Brook’s Shoes for Kids

A few weeks ago we went to Brook’s Shoes for Kids to look for some shoes for Ava and Lukas, but mostly for Ava since she has only one pair that fits her and is getting too small. We walk in and there was no other customers. The lady standing behind the register was on her cell phone. No biggie, I look at some shoes and she is still on it and standing behind the register. There was no Hello, no Welcome, nothing. I look through all the shoes that are displayed on one wall and move across the store to the other side, look at all the shoes there, and she is still talking on the cell. About 10 minutes has gone by when she came over and asked if I needed some help. Mind you, I was still the only one at the store, with exception of my kids, my husband, and mother-in-law. So I ask her to get my kids feet measured. She started with Lukas’. After she was done measuring she started telling me about how he is flat footed, and that is bad for the kid, their feet, how he is too old to get it fixed, AND that he DID NOT WEAR PROPER SHOES WHEN HE STARTED WALKING. WTF!?!?!? Then she goes off telling me that I need to see a doctor and they’ll probably will have to get a special something (I don’t remember if she said a shoe or a little thing you put in the shoe to get his arch up) and that it was going to cost me ONLY $300. Only!?!?!? Is she out of her mind?! Their feet grow fast and I would probably end up having to buy 2 pairs a year, which would cost me ONLY $600. She was totally talking to me like I didn’t know what I was doing, was not buying proper shoes for my child and so on and so on.

Then it came Ava’s turn, and it went pretty much the same. She told me that her feet were not as flat as Lukas’ were, but that she is going to be pigeon toed. Because one of her feet are going in, and that is because she used to always sit on the foot and still does. You know when you put your foot under your butt and you sit on it, it’s like the foot is bent inwards. Well she used to always always sit on that one foot. And that is why it is leaning in.

When she started walking her foot was turning in even more and she even used to trip over it, but it has gotten a lot better through out the months, and I’m not that worried about it. As it is straightening out and she is not tripping over it.

When we were leaving she started telling me that she has seen kids Lukas’ age that have flat feet and that it can get fixed. What the hell?! Did she even know what she was talking about?!

It’s funny, because I’ve gone to that store many times (and even bought some shoes there too) and everyone is always very nice. But not this lady. Maybe she got hired there for Christmas season or something, because I haven’t seen here there before. Too bad I didn’t get her name. But I do know what she looks like. But I don’t think I want to go back to that store ever again.

We went there because I was looking for Stride Rite shoes and they carry them there. The Stride Rite store is in the next city over at the mall, it’s not too far, but Brooks Shoes were a lot closer. Just down the street.

Anyway, we ended up going to the Stride Rite store at the mall, and the lady’s there were WONDERFUL!! They measured my kids feet, and said that a shoe has nothing to do with having a flat foot. I thought so too, but wanted to be sure. I ended up getting a pair of shoes for Ava, and will be always going back there.

Oh, and we did ended up going to the pediatrician, but not because of what the lady was telling, but because I already had a scheduled appointment for Ava’s 18 months and Lukas’ 3 years (I know that he is 3 years and 4 months now, but when he turned 3 we were out of the country). Doctor looked at their feet and told me not to worry about it, as they are still very young and their feet are still changing, and that the shoes have nothing to do with how your feet are.