You go baby, and climb those mountains
There’s something about watching a child struggle and finally make it to the top of a slide, a tree, or, in my house, a cabinet, that warms my heart. To watch that spark ignite in their eye when they make up their mind, “I want to get there…”, to watch them struggle and fall many times before they master the physical challeges of the climb, and then to finally make it. How can anyone not cheer for even this tiny little victory they have mastered. Childhood is too short, and the pressures of life come bearing down all too soon on a kid’s world. Climbing is a hard-won victory that teaches kids, “I can handle anything from here.”
I’ve made it no secret here that my boys do indeed, like to climb. But, unlike most boys I know, my boys are very conscious about fashion — what’s in and what’s not. They take great care in picking out their clothes and shoes… even my four year old.
I was asked to order two pairs of summer shoes from the Vincent Shoes,™ website from their new Spring/Summer 2008 line. Vincent is graciously picking up the tab. (Big Thanks!) Vincent shoes were created by Swedish designers Patrick Österman and Thomas Elbaum, after their personal disappointment with the lack of high quality, stylish children’s shoes. The inspiration for the shoe’s designs come from what the pair’s creative eyes see on the runways of Paris, Milan, London and New York. Regardless, of where the fashion inspiration for these shoes came from, my boys were instantly attracted to the tough traction on these shoes. Plus, these shoes come in blue; the traditional Batman color.
As we began our search on the company’s website, and page through pages of shoe selections with my boys on each knee, we stopped when we came to the product description for Oskar:
Oskar has all the elements necessary to grow into a stunt man. He climbs onto the countertops to reach the high cabinets then leaps down without a second thought. If your baseball is knocked out of the park, he’s the first one to scale the fence to get it back. His favorite pastime with friends is horseplay.
Had the shoe designers been reading my blog? How did they know that this is the exact perfect shoe for my boys? We added this one to our shopping cart for the 6-year-old. Still, we had one more pair of shoes to order. There was admittedly, some whining because of course, my 4-year-old felt that his climbing skills warranted Oskar too. His tears soon stopped when he spotted Bobby. As his mother, I like Bobby because, as the website description explains,
“Bobby, is made for small children who need a little more protection for their feet.”
Still, this shoe has the same tough traction super heroes need to scale walls and fences. The shoe is built for speed,
“That playful energy is also why we put a contrasting speed stripe along the side of Bobby – to make them feel like they’re crossing the finish line every time they take off.”
That’s all my son needed to hear to fall in love with Bobby. The website has a sizing sheet, which you print out, and then have your child step on, to see which size you need to order. The shoes arrived within two days. Oskar fit perfectly, with just a bit of room to grow through the summer. However, even though I carefully measured for my 4-year-old, the shoes were way to big. I used the words, “He’s swimming in these shoes.” So, immediately, my son said, “You mean I can swim in these?!”
I called the company’s toll-free number on Friday, 1-877-816-2368, and the representative suggested that I order only one size smaller. “It’s March, and you want these shoes to last through the summer.” While I was on the phone, she had already e-mailed me a return authorization, and a UPS mailing label to send the big pair of shoes back. (Although, it did take some negotiating to get these shoes off my four-year-old’s feet.) The new pair of shoes arrived Tuesday (that fast!). This pair, again is still too big… but it’s April, and I want them to last through the summer. He seems to have no trouble maneuvering around in these “bigger” shoes. And the kid’s got two jobs this summer: to grow and climb.
Yes, these shoes are a slightly higher price point that shoes you will find in most mass-merchandise retail outlets. Keep in mind, though, these shoes are real leather, including a leather foot bed. The leather will stretch and give with your child’s foot over the summer, unlike that cheap vinyl that digs into their precious little porcelain skin. These shoes are rugged and durable, and you probably won’t be running out in August trying to replace a pair of sandals that have broken straps and buckles. That said, these shoes are really a bargain!
To help you out, you can get 20% off all full-price items through April 30. Just use this code, “SPRING-DEAL-8.” Plus, there’s free shipping on all orders over $75. Their handy shoe fitter is easy to use. Or you could also visit their retail stores if you want to try them on first.
This review brought to you courtesy of The Parent Bloggers Network.
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