Confessions

"Hi, My name is Rebecca. I'm a middle class shoe snob.

I've been a shoe snob for about 8 years now. I'm not exactly sure how it all started, but one day I found myself at Payless Shoe stores. I needed a pair of dress shoes. I walked out empty handed and with my nose a little too high in the air.

I had reached a point where I couldn't buy cheap shoes any more.

After that found myself buying Clarks, Born, Asics, Sanuks...

And hasn't just affected me.

It has affected my family as well.

My sons in particular.

They have never worn a pair of shoes purchased at Walmart, Kmart, Payless, any grocery store.

They ware brands like: Crocs, Stride Rite, Buster Brown.

If I haven't heard of the brand, it doesn't go over their socks.

I'm not proud of this.

It's something about myself that I'd like to change.

I see how it has hurt my family... financially.

I'd like to tell everyone that even though I turn my head to affordable footwear, I am not a germophobe. I didn't freak out yesterday when I saw my sons putting their mouth on the cart at Walmart. I was ok when the cute old lady kissed Jack on the mouth in the beginning of flu season. I didn't pass out when Ty ate a skittle off of the floor at Old Navy.

And. I am ok with used shoes.

I've started my recovery process by buying the boys shoes off of ebay.

Yes, they are still $50 Stride Rite shoes. But I'm paying way less then that for them. It's been a pretty good place to buy Jack's wide shoes and just fun to find Ty some cute leather shoes.

Ty isn't able to wear Jack's shoes. Otherwise I probably would not see any problem in spending $55 on a pair of shoes that would be worn by both kids. That's only $27.50 each!

Thanks for letting me get that off my chest.

And thanks to all of you who have supported me through this process.