Barefoot child at Wal-Mart

[pomtzu]

I don't think this thread's issue is about the kid being barefoot, but about the potential safety danger of going without shoes, and the potential of stepping on something that would cause injury. A piece of broken glass, a sliver of metal, a nail, a caustic liquid - any of these which could be in the parking lot, or even the store floor. It's only common sense on the part of the parents to protect their kids from any kind of injury that could be caused this way.
If they want to let their kids go barefoot, then make sure they're small enough to ride in the store cart, from the time they get out of the car until they get back in. Too big for the cart?? - then make sure the feet are protected! It's only a matter of common sense and has nothing at all to do with being immaculately groomed.

[Lady's Human]

The point about immaculately groomed was therefor a reason.

No, my kids aren't spotless 24/7.

Yes, there are times when we have to do things that aren't normal, like a late night run for meds when only one parent is home, in which case it's in the truck, as is, to the store.

I'm sure I've brought kids to the store in a condition of dress or cleanliness which would have, in some instances, made one of the immaculate pillars of parenthood irate enough to post here.

Points being, you don't know what happened, and, as several people throughout history have said, don't judge a person until you've walked a mile in their shoes.

Safety? The most dangerous place in any child's life? the kitchen and bathroom. Not Wal Mart, not K-Mart, not CVS or a parking lot, your own home. You have products in your house which would never be allowed in a workplace because of the hazards (try an MSDS for 409, for instance!)

(BTW, I can't count the number of store parking lots I walked through barefoot as a child. My mother must have been a terrible parent!)

[pomtzu]

Points being, you don't know what happened, and, as several people throughout history have said, don't judge a person until you've walked a mile in their shoes.

Ah yes!!! But I will have shoes on!

I was not looking for a confrontation, nor was I judging anyone for their dress - or lack of it. Yes - unusual circumstances do come up. But when I see children barefoot in stores with their caregivers, in the middle of the day, casually shopping, then I can't help but think there was no unusual circumstance involved.

And yes - I successfully raised 2 children to adulthood, in spite of all the household perils, and those away from the home too. Just part of responsible parenting, I guess.