Barefoot child at Wal-Mart

[cassiesmom]

Can I just rant for a minute?

I went to Wal-Mart yesterday - something I don't do often, but yesterday's trip was a necessary one. Their prices on things like paper towels and toilet tissue, basic socks for work, and light bulbs are a help to me. Ours is a super Wal-Mart, so I was able to pick up a few other things there instead of having to go to the grocery store as well - a time-saver.

As I was checking out I noticed the people in front of me had a small child with them - I'd say preschool age, probably 3 or 4 - that was barefoot. The soles of his feet were filthy, so they must have brought him to the store without shoes. I followed them out of the store and they allowed the child to walk through the parking lot barefoot. I couldn't believe it.

What if that child would have stepped or slipped in a liquid spilled in the store? Or, heaven forbid, another person's body fluid infected with something awful? Or broken glass in the parking lot? I was flabbergasted that these parents would do such a thing. And also that the store would permit the child to walk around barefoot -- they're liable if the kid cuts his foot or worse. The parents were appropriately dressed (and shod). I don't know why they'd let the child leave the house without shoes.

And this is classist of me, but if the child is on Illinois All Kids, those are my tax dollars that will be paying for your son's lacerated foot, so put some shoes on that child NOW.

Thank you for letting me rant,
elyse

[Daisy and Delilah]

I'm with you, Elyse. I can't stand to go barefooted outside. I realize it's the way some people want to go or have to go but it is a pet peeve of mine. For every reason you mentioned. To not put shoes on a child is inexcusable.

[Lady's Human]

Well, to keep shoes on my daughter is a constant fight, possibly the parents got tired of it and saw that particular day as a battle that wasn't worth fighting in that regard.

[pomtzu]

Up until a few years ago, I went barefoot as much as possible, but only around the house and yard. Of course, I also ended up stepping on a lot of stinging insects too! I can't imagine anyone going without shoes in stores and parking lots. Most every store around here - and all restaurants - have a notice on the door - "shoes and shirts required". Thank goodness - some male species that I've seen without a shirt - well - it just isn't a pretty sight!

[Asiel]

I can't believe any parent would let a child go barefoot in stores and parking lots. Some people don't deserve kids period.

POM---put your shoes on

[Lady's Human]

I can't believe any parent would let a child go barefoot in stores and parking lots. Some people don't deserve kids period.

I wouldn't like to see a little kid going barefoot in a store or in a
store parking lot. Not a good idea at all, for all the reasons you've
already mentioned. As a parent it's our job to make decisions for our
kids. Barefoot at home is one thing, outside the safety of home, is
quite another.

I swear I don't know where parent's minds are these days. Unbelievable!!!

No one claimed any such thing. I believe you're just being argumentative.
It isn't allways easy to be the parent & make informed decisions for your
children, but hey, it is our JOB & our responsibilty.

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.

Don't be sorry, you were right all along. This isn't just an appearances
type of thing, it is a safety issue. If other parents don't see that, then so
be it.

I do not think there is any excuse for this type of neglect. If there was a reason she could not wear shoes they should have made her ride in a cart. I would never ever have let either of my kids go barefoot in public, even at the beach we made them wear sandals until we got our towels and blankets set up.

Parents are just letting their kids run things these days. Bad parenting...

Nah, don't see how this thread got confrontational at all.......

[cassiesmom]

Well, to keep shoes on my daughter is a constant fight, possibly the parents got tired of it and saw that particular day as a battle that wasn't worth fighting in that regard.

But, LH, in the grocery store, though? I guess I'm just a worry-wart. I'd be very concerned that the child could step on something nasty. The other thing is that this particular Wal-Mart's parking lot isn't lit too terribly well at night and there's almost always trash scattered around. Papers, empty cardboard boxes from pop and beer, cans and bottles and plastic bags even soiled diapers. One time I opened the car door and almost stepped on a used condom - yuck! I'd be afraid of the boy stepping on a nail or glass or who knows what else. If he wants to go round without shoes at home, that's okay with me, but for safety's sake not at the store. Especially that store- open and busy 24 hours a day. I'm not sure if it's up to wal-Mart or the shopping center management to keep the parking lot picked up but it's an ongoing task.

[Lady's Human]

Impossible to judge who what or why based on one incident of a child going barefoot.

IT happens.

You can what if all day long about thousands of things in life, with each what if ending horribly. For whatever reason, the child was barefoot. It happens. I know it happens with my kids on occasion. Doesn't mean I'm careless, it means someone was having a bad day.

[lizbud]

I wouldn't like to see a little kid going barefoot in a store or in a
store parking lot. Not a good idea at all, for all the reasons you've
already mentioned. As a parent it's our job to make decisions for our
kids. Barefoot at home is one thing, outside the safety of home, is
quite another.

[beeniesmom]

Well, to keep shoes on my daughter is a constant fight, possibly the parents got tired of it and saw that particular day as a battle that wasn't worth fighting in that regard.

I have to agree with you. I am experiencing it with Laura. She is 13 months old now and walking. She CONSTANTLY takes her shoes off. Sometimes I take her to the store barefoot out of exasperation BUT carry her around. I'd never let her loose barefoot in a store or outside. It's gross that the kid was left to walk barefoot but I can understand why.

[Alysser]

You should have submitted a picture:
http://www.peopleofwalmart.com/?page_id=9798

[lizbud]

You should have submitted a picture:
http://www.peopleofwalmart.com/?page_id=9798

OMG, some of those are sooooo funny.

Makes you think twice about the Islamic rule of "covering up" doesn't it?

[Cataholic]

Like LH, I can't really see the horror of a child barefoot. When I think of the 'shoes' J has on most of the time- crocs, that rubber sole is absolutely no barrier for glass, metal, etc. I see opened toed flip flops (which kill me to wear), and I imagine any caustic liquid would be flapped up over them without any issue. I see water type shoes, moccasins, etc. No shoes? No big deal, to me.

What I also thought of when I read the OP was the children that have various disorders, which make shoe wearing, along with lots of other types of constrictive clothing, dern near impossible. Maybe the child had swollen feet, or had had on new shoes and there were blisters and wearing any shoe was not going to happen any more that day.

There are so many things that it could be other than lazy, inconsequential parents.

Though it doesn't happen now, at 6, I had taken J into the store in his jammies on more than one occasion. I will never forget the jammies with rain boots at HD, and running into a client! Know what the client said??? "Trust me, it isn't bad until it involves a mask". LOL, apparently as the father of two younger children himself, he had been there.

Much ado about nothing.

[cassiesmom]

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.

Thank you, Pomtzu- you said it better than I could!

It's not that the child was barefoot, it's where (potential hazards to be stepped in/on both inside the store and in the parking lot). I guess you'd have to see the parking lot. Things out there no one should step on.

I've seen children in their PJ's there and at the supermarket - doesn't bother me.

Much ado about nothing.

I'm sorry I brought it up.

[Cataholic]

I'm sorry I brought it up.

No apologies necessary. I have a different opinion and I expressed it. Doesn't mean yours has no validity.