Why do they refuse to take their shoes off?

[SparkleFly]

What is it with the older generation, that they absolutely hate taking their shoes off in people's houses? My parents are late 70's and never take theirs off, if I suggest it they look uncomfortable and just ignore me. Same with MIL who will occasionally do an awkward check of the soles of her shoes before carrying on through my house wearing them. My 4 year old has been brought up to always remove them in our house or anyone else's, so he'll occasionally ask me why nanny doesn't take hers off, which is difficult to explain, giving that the real reason is that they don't give a sh**

Seriously though, what's with the lack of respect, especially when they can see everyone else doing it.

Taking shoes off and putting them on is difficult and awkward for a lot of over 70s.

This. And many feel less steady on their feet.

I wouldn’t dream of making anyone take their shoes off in my home. I don’t think it’s ever crossed my mind to even think about it until I read your post. I always think it’s a bit weird when people expect you to do it.

We don’t expect anyone to take their shoes off when they visit 🤷‍♀️

Wild generalisation there. I am in my 50s and don't take my shoes off at home.

Perhaps they find it difficult to get their shoes off and on again? Perhaps they find it harder to walk without shoes on? Perhaps their feet get cold? Perhaps it is a recent phenomenon people removing shoes indoors and not how they were brought up?

I’m 59 …I wouldn’t take my shoes off in your house….my DD is 30, neither would she …..my mum is 87 ….she probably would

possibly they feel more stable with their shoes on - my mum, for example, shuffled around these days.

anyway, if you want an explanation for your kid, feel free to have that one

Smelly feet? Cold floors? Not wanting pee on their soles I’m the bathroom?
need to nip out to the car?
cold feet?

Provide slippers for them?

Lack of respect ? ….nah, very weird to expect that people would do this 🙄

Have you got somewhere secure for them to sit while removing them?

And do they have socks or slippers at your house they can wear inside?

Is there a long handled shoe horn to assist with putting the shoes on again?

Older people can be unsteady on their feet, can't balance securely to take a shoe off, feel the cold without shoes, struggle to put shoes on again...

OP- Do you have a seat and long handled shoe horn where they can take their shoes off and on? Our home is shoes off, but I have difficulty with some shoes without a seat due to a knee injury. If they won't/can't remove them, get some shoe covers.

@HellonHeels Cross post regarding a seat and long handled shoe horn 😆

My parents are both in their 70s. Getting shoes on and off is a bit of an effort - needs to be done sitting down and can't be done balancing on one leg in the hallway. Also without their shoes they are prone to slipping or falling - they need the extra support.

Difficult to explain my arse 🙄

"Because Tommy, Nanny doesn't want to/it's more difficult for her".

The end.

I’m 36 and dislike having to take shoes off.

.

Isn't the taking shoes off very old fashioned I can't say I know anyone I go to in our large family circle and friends that do at mine or I at theirs

No idea. I grew up in a home where we look shoes off to go up stairs. My husbands family take them off at the front door. They are English (mine aren’t) and his parents are 80, so it’s not a generational thing.

I don't know except l work in retail and find the older generation contain the highest percentage by far of difficult or rude customers, particularly women. No doubt that will be construed as ageism but it is the experience of me and my colleagues over and over.

Great minds!

Taking shoes off and putting them on is a tricky exercise on the joints and balance. I did it as little as I could when pregnant, had slip ons, I can easily see older people not doing it!! And that doesn’t even start on how people are less stable walking around in their socks.

this seems extremely easy to explain to a 4yo, I’m not sure why you’re having difficulties here.

Late 70s? Definitely likely to be balance and stability issues.

I was a younger person who hated taking them off. I had problems with heavily sweaty feet. Which by the end of the day would be smelly whatever I did. I died a small death whenever someone insisted that I took my shoes off.

For the ladies, grown up wearing stockings or tights of a finer denier than now and not wanting it to snag on a floor; used to wearing slippers in their own house and very uncomfortable physically and psychologically without; it being a recent fad and what a family do indoors is not necessarily what is expected of guests ie bad hosting.

They're probably rude because some fucker has put them in fear of their lives (or hip joints) by making them wobble precariously on one leg to take their shoes off.

Old age is no picnic when everything aches, you can't bloody see cos you can't find your glasses, and no one has any patience.

I bet this is the reason.
Stiff backs and knees and hips.

Could you provide a ''Step'' for them to place their feet on to make bending down easier?