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!

Do you not remember being 15? Leave him to it.

Would all that fancy gear not be half the price in an outlet in Florida? You could buy socks there aswell. Day out for the Brady Bunch.

This has got to be a wind up. The way you talk about your son is really creepy.

I don't think this is something I would even really notice. I certainly wouldn't let it ruin an expensive holiday.

I'm also amazed/dubious that a 15 year old lets his mother choose his outfits!

Back off. It isn't a hill to die on. Get some foot/shoe deodorant. Some trainers can also be machine washed.

Sorry, but why on earth would anyone spend a fortune to buy the whole family new clothes and trainers for a week in the heat of Florida? In my book holidays are about experiences, not appearances, and any suitable clean clothes are perfectly adequate for the purpose. I particularly wouldn't buy new footwear for an active holiday. Nothing spoils fun faster than sore feet.

Nailed it! 😊

Controlling behaviour
Leave him be.
Parents aren’t meant to like their teenager’s clothes.
They won’t like yours either.
At 15 he wears what he wants not what you want.
That’s life.

one word Goldbond available everywhere.

Did you lay out all the matching family "travel outfits" on everyone's bed the night before? 🤣🤣🤣

👏 Absolutely this.

And a can of Daktarin https://www.boots.com/daktarin-aktiv-spray-powder-100g-10004343?traffic=paid.shopping&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19965642474&gbraid=0AAAAA-AdmwRcTovHd6UrY-na3QPWU8Th0&gclid=CjwKCAjw9PvWBhAxEiwAddzYyWXQFSjx0NCME9i4lXJOeX_kr_0e0t_nrT9kLk_UvCoaFPSGqSWubxoCS9EQAvD_BwE

It starts with going sockless, pretty soon its drugs, violent crime and a life in tatters.

Praying for you.

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.

This made me laugh. I don’t think I have ever seen a photo of somebody in ‘fresh’ shorts and trainers and thought how good they looked. Why is it so important to you that your family have fresh trainers?!

I don't think I could get worked up about this. Just be thankful your son doesn't play rugby - some of the things they want to wear is just beyond me.

Stop worrying about how everyone looks in the photos for your insta or to strangers in the airport and enjoy time with your family and feel grateful that you can give them this experience

Meh. Just take the laces out and put them through the wash if they smell.

Lol @ picking out a travel outfit together. Surely each member of the family over the age of about 8 gets to choose what they’re going to be comfortable in. Or is it about striving for a particular ’look’ on the plane? 🥴

Rank question but do the shoes smell of sweat or cat piss? I don’t know if it’s still the case but there used to be an issue with some Nike shoes with one of the materials. Basically as soon as the shoes got warm, whatever chemicals were in them began to smell very strongly of cat piss. We had this problem with DS’s football boots so they had to be kept in the shed. I know it wasn’t DS’s feet as he had other football boots and trainers of different brands which smelt fine. Once I mentioned it in conversation with other parents and found out that it was pretty common. This was a few years ago now though so perhaps they don’t use the cat piss chemical any more.

Sockless in photos? Blimey, is that the extent of his teenage rebellion. Anyway, I'm sure you can buy socks and foot spray in Florida and probably cheaper. Otherwise the Instagram photos will just have to look sub- par I'm afraid OP. The shame of it!

Fresh means new. Idk if op means freshly washed or new.

Just leave the poor little sod alone! He’s 15 years old, he doesn’t need his mother policing what he wears, especially when it’s because “we” wanted a family photo 🙄

Just let it go OP otherwise you’ll all have a miserable holiday and have wasted a ton of money.

Why did you buy brand new trainers for a holiday? They might not be comfortable and then what will you do? And you must have a super-sensitive nose to smell hot feet in someone's trainers. Also, why didn't you check DCs' packing before you left?
That said, not a hill to die on. Have a nice holiday.

I never wear socks with trainers in summer. My shoes do not smell. You should buy your son some foot powder and spray if his feet smell.

You are being ridiculous about the new outfits and shoes and fresh shirts and obsessing about how everyone looks in photos.

I would honestly not notice if my teenager wasn't wearing socks, I'd just be grateful they were there being part of the family holiday. As for going through his suitcase. That's out of order.

What a fuss about nothing, stop treating your 15 year old like a 5 year old.

I’d relax. The only one who will be uncomfortable is him, his problem. Its likely he had forgotten to pack socks rather than planning to go sock-less. You’re in Florida theres a 1000 places to buy socks.

You are unreasonable for buying new Nike trainers in the UK and not US where they are so much cheaper