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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to send my dd to school in her wellies?

23 replies

Joolyjoolyjoo · 28/02/2010 21:00

Bought dd a new pair of winter boots in November. She came home on Thursday saying her feet were wet. I looked and realised the soles were flapping off the blummin boots! She has always been rough on shoes, so I'm not blaming the manufacturers or anything. However, given that it is now March and that (please God!) she will soon be back into shoes if the weather improves, I am loathe to pay for a new pair of boots. On Friday I sent her to school in her wellies- they change into plimsolls once they get into class, and at least I knew her feet would be dry!

However mentioned it to DH today, and he was horrified that I am planning to send her in her wellies again tomorrow- he says it looks really bad, as if we can't afford to provide suitable footwear for her . He even offered to buy some new boots for her, and we went out today to get some, but couldn't get any suitable in her size. So she WILL be going to school in her wellies again tomorrow, but now I am worried that people will be looking down their noses/ looking pitifully at her, and I will look like a bad mum. Would/ do you send your kids to school in wellies, or would you think it was bad form??

OP posts:
Bluebell99 · 28/02/2010 21:07

Have you not got a pair of shoes or trainers?
Maybe where you are is colder, but I don't tend to buy winter boots as my dd never gets mmuch wear out of them, so my kids have shoes, trainers, and wellies. \i only send them in wellies if it snows, and then they take their school shoes in a bag. I would get her a pair of trainers or shoes.

thesleepyprincess · 28/02/2010 21:10

I have been sending my DD to school in her wellies. It has been wet and very muddy here. Walking to school in her school shoes would result in wet and cold feet, and the children wear wellies at breaktime/ lunchtime anyway. Then we walk home so DD is in her wellies again.

I'd be astounded if anyone really looked down on you!! Ours is a village school and lots of children have been in their wellies due to the recent weeks of proper winter weather.

KurriKurri · 28/02/2010 21:10

I used to send mine in wellies in bad weather - I think its eminently sensible especially if all the children are changing into plimsolls anyway. Why waste money on winter boots she won't be wearing for long and will have grown our of by next winter.

Anyone who spends their time looking at other children's footwear and judging it, needs help.

thesleepyprincess · 28/02/2010 21:12

Oh, should have said that they all change into plimsolls inside anyway.

Totally agree with Kurri - if anyone has that much time on their hands on the school run, that they can examine other children's foorwear, they deserve our pity!!

Original poster
Joolyjoolyjoo · 28/02/2010 21:12

She does have shoes, but we are in the west of Scotland (nuff said!) and her feet would almost certainly get wet in her shoes- we are still getting some snow here! She does have trainers, but I think they are a bit frowned on at dd's school. She does change into plimsolls once she gets to school, so I'm hoping it won't be too noticed

OP posts:
Eglu · 28/02/2010 21:13

When it is wet or raining DS goes in his wellies. When it is not wet he wears school shoes. It seems perfectly sensible.

fluffles · 28/02/2010 21:16

if raining or snowy then i think wellies should be expected on primary age children.

if it's completely dry then maybe it's a little odd.. but then if it is dry she can wear shoes can't she?

Original poster
Joolyjoolyjoo · 28/02/2010 21:16

Thank you ladies- you have made me feel better! DH made me feel I would be sending my dd out like some sort of neglected child!! You have brought me to my senses.

Funnily enough, I have no idea if other kids wear their wellies to school, because, as you say, I have never actually looked!! So presumably noone will be looking at my child's feet tomorrow! Roll on the better weather, though!

OP posts:
Lemonmeringue · 28/02/2010 21:18

Can't see why you wouldn't always send her in wellies in winter if she changes when she gets there. I suppose it's just what you get used to.

decafgirl · 28/02/2010 21:45

I'm a teacher in the north east and we're still getting snow too. We actually ask the parents to send the chn in in their wellies so that they can play outside without worrying about mud/puddles/wet feet etc. I think you're very sensible!

LittlePushka · 28/02/2010 22:00

This made me smile....before i had a child I used to see LO's in wellies in all sorts of "inappropriate" places and weathers and would think that such kids needed to be taken into care and the parents transported!

