Over the last few weeks I’ve noticed my son has not been wearing socks, even with his sneakers.
I didn’t really think any much of it at first but I have noticed this is becoming a daily occurrence.
I don’t think there’s any concern with him being barefoot at home, but wearing his sneakers without socks could be an issue. I haven’t noticed any odor from his feet alone.
We are a no shoes house so when he comes home from school he takes his shoes off at the door. Being curious I went to see how his shoes (which are vans old skools) were holding up. They did have an obvious cheesy smell to them but I was up close holding them. I have been sprinkling baking soda to help with that.
I finally asked him about it and he just says “because I felt like it” after I pressed more he said he found it more comfortable.
A few days ago he had his annual checkup at the pediatrician. They had him remove his shoes to weigh him and check his height. His doctor didn’t say anything about him being sockless. So that leads me to think I shouldn’t be overthinking this. Has anyone gone through this before and is this a hill worth dying on?
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The doctor is in on it.
He’s going to have fun with athletes foot.
Did you ask him if he wants a different style of sock? I personally hate socks, too, and I often wear shoes without them, especially in the summer. He might be more open to wearing them if they are a different style, like ankle versus crew socks, for example.
I don’t know your kid so it’s just me speculating, but based on his answer “I felt like it,” I would assume he forgot his socks one day and didn’t feel like getting them so just slipped his shoes on. Didn’t mind how it felt and kept doing it.
He should wear socks with sneakers.
Probably just another weird trend or phase. Definitely would just ignore it. Not like it’s dangerous or anything
I basically stopped wearing socks 90% of the time, but I wear Hey Dude shoes that don’t require them really.. See if he wants to wear different shoes?
I never wear socks with shoes but I am also neurodivergent idk if it’s part of it / sensory. My socks always give me ingrown toenails too regardless of what style or fit I wear. Idk why. Just always have so I ditched them for comfort. Do my shoes smell like Fritos? Yes. Do I enjoy my free feet? Also yes lmao. Rip to anyone who huffs my feet but I’d hope they’d not be doing that anyways.
Millennial here.
When I was growing up the trend was all about socks not showing and big fat skater shoes or slip on Vans.
He’s likely experiencing some same trend
I also didn’t wear socks for like a year when I was 14. I don’t think I had a real reason, I just didn’t want to. My mom hated it because we also don’t wear shoes in the house (Canadian) and she would always say how my feet stank lol. Anyways I grew out of it after that year and have worn them since.
Mom, give that boy some space. Kids do dumb shit. This isn’t going to kill him.
I rarely wear socks. I’m also a T1 diabetic that has to have my feet checked by a doctor regularly who knows I don’t wear socks.
If I’m cold I wear socks but otherwise I just buy shoes that are easy to wash which is easier to do these days than in the past. Adidas etc make washer friendly sneakers. They even make holders for front load washers and dryers so the shoes don’t bang around.
Finally many boots like Uggs are meant to be worn without socks and have removable inserts so you can replace them.
My feet never stink because I get regular pedicures to remove dead skin, keep my nails short and wash them (and my shoes) regularly.
My kid stopped wearing socks because she didn’t want to deal with dirty socks getting into the laundry and clean socks getting put away. It was sheer teenage laziness.
There are so many weirder things boys do at his age
Are all his socks….. dirty? Like hiding under his bed?
No issue to be concerned about
Huh? I live in Minnesota. The only time I wear socks is when I go to someone’s house and I know I have to take off my shoes. Same with my husband. Even in the winter. I wear shoes without socks and boots without socks.
It’s nothing to be concerned about IMO.
Let it go. Teens do weird stuff all the time. Socks are not the battle worth picking
Testosterone spikes make people feel hot, and if he’s mid puberty he’s likely in the midst of those. It’s probably a way he’s found for regulating his temperature. This is why high schoolers seem impervious to the cold at times and why some boys wear shorts during the winter even though they’re wearing a coat. I think it’s testosterone that causes hot flashes during menopause as well, but I could be mistaken. Other than that, what other people are saying about trends could be a factor.
Respectfully, you’re making a mountain out of an ant hill here. May I ask why it concerns you so much? Is it the risk of having to deal with stinky feet?
Buy him a can of Lysol. Let him know that people he would be interested in dating are not going to be interested in smelling his sweaty feet.
I’m a full-grown adult and I hate socks. I only wear them if there’s snow on the ground.
This is not a hill to consider dying on.
My kids often don’t wear socks so we just wash their shoes in the washing machine when they are looking/smelling like they need it. Then you can put them by a wall or floor vent to dry.
I’m 29, and haven’t worn socks with anything but boots, and skates, and required uniforms since I was about 14. They just drive me nuts. Doesn’t matter the type.
Finding dress, and marching socks for band that I could tolerate, and no-shows for track were a pain in the fucking ass. 🤷♀️ I buy shoe deodorizer balls to put in my sneakers. My dress shoes, I sprinkle a tiny bit of baking soda occasionally, and clean them every time I wear them, so sweat doesn’t build up. I also have a lot of expensive shoes, since my feet haven’t grown since I was 9, so I’m pretty meticulous about them.
Just make sure he washes his feet, and remember that the sun is your friend when it comes to shoes
Aside from the smell, it’s not a big deal. 14 is an age that some kids think that bare feet are sexy. He will learn when his feet stink.
As a compromise, suggest ankle socks. You have to look twice to see that they are wearing socks. Get black. They don’t show dirt as much.
As a second compromise, you can get foot deodorant — basically baby powder with aa deoderant with it.
Using an antipersperant on his feet will keep the smell down.
Wash the sneakers when you notice a stink. dry with a load of towels on low heat.
Is it harmful? Only to his ego when he comes to his GF’s house takes off his shoes and fills their house with his reek.
I worked at a boarding school that had a no shoes policy. In theory the kids were suppose to wear slippers, but a lot of staff turned a blind eye to bare feet. I figured that the increase in air more than counter balanced the faster transmission of athletes foot.
What, exactly, are you concerned about? Do you think he’s been inducted into a sockless gang? Is he going to get sick from not wearing socks? I’m struggling to see the hill you’re asking about dying on honestly. Some people just prefer not to wear socks.