child shoes

Advice, anyone? Yesterday Casper's only pair of basic shoes, which are these Mary Janes from Lands' End (http://www.landsend.com/pp/AllWeatherMaryJaneShoes-58377_146244_1055.html?CM_MERCH=PAGE_52373&sid=4786185692407196030) broke. After 4 months of wear, although granted she wears them almost every day - the only other shoes she has right now are rain boots, sandals, and the new sparkly shoes from Target which are already falling apart.

Since we had a shoe crisis, we ran to Sears and got some Lands' End sneakers on sale for $15, that she likes. (It took a little convincing - I had to make her run fast all around and compare her to Dash, because she really wanted Princess sneakers. Ha-hah! Mom can still outweasel child.) Also, we learned she is now a size 12, yikes.

But we're going to a fancy event in Boston in March, and sneakers aren't going to cut it. They still have the Mary Janes at Lands' End, and I liked them a lot, but to break after 4 months for a $30 shoe is worrisome. Stride Rite has lots of simple Mary Janes and T-strap shoes, but none under $40 a pair; the ones I like best are $48. We were just at Target the other week, and I surveyed the shoe racks and there's nothing that is a) simple and b) quality. Bear in mind that spring is coming and it will be sandal weather, so I'm doubly resistant to buying expensive shoes she may well grow out of before fall, but also hate the idea of spending $15-20 on something cheap that she'll wear a couple of times. (We got the sparkly shoes for that.)

I guess I need to start haunting ebay Stride Rite listings. Anybody got a great source of cheap, well-made, simple kid shoes?

ah, my mother; baby names

Email subject line: How many mothers and grandmothers

Content: Are discussing the article "Whose Bed is it Anyway?"
in today's NYT. Don't all those exhausted families
sound silly and wimpy? And don't their bedrooms seem
too fancy for them to deserve everything going right.
Too bad raising good kids, kids with boundaries, isn't
their top priority...Can you imagine sharing your bed
with 5 year old Dillopie?????And 8 year old Casper?
Oops you mean you intend to?
Actually, the part of the article I did like was the
statement by the mental health pro that setting
boundaries for children is important and the bedtime
is a part of that. KEep up the good work! (KEep
trying, that is.)
Do not be offended by this message. IT is meant to be
funny.
love, D

Note to mother (and everyone else watching): If you have to SAY "Do not be offended; this is meant to be funny," maybe you should just keep quiet.

I haven't even read the article yet. Ugh.

Born to Beth and Matt: Jonah Peter
Born to Connie and Truman: Truman, to be called, we think, Tucker, or something. Sisters are Wilder and Annabel.