BUT now, I understand why....! My DS adores his wellies (which is good cos we live on a farm)and I am now enlighted that in the great scheme of childrearing, getting a child to put on and keep on any kind of footwear is an achievement! So I really do not mind seeing LO's in wellies anywhere..in fact I sort of like it that these kids/parents are happy to dare to be different!

So Joolyjoolyjoo,....buy a pair for each day of the week and go really mad!

ChippingIn · 28/02/2010 22:06

Tell DH you have the MN verdict - wellies are just fine Though they aren't that warm so she might need some good wool socks or a couple of pairs of socks on if it's snowing. I wore mine in the snow once when my boots had given up and I was amazed at how cold the wellies were

As others have pointed out - anyone who notices or thinks it's 'bad form' needs help!

You also said that trainers weren't the done thing? What kind of school does she go to??

IneedacleanerIamalazyslattern · 28/02/2010 22:11

My dd wear wellies to school when it's wet and shoes when it's dry as well.
In fact I was pondering wellies the other day.
I remember as a child (older than my dd but still at primary school) I would have worn slippers before I wore wellies anywhere never mind to school but if you look around you everyone wears wellies these days smal children, teenagers, adults.
They have lost the stigma they definately had when I was young.

Seona1973 · 28/02/2010 22:15

both dd and ds have been wearing wellies to school/nursery in the rainy and snowy weather. It is the only sensible footwear to have on when it is miserable. They change into plimsols when they get there. I have seen mums wearing wellies as well as the kids so there is no stigma about them here (also in Scotland)

Purim2010 · 28/02/2010 22:16

Perhaps sensible next year to buy nice warm lined wellies and forget about the winter boots, which i think often are a fashion item and not either warm nor waterproof.

When there was snow here though DD walked to school in wellies and took her school shoes with her (we ended up leaving them there all week) as I didn't think it's a good idea to wear plimsoles (which are not properly fitted and lack support) all day every day.

Original poster
Joolyjoolyjoo · 28/02/2010 22:23

Yay- looks like wellies are the biz! School does have a fairly strict uniform policy, so not sure bright pink Barbie wellies will be received with great joy, but tough!! I have the might of MN behind me, and I am therefore invincible

Loving the idea of a different pair every day! And will def add in the extra socks if chilly. Thanks all. And maybe next year I will be brave enough to eschew the ludicrously expensive boots and just welly it all the way!!

OP posts:
Feelingforty · 28/02/2010 22:23

why do the children wear plimsolls in school ?

chipmonkey · 28/02/2010 22:26

When my friend was little, her mum went away for the weekend and my friend spent the weekend alone with her Dad dressed in a ballet tutu and wellies!

gaelicsheep · 28/02/2010 22:32

Surely people will just assume it's bad underfoot closer to where you live? I've been living in wellies all winter pretty much - I really can't be arsed to take a change of shoes with me just to go to the supermarket for example. People in town probably think I'm a loon but I couldn't care less. I do care that I won't slip over on the snow and ice when I get home.

gaelicsheep · 28/02/2010 22:34

Oh, and I'm in Scotland too btw (north).

edam · 28/02/2010 22:55

I wouldn't worry at all about what other people might think - doubt anyone would notice or care if they did.

But I would be a bit concerned about her feet. Wellies don't really have any support at all - they aren't shaped to your feet like proper shoes, no support for your arches and no heel. Especially as ruddy schools insist on plimsolls which again are not great in terms of supporting your feet. So six hours at school plus journey home and back plus weekends, maybe...

Maybe a podiatrist or chiropodist will notice this thread and can give us a verdict?

Linnet · 28/02/2010 23:14

If she changes into plimsolls once at school anyway then I don't see a problem.

I see you're in Scotland as am I where most of the kids spend winter in their wellies anyway as it's so wet. It's what wellies are for for heavens sake, yanbu.

Original poster
Joolyjoolyjoo · 28/02/2010 23:25

Gaelicsheep- I have spent the last 6 mths plodding around in walking boots With 2 dogs to walk in this godforsaken country every day full waterproofs and walking boots are the only way to go!

Now why was I worrying that the yummy mummys might judge my dd when I am standing next to her like dressed like a bag lady!!

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