New Shoes

This is a sponsored post.

It will soon be time for Presley and Cash to get some new shoes. Buying shoes for children isn't quite as exciting as buying shoes for us mummies, but it's still shoe shopping! I love the tiny boxes their shoes come in too.

The main concern we all have with buying children's shoes is making sure they fit properly. In the past I've tended to get my boys' feet measured in a shoe shop and then bought shoes from the same shop, but not any more. We buy so much online these days that it makes sense to buy shoes online too.

The clever people at Start-rite have devised a way to foot measure at home. Their excellent YouTube channel gives fitting advice and this, how to use the shoe gauge.

Once you have your shoe gauge you can check your children's feet without dragging them to the shoe shop. You can then choose from the massive range of shoes at Start-rite.

I've got my eye on these for Presley:

He has narrow feet and these are adjustable so I have no concerns about ordering them online.

They're only £19 too, bargain!

If you get the slightest hint that their feet have grown all you have to do is get out your shoe gauge and start measuring. It's such a simple idea!

I love these too:

Shh, don't tell anyone but they're only £16 in the sale and I want a pair for Cash!

See, it's still shopping :-)

New Shoes

Crying in Clarks

I sent a tweet this morning. I had no idea how prophetic I was being.

I did cry in Clarks today, but not at the price of the shoes.

Last year I wrote about what happened one afternoon at playgroup when I couldn't find Presley. Today all of those feelings came flooding back.

I had taken the boys into Mothercare World in their double buggy (the one I keep in the back of the car, the one that makes it difficult to fit my supermarket shopping in the boot), but had let Presley out to play in a Little Tykes car.

After a while we all went to the Clarks concession to get the boys' feet measured. Presley went first. Good news, there was at least another month in his Winter shoes. Next we measured Cash's feet, his shoes were fine too. Result!

I looked up and Presley had gone. I spun round and scanned the room, he wasn't in Clarks. I started calling him and ran out into the main store, fully expecting him to be back in the car, or looking at the toys in Early Learning Centre. He wasn't there. I couldn't see him.

I shouted his name and started running around the store, handbag and younger child abandoned with the Clarks assistant.

I was panicking. Oh my God. Not again. PRESLEY! PRESLEY!

Another mother, we'd smiled at each other earlier, grabbed my arm and pointed me in the right direction.  'He's over there', she said.

Presley was standing still, in amongst the cots, a look of terror on his face. I ran over, picked him up and carried him back to his brother. Presley started crying, he knew he'd done something wrong. He knew he'd been lost.

I reminded him that he should always stay where he can see mummy and where mummy can see him. Then I cried. I'm crying now. I feel sick. There is nothing as terrifying as the thought that you could lose your child. 

When we got home I taught the boys a new game. They now know what to do if we're out and they can't see me. They shout 'MUMMY' at the tops of their voices. I hope they never need to do it for real, but just in case we'll be playing the 'I'm lost' game on a regular basis.

Crying in Clarks

What Do Your Shoes Say About You?

These shoes say:

Old

Tired

Comfortable

Seen better days

A bit scruffy

Could make more of an effort

Well loved

Well, I guess that's my psyche profile right there!

This post was written as part of the Sleep is for the Week Writing Workshop.

This week I chose prompt number 3. Find a picture of a shoe that best sums up your personality.Tell me why.

What Do Your Shoes Say About You?