The Barefoot Chronicles.

Yeah, some need reminding who's paying who. Excellent retort. I'm hoping you have a job where that getup isn't required. Hell, even the bank I do most of my business with has banned the old suit/tie. Major step in the right direction.

 

Ignorant. Fucking ignorant. That's what I am for not wearing shoes. Stupid. Embarassing. Rebellious. She can't even fucking pronounce rebellious. And yet I'm the ignorant one.

"YOu didn't wear shoes, did you?" my mum asked. We just so happened to be on our way home from my aunt's. I had TRIED to use the computer, but my creepy kike of an uncle woke up and insisted that he had to use the computer. For what? Probably kiddy porn, or naked fat black women or trying to ring up an underage Columbian prostitute.

And so begins the rant.

"Well Jesus, you're not going to go into the store barefoot. You'll just have to get your hair dye tomorrow."

"Mum. We've gone through this. No stores care if I'm barefoot."

"Yeah, how do you know? I bet they just didn't notice. That's stupid of you, not wearing shoes. Give me a break. You are so ignorant. "

"I"ve talked to employees about it. In fact, you're the only person to say anything negative about it. Not wearing shoes does not make me ignorant or stupid. It's a personal choice of mine. I feel comfortable. I could call you stupid for glueing fake hair to your eyelids and thinking it's beautiful. I'm not ignorant. You're the one that's being ignorant."

At this point I was fairly seething. The kind of pissed off where you want to rip somebody's face off. I don't get that pissed very often. If I could've spit fire, I would have. Apparently my mum didn't understand this, 'cause she kept on trucking.

"Yse, it is ignorant. I don't want you walking around town barefoot. You're an embarassment to me. You're gonna stop that right now. You don't go to school barefoot, do you?! Oh my God, I'm mortified.. How am I going to show my face at your school? You're like a fucking hillbilly. That shows no culture, no class. You're embarassing."

"It's my own personal decision. I don't like shoes. It has nothing to do with being cultured."

"Well people find feet offensive. We wear shoes for a reason. ...You might step on something."

"Many people find feet beautiful. They're a part of everybody's body, why be ashamed of yourself? Are you trying to teach me to hate myself?"

"You're just trying to be rebellis", as she pronounces it.

"Alright, mum. And you're just looking for something to bitch at me about."

End.

 

Yeesh! Oh toolmaggot, I'm sure for you liberation can't come soon enough. But damn...that's just lame. Reading that tirade of your mother's made me !

 

That's basically the same situation at my house that, along with other issues, will soon be resolved with me moving out.

 

Hi Toolmaggot

How about soleless sandals??? In that way you could look "shoed", but actually be barefoot. That could help.

Good luck and keep barefooting!

Regards

DG

 

Yes, but that really takes away from the pleasure of going barefoot. If you're barefoot, you want to look barefoot, not "shoed." That's part of the fun of it.

But I do see your point. In fact, I have some soleless sandals. But I've only worn them once or twice. I'm not ashamed of showing my bare feet and I don't want to appear as if I am. The only time I might wear soleless sandals is when I absolutely have to be somewhere that I'm absolutely sure would never let me in there if they thought I was barefoot.

But it sounds like toolmaggot's only real problem being barefoot is her mother's attitude. I don't think soleless sandals would help that situation.

 

Yes, you are right Frank. It's a problem of bad attitude. The only solution is dialog and understanding. Being a parent, I understand her mom's position, but I don't agree with her attitude. What both, daughter and mom, should do (in my humble opinion) is to dialog. I think if stores and other places don't mind about Toolmaggot going barefoot, it's OK! Her mom should allow her to go barefoot. If school minds, well, TM and her mom should talk with the school principal to find a solution. Also TM could actually demonstrate her mom that for her it's safe to walk barefoot everywhere, even on broken glass, and that her mom has no reason to worry about her safety and health.

Being a barefooter is an expression of freedom, a right, but TM should also be aware that it is not always practical or possible to go barefoot everywhere... so she has to find a balance. On the other hand, I am sure that, let's say, when she grows older (e.g. 20, 30 years old) she'll find out that she cannot go barefoot everywhere and that there are places and occasions when it's more convenient for her to wear shoes. Sadly, a well-paid work wouldn't allow her to work barefoot, so barefooting would limit her capability to get a good job. It's unfair, I know, but it's just how the world is.

I think now that she is young she should take advantage and go barefoot as much as she can...later, she'll have to adapt to this world of us and wear shoes when it's needed to. But, of course, in her spare time, she can go on barefooting as much as she wants!

I hope that TM and her mom can talk and reach to an agreement. Love between both of them must prevail, and both have to give up some things in order to keep the harmony, don't you think?

Regards

DG

 

Absolutely. TM definitely has a lot of guts to go barefoot in public places when most teenagers nowadays would never in a million years want to look or dress differently from their peers. Many years ago going barefoot was the "in" thing with teens and young people. It was like the ultimate rebellion against the "establishment." Nowadays, it's like they are afraid to be different, think for themselves, or be non-conformists. Toolmaggot seems the exception. I think she's great. I hope she keeps that independent attitude as she gets older. But for now, she has to kind of walk a fine line and try to get along with her mother. Her mother really is only trying to look out for TM's best interests and that's out of love for her. She's going about it the wrong way, imo, but I think with some calm discussion, she'll eventually see things a little differently. Or, if not, she'll at least hopefully come to accept that not everybody feels the way she does about certain things and will trust her daughter to think for herself and make her own decisions about what she wears or doesn't wear on her feet.

 

I've thought about that. My mum would never in a million years agree to that. Her life revolves around what other people think of her.

