Not sure of the age spread of the members on this forum... or how old you were when (or if) you started deliberately choosing to go barefoot. But I'm curious... if you were a barefooter during your youth or teenage years, did you have any interaction with your parents (or siblings) about it? I ask because I'm 15, and feel like I'd like to go barefoot more, but I'm a little uncomfortable doing so around my parents - I'm not sure I'd know how to explain it to them if they ever asked. So just curious about other people's experiences.
I dealt with a bit of "foot shyness" as a kid, but honestly it never bothered me if my parents saw me barefoot. I mean, they've obviously seen you barefoot before, probably more than anyone else has Is it something your parents are likely to comment on or make an issue about? Like I said, especially at your age, its not uncommon to want to go barefoot, so its probably likely that your parents really won't care enough to say anything. The most my parents ever said, is sometimes they would tell me to put shoes on if they saw me heading out of the house barefoot. What I came up with was I had a pair of flip flops which I would put on if they said anything, and then ditch the flip flops at my first opportunity, and then put them back on before I went back home. Sounds like it really depends on your situation, I'd need a little more information about what's going on with your situation to offer any better advice. Feel free to follow up.
Thanks. I don't know if its foot shyness like you talk about. I don't really care who sees my feet. And obviously my parents see me barefoot all the time. Its more of how to explain why I would choose to go barefoot just to go to a friends house or go outside or whatever. Just seems like it would be a weird conversation.
i never "deliberately chose to go barefoot." i grew up in the country, my mom was usually barefoot at home, and she never really told me to put on shoes when it wasn't absolutely necessary. also, unless the forum rules have changed, you should probably lie about your age until next year...
Like the above poster I never was like "I'm gonna go barefoot".... but just growing up I grew up with a mom that, well, we spent a lot of time at the beach-walking around on the sand and boardwalks and streets in barefeet and also spent a lot of time just outside and many days none of us would put shoes on...we'd just be outside swimming in the pool, eating our meals outside and then if we wanted to go hang out with other kids in the neighborhood we could walk to their houses through yards, etc. and it was really no big deal to walk down the street either to friend's houses without shoes. So we pretty much just put on flip flops or whatever to go in stores, etc. --- Of course, since I live north of the mason dixon line in the u.s., this was not in the winter. Now I do wear shoes outside the house more- pretty much because I don't like stepping on dog shit, syringes and/or glass. But I still don't wear shoes to drive any time but winter... In any case, it was no big deal with me. I remember my mom talking a lot about how she loves feeling the grass on her feet. In fact at a family picnic the other day she was telling my three year old that when he was asking her why she didn't have her shoes on.... haha.
Its so weird to me that barefooting is a thing when, like many posters have pointed out, it was such a natural thing for me growing up. I rarely ever wore shoes in the summertime unless I was going somewhere that required them. my advice is just don't act like its a big deal. There isn't anything to explain except you don't feel like putting shoes on.
This whole it's not controversial or cutting edge or trendy or anything... is why I had a thread (last summer?) in rt about not understanding the barefoot forum where a couple hardcore barefooters got really pissed off at me. It's a funny thread I think. Dunno what it was called though. But, yea. I don't see the big deal.
In central NC these days, I wouldn't use the word controversial. It simply isn't allowed most places, and everybody seems to accept that as a fact of life.
My parents had a big issue with it. They grew up during the depression. At times they didn't have enough food and wore lots of ill-fitting hand-me-downs. They had the mindset that good clothing and lots of food in the house (usually at least a 3 weeks' supply) was a sign of security and doing well financially. As kids my siblings and I were not allowed to be barefoot, even at home. That all changed when I went to college. Most folks could care less about what you do or don't wear on your feet. Some may make a big issue of it. Some of your trepidation is probably just in your head. You think if you go out to a public place you're supposed to wear shoes. You get over that by going barefoot more and more. There's loads of information about barefooting on the Society for Barefoot Living web page. Go barefoot if you want to and enjoy it!
Like other posts, I too felt uncomfortable being barefoot in front of my parents as I battled foot shyness for years. It's nice to know that I'm in good company with this feeling. My parents weren't uptight about bare feet in general.
Why would your parents care if you go barefoot or not ? You do have to be somewhat carefull. I do recall stepping on a broken bottle at some beach and having cut my one of my feet up a bit. But running around barefoot always felt good if the surface was a lawn and such. Just make sure there is no broken glass about. So: some caution is warranted but with said caution what is the problem ?
I grew up in the 1960's and never wore shoes during the summer and they came off as soon as the last bell rang and never on weekends, my parents didn't care I went barefoot and even if they did they knew I was head strong and no argument would get me to change.
I understand the OP's question as I would never have dared go barefoot around my parents, not even indoors. Seems totally ridiculous now, but that's how it was. Being barefoot would have been as shocking to them as being completely naked. I used to sneak off on walks and put on a pair of sneakers that I'd cut the soles out of, and pray that no one would notice. Seems like ludicrous behaviour now!
