Quote Originally Posted by pomtzu View Post
Excuse what I am about to say, but this is a ridiculous statement (2 actually!) if I ever heard one. I didn't see one person here, claim to be a perfect parent, and no one is saying that you and your wife don't know how to raise children. This whole issue has been blown totally out of proportion. Most just feel that letting children go barefoot in a less than even somewhat clean environment, is potentially asking for trouble. That's their opinion, and no one is trying to force their views down anyone else's throat. I think that we share the opinion, that it isn't worth the risk of injury or infection, when even just a simple pair of flip-flops or crocs, could reduce it to practically nothing. But we are all free to do as we see fit, and we should - and will - carry on as such.

Seems LH is taking this subject a bit too personally & he feels a need
to defend his choices as a parent. That's his problem, not anyone elses.
Maybe his town is a "Mayberry, USA" with old dirt roads that lead to the
favorite fishing hole at the end of the lane. It certainly isn't a modern
"big city" with mega stores & parking lots that I'm thinking of.

I hope no one is eating breakfast but, have you ever seen somebody
blow their nose outside without benefit of kleenex? chew & spit tobacco
out on the ground? Cough & hack and proceed to let fly with what ever
they bring up from their lungs? Geeze.

Let my small child walk barefoot through all that & more? No thanks.

and for those who think putting shoes on a child who doesn't want to wear
them is just too much of a hassle, just wait a few years, things can get a
whole lot tougher for parents to make the right decisons & carry them out
when the child gets a little older. Just saying.