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Parenting

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Original poster

Should I buy our 16yo DS wellies against his wishes?

26 replies

SammyNH · 26/09/2022 12:47

DS says he doesn't want wellies and will not wear them, but we are off to Wales at half term and I know the walks around the cottage will all be very muddy. Other than his school shoes he only has trainers.

When we went a few years ago (before COVID) I took wellies for him and he wore them, albeit reluctantly at first. But he was soon join my other (big) kid DH in splashing through the muddiest parts they could find.

However, he is older now and fairly stubborn, and very image conscious. I thought about buying him walking boots or DMs as I don't want to be left cleaning his trainers for weeks after or having to buy him new ones. But the leather boots are all so expensive. I don't think he would wear them again.

I can get him plain black Dunlop wellies for £14. I know his best friend, who is coming with us, has these wellies because I asked his mum. She says her son wears them without any argument and she will pack them for him. But mine can be very stubborn. As I say, he is very image conscious, even though only one friend will be there. I don't want to start the holiday with a row with him because I know his dad will kick off if he gets difficult.

Should I just get the wellies for him on the quiet and hope the fact his friend has some mollifies him?

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Tigertigertigertiger · 26/09/2022 12:50

What a fab mumsnet dilemma !
I vote for get the wellies , make him wear them.

ps he sounds exactly like my son

Tigertigertigertiger · 26/09/2022 12:51

Because wellies cost a lot less than new trainers

Muchtoomuchtodo · 26/09/2022 12:51

Get wellies.
if it’s a choice between wearing them and wrecking his trainers, along with his mate wearing them he’ll probably wear them.

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PuttingDownRoots · 26/09/2022 12:52

I was going to say walking boots would be comfier and more versatile, but definitely more expensive.

Get the wellies.

DumpedByText · 26/09/2022 12:53

Just buy him some second hand walking boots, wellies are not comfortable for proper walking anyway.

WashableVelvet · 26/09/2022 12:53

I feel the truly mumsnet thing to do would be to order them and hide them at the cottage then discover them in a cupboard of ‘spares for guests’ 😂

Neolara · 26/09/2022 12:53

I'd get him cheap walking boots from Mountain Warehouse. Presumably at 16 your ds's feet have stopped growing so he will be able to wear them for years. Surely this is most cost effective than buying wellies he will wear once (if at all) or ruining a pair of trainers.

Cwcwbird · 26/09/2022 12:53

Whatever you do if he insists on wearing his trainers do not clean them for him!!

Beamur · 26/09/2022 12:53

Buy the wellies.
Tell him it's up to him if he wears them or not but you won't be cleaning his trainers if he wears them in muddy conditions.
Get some warm socks too. Feet freeze in wellies.

MangoBiscuit · 26/09/2022 12:54

My eldest doesn't like wellies, and to be fair, neither do I. We get waterproof boots from Devathlon instead, like these:
www.decathlon.co.uk/p/men-s-waterproof-walking-boots-nh150-mid/_/R-p-308079?mc=8583344&c=BLUE
I am about to replace mine after maybe 7 years, because I've worn them to death, in all weather.

If he's stubborn, he probably won't wear the wellies and you'll have wasted your money. I would probably offer him some options (same wellies as your mate, hiking boots, or a pair of crappy trainers that can get trashed and thrown away but we are not taking your nice trainers with us)

TwoWeeksislong · 26/09/2022 12:54

assuming a 16year old’s feet

TwoWeeksislong · 26/09/2022 12:56

Assuming a 16 year old boys’ feet have stopped growing is a gamble I wouldn’t risk. I would for a girl.
Buy either the wellies or cheap decathlon/mountain warehouse walking boots. Tell him if he wrecks his trainers he’s in charge of cleaning them/funding the replacement pair.
If his mate has the same pair of wellies then he’ll probably wear them no issues.

CointreauVersial · 26/09/2022 12:58

In my experience, if a 16yo boy doesn't want to wear something (however sensible it may be) then it won't be worn.

See also warm coats, waterproofs, sensible schoolbags......

My suggestion would be to dig out his oldest/least white pair of trainers and let him wear those. Then sympathise with him afterwards about his cold, soaking wet feet, and direct him to the nearest sink with a scrubbing brush to clean the trainers.

Thesearmsofmine · 26/09/2022 12:59

I would go for walking boots over wellies. So much more comfortable and I find I feel more secure in them too.

OldTinHat · 26/09/2022 13:05

Ah, this post has brought back memories! Then DS, aged 16, had bought stupidly expensive trainers with money from his part time job. I suggested I buy him a pair of wellies or that he bring old trainers with him when we went on holiday to Wales. He point blank refused, it was his fancy trainers or nothing.

I've never seen a 16yr old lad sob and wail and tantrum like he did on day one when they were covered in mud!

We laugh about it now!

OldTinHat · 26/09/2022 13:06

Oh and he never came on holiday with me ever again!! 😆

SirChenjins · 26/09/2022 13:08

If you’re going to be walking then I’d buy waterproof walking boots. Wellies are handy for kicking about in water etc, but not great for walking longer distances.

Fuuuuuckit · 26/09/2022 13:09

Buy the wellies. And tell him in no uncertain terms that you will not be cleaning or replacing his trainers if they get mucky.

He then has a choice of uncool wellies or getting his (no doubt prized) trainers ruined.

If his mate is wearing them then you're halfway there. Don't bother buying walking boots, they're much more likely to stay in the back of the cupboard/be an expensive waste.

FrankGrillosFloof · 26/09/2022 13:12

Buy the wellies. Keep the receipt. Offer them as an option in Wales without making a big deal of it. If he wears them, great. If he doesn’t, return them to the shop. Do not clean his trainers for him. He’s old enough to understand that his actions have consequences.

GobbolinoTheWitchesCat · 26/09/2022 13:12

Don't get 2ndhand walking boots, they'll be sooo uncomfortable!

Get the wellies. If he chooses not to wear them,he cleans his own shoes.

Original poster

SammyNH · 26/09/2022 18:02

ha ha what a great idea.

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Original poster

SammyNH · 26/09/2022 18:04

They sound just the same.

OP posts:

Original poster

SammyNH · 26/09/2022 18:07

Thanks all. I have decided. The wellies are on order but I am not going to tell him until we are there. Also talking to DH we might stop on the way at a particular muddy area and ask the lads to take the dog for a walk as we are tired from driving. If his friends puts his wellies on, he might ask to borrow his dad's in which case....

But I will keep the receipt just in case. And I will be ready with 'you get your trainers dirty, you clean them!'

OP posts:

Lulu1919 · 26/09/2022 18:11

Take wellies or buy cheaper walking shoe from mountain warehouse ...they do waterproof ones that look like trainers...I have a pair !

thinkfast · 26/09/2022 19:11

I've always preferred walking boots. They are much more comfortable and warmer than wellies and offer proper ankle support.

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