Uugghh! Another shoe thread...this time with teens :)

[scrhsa]

Ok, my daughter will be 17 by the time we hit Orlando next summer. She is being a bit pig-headed about shoes. I get NO help from her when we discuss the amounts of walking she will be doing and the kinds of shoes she will need. Right now all she basically wears are converse and some cheap flats to school. She HATES sandals--a bit self-conscious about her feet. I know I will be able to get her into a good pair of tenny shoes but finding a good, comfy, cute pair of sandals is going to be horrendous. I want to get them this summer so that she will have them broken in well by the time we hit the parks. She HATES sketchers and if I try to bring up Teva's etc she just gives me the look--you know the look teens have Last year my other teen wore Toms and they worked for her but this teen hates Toms too. AARRGGHHH! I love that she has her own sense of style and uniqueness---seriously, I do But COME ON...she needs to help me out! Does anyone have any ideas on brands of cute-teeny sandals that I might be missing? I'm about to the point(and yes I know there is PLENTY of time for this to all work itself out by the time we go) to let her keep pushing it off and go in what she has and deal with her feet hurting. Then the next time she'll know better
Thanks in advance!

 

[Arich01]

Hi! I would suggest Reef or Olukai sandals. They are extremely comfortable and have tons of cute styles I live in Florida on the beach and a ton of girls wear these sandals. I would wear them year round if I could and have done many trips to disney wearing only these

 

[worm761]

Why are you insisting that she wear sandals? By your own admission, she hates them. So let her wear what she is comfortable wearing. At the very least she will have sore feet and have learned a lesson. But sandals are not required for a Disney trip. I wore nothing but my flip flops the last few trips. Personally, I hate most shoes. I just don't like the way they feel. I recently discovered the Sketchers Go Walks and am loving those. My plan is to wear them and my flip flops at Disney this next trip. But I think you are causing yourself more stress than needed fighting with a teen about shoes. Pick your battles.

 

[mom2rtk]

Why are you insisting that she wear sandals? By your own admission, she hates them. So let her wear what she is comfortable wearing. At the very least she will have sore feet and have learned a lesson. But sandals are not required for a Disney trip. I wore nothing but my flip flops the last few trips. Personally, I hate most shoes. I just don't like the way they feel. I recently discovered the Sketchers Go Walks and am loving those. My plan is to wear them and my flip flops at Disney this next trip. But I think you are causing yourself more stress than needed fighting with a teen about shoes. Pick your battles.

Agreed. This isn't a hill I would die on. Explain the possible repercussions (sore feet) then let her decide.

My daughter wore shoes I never would have been comfortable in (ballet flats, flip flops) and I word supportive sneakers. Guess which one of us was complaining about sore feet later? LOL.

 

[finedice]

Ugh - you all have been enough to know - if she hasn't learned by now... let her suffer I suppose.

 

[5kidsmommy]

I have four teens, coming monday I will have five teenagers, they are old enough to decide what shoes to wear. I may make suggestions but after that they are on their own. Oh and I hate sandals at 41 I prefer converse and that's what I wear at the parks. She knows her body, trust her to make those kinds of decisions on her own.

 

[hsmamato2]

yep...let her wear what she wants.... I feel the same about my teen ds's shoe choices..... flat,uncomfortable, ouch! I am a high arched supportive shoe wearing Mama!(but they ust be cute) So just letting it go can be hard..... ask her to bring a couple of pairs she likes along,so she can choose as she goes. My ds has rarely complained,since it's his choice.

 

[hsmamato2]

I have four teens, coming monday I will have five teenagers, they are old enough to decide what shoes to wear. I may make suggestions but after that they are on their own. Oh and I hate sandals at 41 I prefer converse and that's what I wear at the parks. She knows her body, trust her to make those kinds of decisions on her own.

....yes- and also..to each their own! I actually wore some converse to the parks last year,ONCE,and threw them away,that's how bad my feet hurt! We all know what we like to wear,and once they're not toddlers,so do the kids!

