Grandparents and clothes

You should have sent them in shoes you didn’t feel precious about. I get it, OP. You bought something nice for the children to wear and they got messed up and realistically I know I’d be feeling annoyed too but best not send them in something new and precious. Trainers or something a bit battered would have been better, or make it explicit that the shoes weren’t to go out

YABU for having these as winter footwear for “playing outside” aged kids

Leave bits of spare clothes such as wellies / tracky pants / undies / jumper / pj's / coat at grandparents house for emergencies. Easier all round.

This is what I was thinking.

The solution for next time though is to send them in shoes that don't matter too much for trips to grandparents, it's not a fashion parade, keep best shoes for best

Don't buy kids shoes that can't be cleaned is the moral of the story here - plenty of options suitable in the uk's rather moderate climate that are more practical than designer boots. Thick socks, two pairs even plus wellies are better or I always had hiking boots for mine

This

Easy to be wise after the event and no blame here, but I generally ask if my grandchildren can wear oldish clothes if we are doing something messy like cooking. But children can be unpredictable and maybe they rushed outside before your MIL could stop them! I would have packed boots etc just in case! But I agree that childhood is short and they have plenty of time to worry about clothes in the future.

Your MIL may not have realised they would be ruined.

I almost bought a pair before realising they couldn't be got wet.

I got some snow boots instead that can cope with wet and are warm.

They’ll wash easily, the dark doesn’t stop play, neither does weather mild enough to not need a coat for the journey.

As an aside uggs are poor for foot health, particularly developing feet, I wouldn’t want children of that age wearing them for any length of time. They’re flat inside and not well fitting, so increase the risk of things like hammer toes, over pronation etc.

You’re comment about the temperature aren’t logically. If it’s warm enough to walk outside for 5 mins without a coat then it’s definitley warm enough to play outside.

This. Never dress your children in something they can't get dirty in.

I'm not anti uggs I've owned several pairs, but they are in no way suitable for a five year old (also have one of those) my originals lasted a good few years and I wore them a lot the second pair lasted two winters and looked knackered after the first. If you want to get them those kind of boots get the cheap knock offs, the quality is no different these days but the price is.
My MIL would've had no idea any kind of boots were not suitable for going outside in the wet, they're boots. That's what boss are supposed to be for.

I had no idea they weren’t waterproof - they are boots, isn’t that kind of the point of boots?

I can't get my head around kids having Ugg boots, but that wasn't your question. Expect your MIL had no idea how expensive or impractical they are. Sorry OP, I think you have to take responsibility for this one.

Any chance they will brush up once they dry off?

If it wasn't cold enough for them to need coats to walk to MIL's then they definitely didn't need coats whilst running around and getting warm. Here it's not even that cold tbh.

As for Uggs, I never agree with putting kids in clothes you're precious about unless it's for like a wedding (and even then, you should be open to the fact they'll get messy). There are fields outside. The possibility was there so be prepared for it.

And a 9 year old doesn't care about labels 🤣

Why doesn’t MIL have a box of wellies & selection of coats for when GC come over, I have a selection of sizes of wellies & various coats, hats, scarves, gloves, plus changes of clothes etc so the kids if they pop in, from anywhere & want to go out to play it’s not a problem to quickly change & go out so their normal clothes don’t get ruined. They aren’t here all the time but I pick up bits when the sales are on & keep them here for when needed.

I stick my Uggs in the washing machine on a 30° with non bio. Then stuff them with newspaper and leave them to air dry. Takes a couple of days. Brush the outside with a bristle brush and a bit of waterproof spray, good as new.

Why is it important that kids are kept clean?

Children get dirty, ours will be in the garden most days whatever the weather. I don't see why children would have normal, everyday clothes that are too precious to get dirty. To be fair all their 'posh' clothes are machine washable too so they're free to puddle jump in those too.

I'm be annoyed. My kids are still small. I tend not to trust others with keeping them clean and returning clothes so try and just send them in cheap gumboots and daycare clothes. It sounds like I should just keep it up in future!

My little one wears ugh type boots they are comfortable and warm and as long as it's not raining or they are not running through muddy fields are the perfect choice for them to wear. Easy on and off for play centre/ trampoline park visits and swimming lessons etc. Fur lined and cosy too.

No they are suede! You can buy an ugh cleaning kit it's £38 but worth it as should last a while it comes with a protector too.

Would mil be familiar enough with uggs to know they’re expensive and not weather proof?