Grandparents and clothes

I think you should just chalk it up to one of those things that happens.
You COULD have sent suitable footwear, but didn't because you didn't think you needed to, granny could have stopped them going out, but didn't think they'd get too cold and thought they'd have fun, which is fine. To be honest I would have supposed that kids in boots HAD suitable footwear, because I don't wear boots for show, just for keeping my feet warm and dry. You were at cross purposes, no-one's fault, move on.

This is what is puzzling me about the whole thing.
Could they not have just walked there in the wellies and take them off when they go inside.
Seems so much easier than carrying them for just incase.

Hopefully the boots can be rescued. If you're anything like me, part of your anger will be at yourself, because you knew wellies would be a good idea and then talked yourself out of sending them.

I always thought Uggs were slippers, meant for indoor use only. They're not waterproof at all so why would anyone wear them outside?
So, YABU got putting your children out in slippers but MIL is also unreasonable for also putting them outside in slippers.

YABU for getting them uggs! They are so bad for growing feet and ankles!

Why did the wellies need 'packing'? Couldn't they have just worn the wellies to her house?

Wow, talk about making a leap!

Who said anything about sackcloth and old rags? There is a middle ground between dressing your child in rags and £75 shoes you know?
Kids need clothes that will allow them to be kids. Plenty of warm, waterproof and most of all SUITABLE shoes in places like Mountain Warehouse that will withstand weather, mud, rain, running around, jumping and playing!

Regardless, the point I was trying to make is that it’s not about whether or not children should be wearing uggs or any other expensive item of clothing, it’s about recognising that with the best will in the world Children will want to play (as they should!) and it’s up to you, as adults, to provide appropriate clothing for them. If you’re going to put them in expensive clothing for everyday wear then you can’t be annoyed if they don’t take care of them to the standard that you might.

I would have no idea they are expensive and I would have let them out as well... To be honest as long as they still fit they are not ruined they are still for filling their purpose they just don't look as nice.

I’m pretty sure they do have those shoes too as stated by the OP but just on this occasion they were sent to MILs in different shoes, because she agreed they wouldn’t be going outside.

Mumsnet is so ridiculous sometimes. I swear no one is like this in real life. Back in the real world grandparents would just say no because you haven’t got your boots on.

Surely children should have boots that can withstand mud and rain. Otherwise I don't see the point of them

The question of wellies and coats had already come up.

The MIL could have told the kids to wait while she phoned the OP and asked her to please bring jackets and wellies five minutes up the road. That's not a no.

Frankly, this fear of upsetting a grandchild theory of why the MIL did this seems a bit off to me. Are there really grown adults out there who are afraid a grandchild might cry or pout? Who basically let small children run amok if that's what they want?

I'd be interested to know if this MIL let the children walk all over her home with those muddy Uggs on or if she had them take them off in the doorway.

OP, it might be fun to ask MIL if her house was ruined by all the mud they must have tracked in...

How old are the chn? Did they not think? Why do they have Uggs?

Ruined? Seriously? What were they doing!

No 9yo should be concerned about clothes in this situation i.e. for just going in the garden 5min from home. Not a dig at OP who dressed the DCs appropriately for what she the situation would be.

@newandconfused5 - pretty’s sure Uggs can go in the wash

I'd be annoyed but I'd also learn a lesson that she can't be trusted. I mean, she knows they're not garden boots.

You should have packed the Wellies and coats .

None of mine 9 yo would have paid any attention.

Indeed.

I'd be annoyed with MIL.

Either she's a flake who doesn't do details or she wanted to teach you a lesson about buying Uggs for kids.

A good way to find out which it is would be for your H to ask her to pay for replacement Uggs. If she has strong feelings about Uggs for children, that will probably emerge in the conversation that follows the request.

At least you'll know what you're dealing with from then on, even if she won't pay up.

It's worth trying to salvage them imo. Wait til the mud dries - don't put them on a radiator or near one. Just leave them in a dry spot. Use a dry, firm-bristled scrubbing brush to scratch as much dry mud off as possible. Then hose them down and scrub gently with an old, soft-bristled toothbrush. You can finish up with a suede cleaning bar.

You have nothing to lose here.

Boots like that will be ruined in no time in England.You should always send wellies.

She didn’t send them in other shoes because she asked MIL who said they wouldn’t go outside because it’s dark and cold. It’s in the OP.

I would have thought gran would have had a bit more sense to let them in the garden without decent footwear or jackets in this weather. We might be old but we're not stupid.

Doesn’t the 9 year old know better? Than to get her nice boots dirty and muddy?

don’t buy your kids such overpriced and overhyped shoes but proper winter boots that are suitable for English winters.

I am sure they weren’t freezing or they would have come in. How long were they even outside?

Why didn't you send the wellies? It's sort if asking for problems of you know the childrens' boots can't be used to play in. Waste of money. This would happen in no time.

I am a gm. If my gd at that age wanted to play in the garden with unsuitable shoes l would have said no. I might pop on my fleece if she had no coat but no way would l allow her ruin her footwear. Not a very responsible gran l fear.