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!

With freshly purchased fresh looking matching branded outfits.

Go to Walmart and buy a pack of socks, keep one in your bag just in case he complains that shoes are rubbing. Leave him crack on because otherwise you will just end up stressed and not win anyway.

The end of the world is nigh
FGS

I'd be livid. I went on a trip with husband and three other blokes which involved 4 cities over 10 days. One bloke and his and his incredibly stinky feet ruined the whole tour. Sharing meals were tortuous. There was no way he could have been unaware of the stench. It was like he would leave a cartoon green cloud with every stomp. Luckily, husband would ensure we weren't anywhere near him during the flight connections. Also, worked with a woman who was well aware of her feet stink but literally, didn't give a shit. She even described them as 'rotten'. we would fight to get seats nearest to any ventilation at meetings. She would ease of her shoes and I would heave. Tried to counteract with spraying febreeze around meeting room prior to interaction but didn't help.

This is definitely not the hill I’d opt to die on. Keep some spare socks in your bag, or some blister plasters perhaps, in case his shoes rub (not that he’d be overly likely to tell you now!) but honestly, get over it 😅

This will forever be remembered as the sock less holiday. He will likely need therapy.

I’m another sock hater who doesn’t have stinky feet or ruin my shoes. I have never tried ‘dunks’ though and I do not coordinate my travel or holiday wear with my family.

You 'picked out his travel outfit?' He's 15, leave him alone, and if he suffers with blisters, tough!

You sound like a lot OP... I would not cope well on holiday with you!

His attitude is arrogant AF. He can buy his own trainers now if he doesn't want to look after them. If he has other shoe options take the expensive ones away. He can have them back when he shows he can look after them. That's what I do with my kids toys of they're not looking after them.

Controlling much?

I can't believe I actually agree with a 15yo! Grow up, and get a life.

He's 15 - why are you picking outfits for him!
As to sockless, get a pair for when he needs then and hand them over when needed

What a weird post. Planning your DS’s “travel outfit” with him, including planning what socks he should wear!!! And posting about it. What is the world coming to??!

Agree. I'm wondering if @TheZanyPanda smoothed her son's hair down with her spit too 😂

No, it’s not remotely normal. I can’t imagine any self respecting 15 year old (boy or girl) who would let their mum pick out a ‘travel outfit’ for them.

That reminds me of ds1 who went through a phase of wearing decathlon gym pumps one summer.

he wasn’t allowed to keep them in the hall as the made the whole house stink. They lived on the windowsill of his bedroom (window open).

i used to spray them with deodorizer if we were going out in the car.

thankfully he’s grown into a lovely young man who always wears socks and showers every day.

Oh come on this is ridiculous.

YABU - you can't control what a teenager wears and at age 13 and 15 they should have some say over what they wear and less pressure over a family photo - just take pics while you're out and about?

But also

YANBU - underwear is a non negotiable, especially when you're sharing small spaces like bedrooms and planes. It's not a fashion thing, it's a hygeine thing.

Go to a cheap sports outlet store and get him to pick the type of socks he wants to wear.

No socks, no new trainers, he's got to wear flip flops or sliders or crocs. If he wants to wear trainers, he needs to wear socks.

Don't buy him expensive stuff then because he'll ruin it quickly

Leave him be, it’s all part of growing up. No one but you cares about or will look at the photos.
Buy some shoe deodorant and some packs of blister plasters to put in your bag, and enjoy your holiday.

Are his feet rotting? How are they stinking out a room so quickly?

Quick tip - You shop in America, not before you go.

I packed well for the kids one year and reminded DH about a few things - and completely forgot my swimming gear, which as it was a caravan site with pool/ beach holiday was a bit tricky. French swimwear is not for fatter GB women with c-section overhangs…

I would be pissed off he ruined new trainers so quickly but, other than that, I would ignore him. He spoke to you rudely and until he apologised he would not be getting a lot of attention from me.

A lot of this is also on you - if you overreact you just teach him that this is a good way to get attention. The holiday is not just about him, it’s about the rest of the family too. Be the parent and pretend this is all water off a duck’s back until you believe it.

Except they won’t be fresh by the end of the holiday! 🤣😷

Travel outfits?

Exactly this. Raging and yelling is way less effective than simply refusing to buy him anything new.