 

[scrhsa]

Ok, knew I would get the "why are you forcing her to wear what she doesn't want" stuff I'm not and won't be forcing her to wear what she doesn't want ( seriously, I cant...pretty strong willed ). But I know my child. She gets something in her head and then when reality hits she comes crying and whining to me. I'd rather fight the battle NOW than at the parks when she doesn't have any comfortable shoes. I want her to have a pair of sandals to off set the heat of tenny shoes for not only does she hate sandals she hates for her feet to be hot. She needs options!! I also thought if I had some examples of cute sandals to offer her, she might see something she liked and venture outside her comfort zone and bit. And this is the first year she has gone the no sandals route. Normally no problems. Thank you all for taking the time to read and post

 

[Bluegrrl]

Personally, I wear flats and flip flops at the parks. Or croc sandals or the new Sketcher shoes GoWalks (which are cute and comfy). But, again, this is not a fight you A. will win and B. you want to get in. My husband wears his converse and Doc Martins to the parks and he is fine. Worst comes to worse, there are plenty of Crocs for sale at the parks and lots of shoe stores at I-Drive.

And one more thing, remind her that no one is looking at her feet. They are looking at their iPhone to try and figure out the dang FP+ thing!

 

[xApril]

I was a teen a couple years back and I've been going to the parks pretty regularly with the same shoes. I wear fit flops. My arches bother me a lot and these have great support. They're a little on the expensive side (I know one of my pairs was $60, but they do have some on sale for $30) but I think they're worth it! They have some cute styles and I've had one pair for 3 years and the other for 2. Both are still really comfortable and I do my 10 mile days at Disney each week in them.

 

[scrhsa]

yep...let her wear what she wants.... I feel the same about my teen ds's shoe choices..... flat,uncomfortable, ouch! I am a high arched supportive shoe wearing Mama!(but they ust be cute) So just letting it go can be hard..... ask her to bring a couple of pairs she likes along,so she can choose as she goes. My ds has rarely complained,since it's his choice.

The problem with this is she just has converse...wanted them rarely wears them, those cheap flats, hand me down Vans, and pair of heeled boots. Thats it...she won't buy shoes. She doesn't have an opinion on what she likes just on what she doesn't like. She won't wear it if the "it" girls at school are wearing it. She likes things a bit edgy and different. And again, I know we have plenty of time for it all to work out

 

[scrhsa]

Personally, I wear flats and flip flops at the parks. Or croc sandals or the new Sketcher shoes GoWalks (which are cute and comfy). But, again, this is not a fight you A. will win and B. you want to get in. My husband wears his converse and Doc Martins to the parks and he is fine. Worst comes to worse, there are plenty of Crocs for sale at the parks and lots of shoe stores at I-Drive.[/QUOTE\

If it was just that simple. She refuses to wear sketchers...any kind (doesn't matter how cute or comfy) or crocs... any kind. She's my little rebel Wow, Doc Martins, cool

 

[WillAustin]

I'd rather fight the battle NOW than at the parks when she doesn't have any comfortable shoes.

I agree. A kid with feet that hurt can make the day far less enjoyable for everyone else around them, even at 17.

 

[saraschoening]

Everyones feet are different. My DD lives in her flip flops.. we live in Canada and she still manages to wear flip flops for 9 out of 12 months a year! So when we go to the parks she is most comfortable in them. When I put runners on her feet shes complaining within the hour but with flip flops she goes strong all day long. This year I did get her a more expensive pair.. they were $25 for kids flip flops but the part few years that we have gone its been $4 walmart flip flops on her feet. This year I am going to bring her new flip flops and her toms (kids ones with the thicker sole and her sketchers runners.. we will see i guess.

I think that your daughter is old enough to know what is going to work for her. Also sounds like she has a pretty awesome sense of style. People won't be looking at her feet.. they will be looking at the attractions.. but I remember what 17 is like..

