An Unhealthy Obsession

Why are baby shoes so expensive?  This makes no sense to me at all.  I mean, one could argue that since babies can’t walk, shoes are unnecessary.  I get that.  But they’re so damn cute.

Take these for instance:  RileyRoos

These shoes are just too adorable.  Joshua needs a pair.  In a bad way.  Because they are cute. 

But I cannot see paying MORE for shoes for a child who DOES NOT YET WALK than I would spend on shoes for myself.  And I have a hard time spending more than $20 on a pair of shoes for me.  Seriously.  Target and Old Navy are my go-to stores for shoes because they are cute and cheap.  Sure, they only last for a season and a half.  But shoes go out of style every year.  Joshua would probably outgrow these in LESS than a season, so why would I spend $35 on them!!?  (Or $32…whatever!) 

I also love these:  Robeez

At one point, I laughed and laughed and laughed at how ridiculous I thought Robeez were.  Then I became a mother and someone bought me a pair.  In a desperate attempt to keep socks on my child’s feet, I put the Robeez on him and lo and behold they were the cutest things I’d EVER seen in my LIFE.  Thus began my obsession with all things Robeez. 

However, because I’m a supreme cheapskate, I cannot pay $20 for these, much less full price.  Because he outgrows them entirely too quickly.  I’m thinking (actually, I’m planning on) putting many pairs of these (okay, three or four) on his Christmas Wishlist.  I love them that much. 

And while the pair he currently has (of Ministars by Bobux, but not this pair exactly) gets a great deal of wear and has a great price, I want a little variety.  I want a pair for every day of the week.  What can I say?  I like to have a well-dressed child.  It makes me feel a little better about my own hurriedly-thrown-together appearance.  But my local Target caters to girls’ attire and not little boys’.  Apparently girls need to be perfectly coiffed at all times.  Boys can run naked through the streets, because, well, they’re boys, right? 

And TJ Maxx?  Forget it.  Unless I want my child looking like he’s ready to star in a Baby Hip-hop music video, I needn’t even attempt shopping there for more than plain white onesies I can embellish with neckties and fabric paint.

I even have a friend who MADE him a couple of pairs of shoes (Hi Rebecca!) that are adorable!  (And if I had time and a little more patience, I could probably get into my sewing room and make these too.  But I’m too instant-gratification for that.  And I’m skeered of screwing up and wasting fabric.)

I need baby shoes.  Joshua needs baby shoes.  We NEED baby shoes like an addict needs a fix. 

But my son has a mother who suffers from SERIOUS Buyer’s Remorse and so, he might just end up running naked through the streets one day after all…

Let’s hope he makes it to college first.