Devil Shoes

[the_rotten1]

There are these friends of the family who, from time to time, offer to drop off clothes that their daughter has outgrown. Their daughter is several years older than Jeweliana, and most of the cloths are a little baggy, but she loves clothes in general and most of them are nice dresses that I could never afford to buy for her anyway. But then today

Comments

[sharpeslass]

They seem like very, very reasonable heals and the shoes are little-girl-cute, rather than slutty. When she comes home with a stilleto, worry. I really think these are just fine. My opinion... As long as her clothes are "age appropriate" you are being a sensible mom.

[the_rotten1]

But-but they're heels! I know they're not long heels, but I've never seen her in anything with a heel before and I just... I don't want her to wear heels of any sort until she's at least 16!

...but is that an unreasonable ultimatum? Maybe I'm being ridiculous.

I appreciate your comment, though. I know it's something you've remarked on before. I should take your word on it.

Use them for dress-up play.

[sunspot67]

Deep breath, my friend. Athena is a few years older than Jeweliana, and we are also on the hand-me-down circuit, so we have been there and done that. I agree with you on the whole oversexualization of girls and the damage it does, but also agree that these are not particularly slutty heels

[the_rotten1]

I think that is an excellent suggestion. I've already told her that they're not the kind of shoes she can wear to play outside. We went out to the lake today and I made her put on something else because there are a few little hills out there and there's a bit of climbing involved to get down to the lake.

I might let her wear them to church or on other occasions that you would dress up for, but other than that she'll have to wear them in the house.

And of course you're allowed to comment. :) I should've added "parents" to the group, but I'm pretty sure you're the only one on my list that's male.

[lawless523]

I was iffy about heels when Ally was her age, but more because it's not great for the feet and also not wanting to encourage her to dress older than she was. I've since decided it's not a big deal as long as the child in question can balance and walk in them without spraining her ankle. As sharpeslass says, the style isn't inappropriate for someone her age -- for one thing, they have more of a platform heel than a true heel -- and she'll get a big kick out of wearing them.

Be indulgent and let her wear them, I say.

P.S. - My husband felt much like you do, IIRC.

ETA: In light of what sunspot said, I'm not suggesting she wear them every day, but I wouldn't relegate them to the dress up box, either. They're fine for a dressy or formal occasion.

[the_rotten1]

Jeweliana's able to walk in them fine, she has great balance and she really likes them. I wouldn't take them away entirely, but I think I will insist that she only wear them on certain semi-formal occasions and not to go out and play.

And I've told her that she can wear them around the house to play dress up as well, so she can still enjoy them plenty without walking around in them all the time.

[chorus_of_chaos]

I think that's a good decision, and looking at them, they look a tad big for her, she has a large shelf ahead of her toes, so you might also throw in the "they are a bit big and look a little odd, but in a year or so they will fit you much better."

[seshats_prodigy]

I agree with points the others have made. The shoes themselves are cute - really cute! - and I think that for dress up or a formal occasion, they'd be nice to wear.

But, I wouldn't let her wear them every day at her age, like to school and such, only because she is still growing and those shoes do really change the way one walks...I'd hate for her to have any permanent damage done...

...Just my two cents for what it's worth. ~_^

[the_rotten1]

I still think they're a bit too mature-looking for her, but I won't forbid her from wearing them. I'm really thankful for all the comments, because I was having a fit over this earlier. Now I can see that it's just a matter of when and where she wears the shoes and not just whether she's allowed to have them or not.

[jyuufish]

You should definitely curtail her urge to wear it. Say that she is a growing little girl and that heels like that can ruin the way her back is growing. But tell her that it's fine for dress up. Because it's not good for little girls to wear shoes like that all the time.

And that's the truth about it ruining the posture, it does.. it puts too much stress on the back. Tell her when she's finished her growing then it's fine, but until then, just for playing will do.

[the_rotten1]

Thanks. I've explained to her that they're bad for her growing body. She still likes to wear them a lot at home, so I may limit her use of them to an hour a day or something.