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>Hi, Sarah, great to know there's other children like >mine in many places of the world. I have a daughter >and two sons, all of whom now go barefoot constantly. >I assume she's still in the phase of growing? In the >case of my children it was a case of "growing out of >their old shoes and realizing they don't need new >ones". >They fortunately don't get into truly hazardous >situations. Everywhere we go in the city, countryside >and holidays, their feet can handle. >We have been to a few formal situations, like fine >dinners and concerts. My daughter has a long dress >that she finds fits perfectly with her bare feet. Both >sons have long slacks reaching to their ankle joint so >the legs don't touch the ground (while they're usually >in shorts from spring to autumn they will wear long >pants and shirts for more formal situations). They >take good care of their feet, clean them, have nicely >filed toenails and my daughter sometimes applies >various colors of toenail polish. I think it's easier >for children to go barefoot in such situations, in >fact we have received compliments about how handsome >and cute they are ... >Now they don't put any importance on "not having >shoes", they just think it's useless to buy a new pair >and the money can be spent better. I'd still buy them >shoes if the need arises, we will see how next winter >goes. You can just put aside her flipflops without >much of a ceremony if she feels better about it. Just >watch out that she doesn't get hurt, going barefoot in >clearly dangerous/damaging situations would be too >stubborn. My children fortunately are cautious enough >and have rarely had little injuries that healed >quickly. > >>Hi all! I'm thrilled to find a community of other >>parents raising barefoot children, it's always nice to >>know you're not alone. My daughter always hated >>wearing shoes, and after discovering the health >>benefits of being barefoot, I decided to let her go >>without shoes almost everywhere, and even join her >>occasionally! We're very fortunate to live in sunny >>California so weather is never an issue, and even more >>fortunate to have found a K-12 school that allows bare >>feet. However, the reason I'm writing is that over the >>past few months my daughter, who is now 12, has >>repeatedly asked if I would let her get rid of her >>only pair of shoes and live completely barefoot. I'm >>not opposed to the idea on principle, but I have a few >>reservations regarding emergency situations and formal >>events. The shoes in question are a pair of simple >>black flip-flops, which look reasonably presentable at >>formal occasions and provide at least some protection >>from hazardous ground, if necessary. From what I've >>read, though, some of your children do indeed own no >>shoes, and it seems to have worked out quite well in >>most cases! To that end, I have a few questions for >>those whose children lead totally barefoot lives: What >>formal or dangerous situations have your children been >>in in while barefoot, and how did things go? As my >>daughter has made it clear that she wants to "never >>wear shoes ever again", what is the longest period of >>time your children have remained fully barefoot, >>without skinners, socks, or any other footwear? And >>lastly, for my own curiosity, have any of your >>children ever said why they prefer to not even own any >>footwear? I've asked my daughter, but her answers are >>always some variation of "it just feels better", and >>better understanding her motivation may help me come >>around to the shoeless side of things.

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