When we approached the kiosk decorated in a rainbow of “Rainbows” I could here my credit card whimpering through the walls of my purse.  I discovered that these must-have teen status symbols cost more than my last tank full of gas.  As I gave my daughter, “the Mom look”, with my eyebrows raised, arms folded and head slightly cocked, she proceeded to plead and bargain with me. It went something like this. “Mom, I swear I will wear them everyday and not ask for another pair of shoes until I outgrow these first…and I’ll help out more around the house. Please Mom…please….please.”

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So, with a heavy sigh, I approved the purchase and watched my peer pressured teen as she tried on several pairs before making her selection with overwhelming joy.  I must admit, she kept her promise of wearing them everyday for months, even into the cooler days of fall until we decided that frostbitten toes were not a good thing.  As winter was approaching, I became a student of yet another footwear trend taking hold of the local teens.  My daughter proceeded to educate me on the benefits and comforts of this awesome pair of bootsthat she just had to have to make it through the bitter winter days ahead.  When I found out their brand name I assumed it was directly linked to the reaction of the parents who are talked into paying for them. For example, “UGG!! You’ve got to be kidding! Why do these cost so much?” 

I’m still unsure how these footwear fads catch on with kids this age. Do other parents not have budgets to adhere to or basic common sense when it comes to the priorities of their family finances, or should I blame the celebrity teens that flaunt their fancy footwear on magazine covers and music videos? 

Upon some discussion, we decided to put the boot request on the back burner and re-visit it again before Christmas.  If my daughter still wanted them so badly in a month from now I would comply. I justified in my mind that it would be the one ”major gift” she received that year along with a few more affordable stocking-stuffers from her wish-list and she was perfectly happy with that arrangement and couldn’t wait to open the box on Christmas morning. 

When the weather turned warm again, the boots lost their appeal and I was once again back in flip-flop school learning about all the great designer brands available with rhinestones and charms and beads, oh my!!  I have to admit it’s fun to shop for these things with a young woman who hasn’t learned the value of money and the consequences of overspending on fads and frivolous items.  I am grateful however, that we are shopping for ”flip-flops” and not “thongs”* which by today’s definition, are an entirely different fashion accessory, which hopefully will not come up for discussion anytime soon! 

*NOTE:  Flip-flops were sometimes referred to as “thongs” several decades ago.