AIBU to be furious at DS15 over his behaviour and holiday footwear choices?

[TheZanyPanda]

We’ve just landed in Florida for a week-long family holiday. There’s me, DH, DS13 and DS15. We spent a fortune before we came out getting everyone kitted out with new clothes and brand-new trainers—including a lovely pair of Nike Dunks for DS15.

We picked out his travel outfit together: hoodie, baggy joggers, and his box-fresh Dunks with classic white Nike socks. Looked great.

Fast forward to checking into the hotel last night. DS15 is sitting on the armchair, his joggers ride up, and I notice... no socks. (He spent all summer going sockless in old knackered Vans and Astro turf boots which I didn't mind because they were already ruined, but still!). Anyway, I went into their room later and it absolutely reeked. Turns out he wore his brand-new Dunks with no socks for the entire journey here! 🤢

This morning, before heading to the theme parks, we wanted a family photo. DH and DS13 look great in fresh shorts and new trainers with ankle socks. DS15? Sockless again.

I gently pointed out that:

1. He’s going to get horrific blisters in the Florida heat.
2. He’s going to completely ruin his new Dunks in days.
3. The trainer smell is already vile.

He kicked off in front of everyone, telling me to "grow up," "get a life," and "what’s it got to do with me?!"

Later, I popped back to the room for suncream and thought I'd take him a pair of trainer socks just in case. Had a quick nosey in his suitcase... there are literally zero socks in his entire bag. He has actively planned and packed to go sockless for the whole week.

DH says to leave him to it, but we are the ones sharing a room and hire car with his melting, stinking feet! AIBU to be furious with his behaviour and choices!

I have a 15 year old son.

Sending love and strength.

I could not get worked up about this. Pick your battles. Enjoy your holiday.

I agree with your DH. He will likely regret it in a day or two, but the more you make a fuss, the more he will refuse any socks. They're his feet - don't let it ruin your holiday!

Not a hill I would choose to die on with a teenager.

So what? If that is his vibe/style let him be.

(Also laughing at the idea you agree "travel outfits")

Perhaps he doesn’t like wearing socks. It’s hardly up there with drink, drugs, and knife crime.

This is a wind up surely?

If not, OP get help.

It falls into the pick your battles side of things surely? Not worth getting everyone wound up about.

Let him learn the hard way 🤷🏻‍♀️

Leave him be .

If and when his feet hurt, or blister, then that is when he'll learn.
Meanwhile, it's not a big deal, so just leave him be and enjoy your holiday.
(And a 15 year old boy lets his mum pick his "outfits"?!).

I hate socks and never wear them. I have Nike air force that are 3 years old and don't stink at all and trust me I would be told if they did.

Perhaps he forgot to pack socks and is too embarrassed to say? Either way your holiday preparations sound way OTT. Is it possible he knows this is all for social media and is quietly rebelling?

I hate socks but my trainers don't smell. I can't believe you are picking outfits together at 15.

I would never advocate going straight to FURIOUS tbh especially with a teenager. (It would be furious with btw, not at).

I'm guessing you didn't try "love, I think your trainers look great with no socks, but they totally stink 😄! Can you compromise with these trainer socks please? "

I'm wondering if this can be real? It seems a very extreme reaction and one of the best examples of a trip being all about the Instagram pics. I wouldn't have got new shoes for a trip involving a lot of walking, wouldn't have have been better off in the old Vans?

I'd leave him be, maybe keep a pair of socks in my bag so the day isn't ruined when I can say I told you so when his feet get sore.

Shoe/foot deodorant.

Yes, I’m firmly in the socks camp. Shoes stink without them and need to be replaced sooner. He’s being immature and ungrateful, as 15 year olds tend to be but he has to understand that if you’re paying for the footwear he wants, he needs to look after them.

A very ex boyfriend of mine (early 20s) used to wear trainers with no socks. They absolutely stank! My dad put them outside the house and wouldn't let him in with them on again.

They have shops in Florida.
Go and buy some socks and deodorant foot/shoe spray.
Leave the socks on his bed.
Spray the shoes every night and/or leave on the balcony or outside space.
Maybe get some sliders for him too.
During the heatwave all I could wear was sliders with no socks because my feet get crazy hot.

Him telling you to grow up, get a grip etc and that's it your business is worse

Not wearing socks on holiday, not ideal but not the crime of the century.

Jeez leave the kid alone. Get him to buy shoe deodorant with his own money. Or find something else to nitpick about. If he doesn't like socks then he doesn't wear them. Literally no one cares except you.

You are worried about him being sockless in a photo! That is just weird.

Erm…

I would just tell him (not in front of others) to wear whatever shoes he wants but he has to spray them with deodorant or alcohol to disinfect and wear socks as the smell is unpleasant for others.

You’re muddying the thing that matters with unpleasant messages about how much you spent (why does this matter?), how everyone else looked great (why does this matter) and humiliating him by telling him he smells in front of everyone. It makes you sound rather shallow and silly, and controlling. Not supportive of your son.

Unfortunately it sounds like he has a point! Although not an appropriate way for a 15 yo to speak to his mum.