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conuly
I told the girls I'd pick up sandals for them before going to Coney Island. (And I did, that very day. They weren't very happy with the options - as I refused to get flip-flops, dressy shoes, or "crocs" which, in my experience, wear down too quickly, they were limited to "good quality shoes that will last the summer". And the only ones they had of THOSE in this store in their size were the dreaded "boy shoes". Well, I'm sorry girls, but dark colors are practical anyway, suck it up. And do not get me STARTED on segregating shoes for kids by gender.)
Anyway, after I said that Evangeline said "Oh, good, because I don't want to get germs on my feet at the beach!"
Now, you know what I feel about bare feet being happy feet (in many, but not all situations, and not for people who just can't do that), so I pointed out that it's fairly unlikely you'll get a disease just by walking on the ground. After all, germs don't generally burrow through your skin. (That's worms, but you could get them by doing handstands in iffy areas too, so... yeah.) "Well, if I had a cut on my foot!"
Yes, I said, if you had a cut on your foot. And then I remembered something that I don't get enough chances to tell her not to do (thankfully) and said "Of course, if you're worried about germs from your feet, you could stop biting your toenaiils." (At the dinner table! Ew!) Evangeline glared up at me and said "Oh, Connie, I don't do that, you know that!" At this point I realized the people across from us were torn between holding in giggles and not, so I said "Sorry, I guess you didn't need to hear that." Cue Evangeline's stage whisper: "I know they didn't, that's why I said I don't do that!"
I don't think it would've occurred to her sister to be embarrassed by this at her age (this was the child who ate ABC gum if she could, remember), or to lie to get out of it either. But now I know.
(Interesting thing about the sandals, I got them in the nieces' current shoe sizes - 13 for Ana, 12 1/2 for Evangeline. Ana's turned out to be much larger on her than I realized, and Evangeline fit into ONE shoe perfectly, while the other is nearly too small already! It doesn't matter much with open-toe sandals, but this explains SO MUCH about why her dad is always getting her shoes that she says hurt her toes. He must be measuring the wrong foot! I don't blame him, I wouldn't habitually measure both feet either, but now I can *see* how the sandals fit so I told their parents about this.)
Anyway, after I said that Evangeline said "Oh, good, because I don't want to get germs on my feet at the beach!"
Now, you know what I feel about bare feet being happy feet (in many, but not all situations, and not for people who just can't do that), so I pointed out that it's fairly unlikely you'll get a disease just by walking on the ground. After all, germs don't generally burrow through your skin. (That's worms, but you could get them by doing handstands in iffy areas too, so... yeah.) "Well, if I had a cut on my foot!"
Yes, I said, if you had a cut on your foot. And then I remembered something that I don't get enough chances to tell her not to do (thankfully) and said "Of course, if you're worried about germs from your feet, you could stop biting your toenaiils." (At the dinner table! Ew!) Evangeline glared up at me and said "Oh, Connie, I don't do that, you know that!" At this point I realized the people across from us were torn between holding in giggles and not, so I said "Sorry, I guess you didn't need to hear that." Cue Evangeline's stage whisper: "I know they didn't, that's why I said I don't do that!"
I don't think it would've occurred to her sister to be embarrassed by this at her age (this was the child who ate ABC gum if she could, remember), or to lie to get out of it either. But now I know.
(Interesting thing about the sandals, I got them in the nieces' current shoe sizes - 13 for Ana, 12 1/2 for Evangeline. Ana's turned out to be much larger on her than I realized, and Evangeline fit into ONE shoe perfectly, while the other is nearly too small already! It doesn't matter much with open-toe sandals, but this explains SO MUCH about why her dad is always getting her shoes that she says hurt her toes. He must be measuring the wrong foot! I don't blame him, I wouldn't habitually measure both feet either, but now I can *see* how the sandals fit so I told their parents about this.)
