The Great Heely Debate
Heelys are all the rage with the tween set these days. I know. I get asked DAILY why I haven’t bought these shoes with the removable wheels in the heels for my kids yet.
In the car the other day, Miss M declared to me that since the clock read 11:11 it was time to make a wish. I asked her what she wished for and she said she couldn’t tell me, but she could tell me about yesterday’s wish because it didn’t come true. She said she had wished for Heelys. The same thing she has been wishing for daily since this summer.
I am not an unreasonable Mom – after all, our kids each have their own computer (in the playroom that I can see from my office), they have the latest gadgets, too. But, I just can’t seem to get my head around the need for these shoes!
So, I tell Miss M for the billionth time that I am not buying her these shoes. Of course, she wants to hear “why” for the billionth time too. So here are my reasons:
- I am very reluctant to drop $60 on a pair of shoes they can’t wear to school and will grow out of in 6 months.
- I make my kids wear helmets when they ride their bikes and rollerblade. Is she going to wear a helmet everytime she wears Heelys? My bet is no. I am not willing to take the risk of injury.
- It drives me crazy to see a kid flying through the grocery store, or any other public place with no concern for who they cut off, run into, or otherwise annoy. I don’t want my kids to be one of those kind of kids.
So, am I being unreasonable? How long is this fad going to be around? I’d like to know for how long I have to stick to my guns.
Amen! Couldn’t have said it better myself.
I think all your reasons are completely valid.
I’m with you on this one. I can’t justify this expense one bit. What I have recommended to my kids is to contact one of their friends who has Heely’s and bigger feet and request the hand-me-down at SMALL fraction of the original price once their friend grows out of them.
They’d last about as long as those expensive roller blades we got a few years back.
I dun think so loot-C
I too am having a “Great Debate” over these ridiculous shoes…I mean since when is it okay to skate through a store, restaraunt, school or parking lot? And without any regard to those around you? What has happened to this country? Just say NO! I too am now the most unpopular Mom because my 12 year old didn’t get his wish for birthday…oh well, parenting isn’t a popularity contest.
Sticking to my guns!
Yippersnc – I am so glad I am not the only mean Mom when it comes to Heelys. Since when did common courtesy become unpopular?
Thanks for stopping in! Come back soon.
If you do research heelys are the only shoe with the removable wheel in the heel meaning you CAN take out the wheel and your daughter can wear the shoes to school. This so called “fad” has been a “fad” for 7 years (heelys came out in 200 and were big since) Thats a pretty damn long fad.
my son has a pair of heely’s and so do i. if you each your kids to be responsible and not cut people off or run into anyone, i don’t see any problem with them riding through the store. like i mentioned i have a pair, and they are fun. i have suggested to many other adults to get themselves a pair as well. as for injuries, once again it comes down to responsibility. i made my son practice at home near a wall (for balance) until i was sure he was able to go anywhere public safely. if kids are getting hurt on these shoes, i blame the parents for not ensuring their kids’ safety.
signed
one popular(but responsible dad)
I have to agree with Sebastian on this one. My son had these shoes in 2000 and I still see the same interest with kids these days as then. As for the responsible parenting discussion; I would not allow my son to wear the heely shoes to the store or to the mall, they were to be worn outside only. If you can’t stop your kids from wearing those shoes to a mall at age 13 and under then you have a bigger problem than your kids skating in a store or a mall.
Parenting is NOT a popularity contest, I do indeed agree there. My son had very defined rules on when he could wear them and when he could not.
As for paying $60 for shoes they can’t wear to school, who cares? We buy our kids athletic shoes and roller blades that cannot be worn to school yet they still get use out of them. These shoes are meant to be used at a specific time and place, and parents need to be the ones who enforce that.
My biggest issue with my son having them is the fact that he walked on his TOES whenever he wore them. That drove me NUTS!
So if you can deal with that and can control your kids and when and where they use them, it shouldn’t be a big deal. Besides, what’s wrong with having your kids earn half of the money for the shoes and you agree to pay the other half as long as they abide by your rules of when they can be worn??
Thanks!
im trying to get to wear heelys at school and those are good resons