Cultured Views

Dressing for Summer

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If you’re a Mum and happen to visit France one thing you will notice is how well, and abundantly, dressed the majority of children are in this country. From babies through to teens. Even now, getting into summer, I see babies lying in prams swathed in blankets with hats on, shoes, socks, complete outfits comprising of layers of clothing. I would imagine that it must be extremely uncomfortable for the baby/child. When I take my two youngest sons out to the shops in the warm weather they usually only wear a pair of shorts, and maybe a very light sleeveless top. Sandals on their feet occasionally…the French seem to regard footwear as compulsory in all weather. I have been seen to dash out to the local shops with my youngest in a nappy, and only a nappy. The looks we get!

They just do not seem to understand the concept, or pleasure, of going barefoot here.

As a child in Australia summer was the time to wear as little as possible, actually Aussie kids go almost the year round with light clothing and very often barefooted. I certainly did, and still do here in France!. It was not unusual to see people wandering around the local shopping centres in bare feet…do that here and you get asked to leave the shop. When I take my youngest son out in his stroller on warm days we leave the shoes off and I have had women walk up and ask me why are his feet bare!. Actually the funniest time was when I dashed out with him in a hurry and popped a pair of socks on his little feet - odd socks, no shoes - women and elderly ladies were nudging each other and pointing at my sons mismatched feet. Obviously I had committed a major fashion faux pas.

So instead I just leave all footwear off. It’s cooler for them, healthier and it’s great for their growing feet. Much better than having toes jammed into shoes all year round.

Try it sometime…free your feet!.

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