Not wearing shoes.

[Jay818]

I have a eleven year old granddaughter, a normal, bright, bubbly, adventures girl.

One day in late March she decided she rather not wear shoes! She comes home from school takes them and off goes out in her school white socks and gets them filthy, at weekends she is usually barefoot.

When we are out people will point out she isn't wearing shoes and ask if she is cold, Example we had been into town got on the train home and people were pointing out that girl has no shoes

When we went away Easter she never even brought any with her and went barefoot everywhere even though it rained heavily, it was really busy yet she was the only one with no shoes even on the promenade and pier.

I think it is strange thing to do and her parents should make hher wear her shoes, my daughter and SIL support her, my daughter says I am being a drama queen and even if the odd person makes a remark so what.

What is everyone's opinion?

I think there's nothing you can do about it so you should just practice dealing with it before you alienate yourself.

I didn't wear shoes much as a teen and it's not done me any harm. I wouldn't have been allowed to wear socks by themselves though as that'll ruin them - but if her parents don't mind and I assume they pay for her socks I suppose it doesn't matter. Barefoot is (mostly) fine IMO, and I don't think she should be forced to wear shoes just because everyone else is.

However if she's somewhere really dirty or where she might step in something harmful, like broken glass, then she needs something on her feet. Has anyone offered her a pair of flip-flops for those situations?

I'd be worried she'd hurt herself.

Tbh I admire your granddaughter and wish I'd done that more as a child/ teen because my feet are absolutely fucked from wearing unsuitable shoes when I was younger. Going barefoot is amazing for your posture and your feet! Wish I was brave enough to do it in public 😁

I think it is unsafe.
I assumed at first you meant around the house and even in to the garden, but going out - on the train - etc would worry me too.

However, if her parents are happy with it, I can't see that there is much you can do, unless there is a pattern of neglect.

Obviously it is unusual here in the UK, but it is pretty common globally and through history, and presumably a lot of your objection is just cultural and to do with fear of judgement/criticism/opprobrium. So I think you probably should just try to ignore it - you can't make her parents make her wear shoes. She wears shoes at school.

There is a risk of treading on glass, but beyond that there is not much risk of harm so long as she washes them.

It is unsafe to be barefoot in town and on trains.
I would be concerned. At the very least they should be getting her to wear sandals of some sort.

im surprised by the responses.
Going out barefoot in the street/public transport?
I know our skin offers a good level of protection but I would be very concerned about injury but also how much gob, dog shit etc must she stand in? I’ve known two people who have stood on needles inadvertently - one in Richmond park after a nice picnic and the other on the beach. Although risk is small the Waiting for results was a stress I wouldn’t want to endure.
she’d need to wash her feet thoroughly before stepping into my home.

I love going barefoot but end up hurting my feet if I go shoeless in public so I'm pretty jealous tbh

Meant to say, I'd take a guess that it's just a battle her parents have chosen not to have. It might just be a phase.

I just hate bare feet!

I only really have bare feet in the shower and in bed ... thats it

I can imagine it would hurt and she would get rough skin...

I mean what if she stepped on a slug or even worse

In dog poo

💩 🦶

You could try barefoot shoes for her. Vivobare foot or similar.

But I suspect its a battle her parents have choose not to fight

It's neither dog poo or slugs I'd worry about.
It's needles and glass need to be heck of a careful where she puts her feet

I prefer to be barefoot. I usually am at home, in the garden or just outside my house.

I don't do it in town anymore.

In the past I have been barefoot in town but accidentally got glass in my feet so stopped.

I hate wearing shoes.

Thanks for all the replies! I am living with it, I just wanted to gauge what others on here thought. Most people I know seem to think it is an odd thing to do.

I did live in South America for a while as a child, my father worked there. Most of the poorer children would go barefoot.

"Kat1953 ·
Meant to say, I'd take a guess that it's just a battle her parents have chosen not to have. It might just be a phase."

That is what my daughter says, it is just a phase, but if it is not it is OK too she say. However they have got ride of most of the shoes she had including flipflops and sandals.

I do look out for things that might hurt her when we are out but she goes into her fathers workshop and the floor is covered in screws, clips and sawdust as well as other things and she just walks over them. She was playing netball on the gravel drive today after school and it was not bothering her, her friends wore shoes.

I can't find a quote button so cut and pasted Kat's reply.

Not sure where people are living where you can't step of your front door without stepping on dog shit/broken glass/used needles.

Good for her, it's not a choice I would make but why not

It’s called grounding, there are lots of health benefits.
that’s if she’s doing it on grass, earth, sand or a natural substance.

When I was in New Zealand a few years ago, I noticed that it seemed to be a really normal thing for kids to be barefoot. I saw loads of kids walking round shopping centres, parks, beaches etc barefoot and no-one batted an eyelid.

@Dodgygeezer I live in a nice area, but there is still the odd person who doesn't pick up after their dog.
Broken glass probably more often than you think all it takes is for a recycle bin to get blown over, ok most people will clear it up but that could be almost impossible to be certain you have every bit, or a little bit where cars have had a bump or someone to smash a jar in a shop, or drop a glass in a restaurant, these places will clean up but we all done it think you have it all only to find a bit later.

Not often you'll come across needles but bare feet in town centers I really wouldn't want to take that risk.

My brother (21yo) has started doing this recently, he's insistent on the benefits of it and so far hasn't stepped in anything unpleasant. He also says it's not uncomfortable to walk on roads. Granted, he doesn't go on public transport, but local shops apparently only approach him with concern and are fine once he explains that his lack of shoes is a lifestyle choice and not a symptom of a breakdown/psychosis!