"Mmm hmmm", I replied after having anticipated this request.
"I buy you new shoes when the ones you have are worn out or too small."
"Exactly", he continued, "Mine are too small".
"I'll buy you new shoes when THE ONES I BOUGHT LAST TIME are worn out or too small", I rephrased.
The Thing What Happened
A week or two ago, Wolfgang went to the climbing center. Climbing center climbers wear climbing shoes. Bring climbing shoes there (or rent), take off the street shoes, put street shoes in a cubbie, go climb around, change shoes again before leaving.
Wolfgang wears nondescript black converse most of the time. They're about as unique among his peers as a nondescript black bicycle is in China.
So, it's probably pretty apparent what happened, right? He went to the climbing center, he swapped the nondescript shoes for his climbing shoes, he climbed around, he put on someone else's nondescript shoes, he left.
Later that evening, when his feet hurt, he realized his shoes had shrunk a size and a half.
We did call the climbing center to see if anyone realized later that their shoes had grown a size and a half. No such luck. They've got our phone number, but I'm not holding my breath waiting for the phone to ring.
It's an understandable mistake. Not like the time he lost one running shoe. He doesn't ask for much, and I think I could actually see myself doing something like this. So I am willing to just buy him another pair. Eventually.
And maybe give the next pair a little Sharpie Love? Other advice?
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10 comments:
I guess that's a boy thing. I mean, I understand they look alike, and I've been known to wear two different shoes to work without catching on right away, but it seems like boys are somewhat clueless about what's theirs. If I have to ask mine who's shirt is this, they look at me clueless. ONE of them wore it, but they have no idea. So yes, I've taken a sharpie to many clothing items. If you come up with a better idea, let me know.
Looked back at That Thing That Happened; curious, did you ever have the fellas dole out each other's penance for such infractions?
No telling what kind of "one-upsmanship" that would generate around here -- I think it'd go nuclear after only a couple of iterations!
Converses are expensive though. My advice is get him to change his style and wear something a bit different and unique, then he won't have the problem again. ;)
Not sure if I would penalize him for what appears to be an honest mistake. Of course, it might have helped if he noticed the difference BEFORE he left the climbing center. I've got no better solutions to offer up aside of the sharpie fix - that seems to be fairly foolproof. Of course, writing his name with a PINK sharpie might add some incentive to keep an eye on his footwear next time...
It does seem like an honest mistake. If his real shoes left the climbing center before Wolfgang did, it REALLY wasn't his fault. The Sharpie marker seems like a good idea. Or maybe... some colored shoe laces?
I thought I was done with Sharpies after elementary school. Alas...
As I recall, Wolfgang became the resident landscaper for all of the-summer-of-the-lost-shoe. I think Chaco did have a vote in that. There haven't been any noteworthy infractions since :)
Good advice! If only he'd wear your shoes!
Pink! Duly noted!
I rather like the colored shoe lace idea. Hmmm...
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