Shoes

I think the Shoe Gremlin is stalking our family.

It all started on the ill fated American Airlines flight AA1721 from Tampa. You know, the one that never left the ground. In the chaos of boarding and deboarding, we lost the kids shoes – both pairs. Did you know that airports do not sell shoes? So, my kids spent then entire 50+hour journey running through airports and airplanes with bare feet. Meanwhile, Mummy got to enjoy looks of disgust and chagrin from passengers and stewardesses alike. Warms a Mummy’s heart.

As soon as we arrived in Chiang Mai, I bought new shoes for the kids. And the kids refused to wear them. Thankfully, I have backup shoes that I hate but the kids love. Well, that’s a half truth. Timothy would rather go through life bare footed. I really don’t have a problem with that. My problem is that I’m a people pleaser. I harbour an intense dislike of the disapproving looks and comments I get when my kids are shoeless. So, I force my kids to wear shoes. When they have them, that is.

The Shoe Gremlin attacked again this week. For 2 days I could not find Timothy’s shoes. I do have another pair – the abhorrent ones (to Timmy) that I bought in Chiang Mai. Again, he ran through villages and shopping malls and churches without shoes.  I finally discovered the missing shoes on the hotel balcony. Right where the Shoe Gremlin had hidden them.

But wait! There’s more!

Yesterday, Samantha lost ONE of her flip flops (her ‘back up’ shoes) in the parking lot. She was very distraught – because she and Becky have matching shoes. Samantha also prefers bare feet, but being a girl, her ‘princess’ shoes are of high importance to her. So, today Daddy bought her a new pair of princess shoes. Which she promptly lost at the jetty after our dinner cruise. Just one. Again. Now she has two left feet. One pink. One blue.

But Daddy decided not to let the Shoe Gremlin win. He drove back to the jetty, and found her shoe. Someone had thrown it in the bushes. Pesky Gremlin! Why bother stealing a shoe that you don’t even want to wear?