask MIL to wear socks?

[quellehorreur]

I have namechanged for this so DH doesn't see.

MIL wears boots and shoes with bare feet. When she arrives at our house and takes off her boots I can see her feet look a bit slimy and she walks all over the carpets where the children are crawling and playing. I really hate this!

I'm going to have to say something (or get DH to as I'm a coward) but I have no idea if I'm being unreasonable and actually it is a perfectly normal thing to do?

It seems so revolting to me! Her sister does it too, she took her boots off once and she had a tissue wrapped round her toes obviously to soak up the wetness. Why not just wear socks?! Am I being unreasonable to find this unhygenic and gross? Is this a normal thing for people to do?

[PrimalLass]

I can't bear wearing socks under shoes. However, if going to someone else's house I'd take a pair to put on after taking my shoes off.

[Iwillneverusethisnameforpostin]

You are not going to have to say something. You may choose to say something but that's up to you. Nothing more intrinsically hygienic about socks over bare feet afaik.

[chalchalchal]

How can she be slimy? Is she a snail?

[TimeToPassGo]

This makes me feel like throwing up thinking about it Either socks or could you get her a pair of those slipper socks? Having said that her feet are probably still much cleaner than walking round with outdoor shoes on. Plus kids put all sorts in their mouths.

I do understand the ick factor though OP!

[quellehorreur]

But if you wear the boots a lot with bare feet surely the sweat soaks into the boots whereas socks would prevent that, and socks get washed after one wear?

When I said 'have to', I did mean to say 'want to', but I would only say something if people on here agree that I should. I am perfectly happy to let it go if it turns out bare feet and boots is perfectly reasonable :)

[quellehorreur]

chalchalchal, she is not slimy generally - just the foot area. Mainly the toes. They do dry out quite quickly, presumable because the greasiness has been absorbed by my carpets.

I'm glad I'm not the only one TimeToPassGo!

[quellehorreur]

*presumably

[ENormaSnob]

That would make me wince too tbh.

Gross.

[DaftSkunk]

This has made me feel a bit queasy. I'm not sure what you could do as I probably wouldn't say anything, as I wouldn't want to upset her.

Sorry that's not helpful in the slightest.

[CSIJanner]

Buy her slippers -jobs done

[quellehorreur]

Good idea about the slippers. I will do that.

[squoosh]

Bleurgh.

I'd want to say 'get your sweaty, slimy trotters off my shag pile' but that might be slightly abrupt.

[thankfeckthereischocolate]

Go to her house instead

[Iwannalaylikethisforever]

Babies don't crawl for long
I also hate socks
You are being silly

[Andanotherthing123]

I am a very relaxed, laid back person, but NO SOCKS? Why, why, why? That's so revolting I can't think about it long enough to offer any advice. YANBU.

[girlywhirly]

Given the amount of dirt that gets walked in onto your carpets on the soles of shoes, you are a bit U. But if she has obviously got athletes foot I would say something because that is contagious and unreasonable on her part.

I know a few families who adopted a no outdoor shoes in the house policy to keep their new carpets clean, it was socks or slippers only. Could you get your carpets cleaned and then start that, and MIL could keep a pair of socks or slippers there for when she visits?

[MomsStiffler]

YABU & being over protective I feel.

If it hasn't "infected" or "upset" your kids by now it never will....

[quellehorreur]

We don't wear outdoor shoes in the house, I don't like that either

[GhostsInSnow]

You aren't supposed to wear socks with real sheepskin boots, you don't need them as the sheepskin keeps the feet warm and not sweaty, if anything wearing socks with sheepskin will make feet sweat.

[notso]

You can't have your cake and eat it you know!

I was a bit recently when MIL came round, she always wears flip flops if she 'pops' because shoes are too faffy apparently. Anyway she was pottering round with the kids bare foot while I made a drink. Then we sat down for a chat and preceded to tell me about her septic toe, when I looked her uncovered manky toe was dripping around the place.

[Keepthechangeyoufilthyanimal]

Eww that's weird and a bit gross…I can't imagine not wearing socks with boots…high heels on a night out, ok yes but still don't like the feeling of it!
Do you all wear slippers in the house? We do in our family and my mum has a drawer of cheap slip on (freebie hotel) type slippers at her house…not so much for this issue but because she has wooden/tiled floors so it's in case guests feet get cold

[Seeline]

I never wear socks in the summer, and wander round the house barefooted. I've never thought anything of it. I wear socks in the winter because shoes without socks are very uncomfortable and I get cold toes

[pianodoodle]

I don't like the thought of it somehow with or without the baby crawling on the floor...

I probably wouldn't be brave enough to say anything though.

[quellehorreur]

They aren't sheepskin, they are ordinary leather boots. I have seen them described as 'mum boots' on here before, ordinary black ones like the kind you get in Next.

I'm not worried about anything infecting the children either (she's not that bad!), it's the general revoltingness of it.

[TimeToPassGo]

How do people not wear socks in boots? My feet ache thinking about it! Does it not rub skin off?

NotSo the septic toe is giving me the vapours!