 

[asbyrneva]

Ok, knew I would get the "why are you forcing her to wear what she doesn't want" stuff I'm not and won't be forcing her to wear what she doesn't want ( seriously, I cant...pretty strong willed ). But I know my child. She gets something in her head and then when reality hits she comes crying and whining to me. I'd rather fight the battle NOW than at the parks when she doesn't have any comfortable shoes. I want her to have a pair of sandals to off set the heat of tenny shoes for not only does she hate sandals she hates for her feet to be hot. She needs options!! I also thought if I had some examples of cute sandals to offer her, she might see something she liked and venture outside her comfort zone and bit. And this is the first year she has gone the no sandals route. Normally no problems. Thank you all for taking the time to read and post

Well you did ask for help and you didnt like the answer that at 17 she is old enough to decide. So take that our of the equation. I hate sandals in the park (cute or not) I dont like getting my feet filthy, I dont like when they get wet and the rub everywhere there is a strap, and I HATE getting my foot stepped on. Also sandals cute enough for a teen and comfortable probably are non-existent which is what I think you were asking. I know all the comfortable sandals I own are frankly butt ugly. A cute pair of sandals (TOMS TOO) might be murder on her feet back and knees they are very flat and no support. Or so not practical high heeled ugh.

You have a seventeen year old that seems to be making a reasonable decision about shoes. Maybe not your decision but she isnt asking to walk around MK in 4 inch platform shoes (and I have seen that more than once!) Take her to a store let her look and if she finds a pair she likes then she has options you want her to have, if she doesnt you havent wasted all that money on something she doesnt want to wear.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

Does she like online shopping? If so, check out www.zappos.com. Free shipping and free return shipping if the shoes don't fit.

That's how I got my DD15 (who was 14 at the time) to choose some sandals for the parks - she found a pair of flip flops and sandals that she loved on that website. We ordered them, they fit and she loves them.

Maybe that will be an option for her.

 

[RustManFan]

there is no reason to insist on sandals. Sneakers/tennis shoes are fine as long as they are broken in. Maybe add some insoles if they are flat like Cons

and my feet never got overly hot in them even in August

 

[maxiesmom]

I have to disagree with a few other, unless you are fine with leaving her in the room, this is a hill to die on. Her having sore or blistered feet will affect everyone else, unless you don't mind leaving her behind.

 

[Disnerdette]

Oh, to be 17 again.. I remember a trip around that age where I had different style and color sandals to go with each outfit for each park! I could totally handle the parks in flip flops, but now, not so much. I'm with your daughter - my go-to shoes for everyday stuff are boots, and then flats, and then Converse, but I know my feet will die in boots when I'm in WDW next week!

I have two suggestions; I usually wear Sperrys to the park. It's certainly a style choice, but they have great arch support, and you don't need socks. The beauty of them is they're boat shoes, so if they get wet, who cares! That's their purpose. I have a pair of gold Sperrys that I absolutely love and have worn so many times to DLR. I also have three pairs of Converse I rotate.

What I found to make the shoes MORE comfortable, rather than less is the following - if I'm wearing Sperrys or sandals, I use BodyGlide on my feet and I bring a stick with me. It keeps the friction at bay and I can slide the shoes on and off more easily. For my Converse, I wear low-cut, sweat-wicking socks. Target sells them. They're great because they pull the sweat away from your body, keeping your feet cool, and they offer arch support - they're basically running socks but they don't peek over the top of your shoes.

Finally, I invested in a pair of Sanuk flip flops. They're made from the same material as yoga mats. I was totally against the idea until I found a pair with a glittery leopard print in the strap, and I am obsessed with them. Totally wearing them to AK next week.

One other recommendation - I always rent a locker at DLR whenever I go, and I bring a change of clothes and a change of shoes, just in case, which I will probably also do at WDW next week. You could always bring a pair of flip flops or sandals as a back up, in case she hits a melting point!

Good luck!