My mum happens to be one of the most closed minded people I know. I could walk across hot coals and she'd still say it was dangerous, and I'm sick and disgusting because I like pain. She can't comprehend things that are less than 100% ordinary.

I know this. I'm wearing flip-flops right now, at the library. I have no problems with wearing shoes if it's a necessity. I wouldn't go into, say, a hospital barefoot. If somebody asks me to put shoes on, and I'm not just BSing around a store for no reason, I have no problem putting shoes on if asked. It would be rude of me to be all bitchy and fussy and make a big deal of not wearing shoes. It would almost destroy the point of barefooting, for me, anyway. "You don't understand me, and you're trying to make me conform! And so you're an asshole, and I'm going to be a ****. Look at me!!11one!!shift@!!"

 

Quote:
Also TM could actually demonstrate her mom that for her it's safe to walk barefoot everywhere, even on broken glass, and that her mom has no reason to worry about her safety and health.

+++

My mum happens to be one of the most closed minded people I know. I could walk across hot coals and she'd still say it was dangerous, and I'm sick and disgusting because I like pain. She can't comprehend things that are less than 100% ordinary.

**************

Well, I don't think you could actually walk barefoot across hot coals, but I get the point. It's a pity your mom is so closed minded. I guess she doesn't remember when she was a young girl herself...

I think the point is not being rebellious per se, butu just that you feel comfortable with yourself. If it's comfortable for you to go barefoot, nobody else minds and it's not harmful...go on! If you know that in this particular place it's not proper to be barefoot, well, then use flip flops for a while. Find a balance between what you like to do and what doesn't bother others too much. And, at the end, you are not hurting anyone by going without shoes.

Perhaps try to dress "normally" and just keep your feet naked, in such way it will be clear that being barefoot it's not a matter of calling attention towards you.

Anyway, Toolmaggot...good luck! And don't worry, adolescence doesn't last for ever... but, on the other hand, get worried...as youth doesn't last forever either. Each age has it's own advantages and disadvantages, it's up to us only to get the best of each one

Enjoy life!

Regards

DG

 

That's the great thing. I do dress normally. When I was thirteen or so I had a "fuckin' goth kid" stage, but I grew out of that a while back.

 

Mmm... honestly, do you think you'll grow out of barefooting too?

Anyway, if you like to go barefoot... then just do it! It's your body, it's your right and you've got tough soles, so it's just up to you. Find the proper places and times and just do it.

And, if you can... do little nice things for your mom, as helping her with the house chores, bringing her flowers and such things. We parents like those little details. And also we always remember when our children were little ones...and always thing that they grow up so fast!

Someday, TM, you'll have kids of your own, and even though I know you won't be a narrow minded mom like your mother, I am sure you'll be also worried for your kids health and safety.

Enjoy life!

Regards

DG

 

Hahah, so yesterday I was at Cracker Park, where the white kids hang. (It's actually called Crocker Park.. That's a different story altogether) Me and my friend Jake went into Barnes & Noble to get coffee. I had long pants on, so I was barefoot. We were walking out when I saw a couple of girls I know, Lydia and her cousin Alexa.

Lydia's locker is next to mine, she always sees me barefoot and yells at me when I still have my flip-flops on after school.. Apparently she told Alexa all about my barefooting, because the first thing Alexa said to me was "LENA LET ME SEE YOUR FEET".

So I pulled up my pant legs. "OOH LET ME FEEL THEMMM". Now.. around where I live.. all my friends are terrified of feet. Even looking at feet. So I was like.. "Uh. whoa. If it twirls your beanie." She spent the next ten minutes stroking the bottom of my feet in amazement, saying "Oh my god... they feel like leather! They really do! That's crazy.."

Then her and Lydia got all involved with playing with my hair. XD

It was an interesting twenty minutes, to say the least.

 

Damn. Sounds interesting. I wish I had more friends ;_;

I have about 3 right now. Two are getting on my nerves and the 3rd is never around.

 

My wife and I flew into Cleveland for the Labor Day weekend so we both decided to kill some time visiting that fancy suburbian hang out while we were in town for a wedding. Pretty nice! Lots of smooth sidewalks for barefooting, but with all of those pricey stores I kind of chickend out on going barefoot. Gee Toolmaggot knowing you went there barefoot, I should have just left the flip flops in the car. If I saw another barefooter there I probably would have figured it was you.

 

You should've. And you should've let me know.

Yeah. The sidewalks are pretty sweet. They're glittery. o_o

The stores are all terribly stuck-up, but I think they're all too scared to say anything about barefooting.

 

Sounds like you were being groomed... how come I never get groomed?

 

your great tool maggot! i enjoy reading your poasts......keep it up with your barefoot chronicals, ill keep reading!

 

The cold is coming. I've been wearing shoes more and more lately.

But when the day is tolerably warm, I'll go without.

It's rather disappointing.

 

Thanks, ToolMaggot. I have really enjoyed following your story, and I hope it isn't over, that you'll have more to share. Don't let the winter stop you totally. I appreciate your arguments with the pig-headed ones. I'm one hell of a lot older than you, (and prob older than your mom, too) and I'm still having these same arguments with the pig-headed! Perhaps not as often. It is just possible that this piece of the Maine coast is a tad more liberal. Biggest problem here is the big box stores. Other than those monstrosities, I've been more accepted than I ever imagined. I've actually been doing better than I did 15 yrs ago, when I just started wearing shorts in colder weather than most Maine guys do. Now I see I'm not the only one doing it! It's spreading. Now to spread barefooting. Again. I remember the last time it was considered cool. Your mom must not be old enough to remember that time. As Matthew says, There's Hope. I say, there's still not enough of us, but there is hope.

Keep your stories coming---