awkward situation: no shoes at baby shower

[mefordis]

Just take off the shoes. Free those bunions.

 

[Silver saucer]

When I was living in Canada shoes off were just what you did in my house and others. No big deal. I really liked the whole idea.
Now that Im back in the US I still remove my shoes in my house. I have a basket by the door with some slippers etc.
I don't get many guests so it's not an issue for me. If it's family I do ask them to remove their shoes. If Im at friends house I remove my shoes because Im just more comfortable that way.

I guess Im of the When in Rome do what the Romans do adage. (Or however that goes)

 

[a1tinkfans]

A relative of mine has a no shoe kind of policy they live with. I was warned n brought little peds ( did that date me, lol) to wear.
imho if someone wants no shoes in their home, they should warn or even better, provide footwear.

As an aside.. I have a pool and tile floors. It can be crazy slippery when wet… as one goes inside the home for whatever reason, after the pool.
I buy basic white spa like slippers, online and have them for any/every one that visits.They are not expensive and easily found online. Typically get an 8 for women and a 10 for men. It seems to work, much like at a spa… it’s not meant to be perfect, just functional and imho, Considerate.

 

[TKH]

It was a nice 60degree day. And the host has 2 dogs, the entire first floor was hardwood. So I just don’t get it!

for those “shoe off group”. Do you have dogs? just wondering (for my thesis) lol - I’m wondering if pet people are more “shoes on“ than non pet people

We live in Minnesota and we’re firmly in the shoe-off category. I don’t need to ask, people just see our shoes at the door and remove theirs. We don’t host parties, it’s just family/friends visiting now and then. We have a 70 pound dog and each time she goes outside, she gets her feet wiped up as she comes back in the house. I keep baby wipes at the door and she immediately lays on her back and gives me each foot to wipe. Most people don’t do that, but that’s my quirk.

 

[disney4us2002]

I'm pretty surprised that this post has 6 pages of replies already. I read the first two and didn't see this mentioned. I have plantar fasciitis and wear shoes from the time I wake up in the morning til I get back in bed. Even in pajamas, I have my Reeboks on. Hardwood flooring is the worst for PF. No way could I walk around barefoot for a couple hours on hardwood floors.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I don’t need to ask, people just see our shoes at the door and remove theirs.

We don't leave our shoes by the front door (it's by the garage instead) but I would say at a party people tend to follow the behaviors of others so a pile of shoes at the door when you know you're not the first guests probably signals to remove your shoes, conversely if you don't see the shoes you're probably fine to keep them on.

 

[disykat]

I'm pretty surprised that this post has 6 pages of replies already. I read the first two and didn't see this mentioned. I have plantar fasciitis and wear shoes from the time I wake up in the morning til I get back in bed. Even in pajamas, I have my Reeboks on. Hardwood flooring is the worst for PF. No way could I walk around barefoot for a couple hours on hardwood floors.

Yep. I'm able to go barefoot again more now, but had several years where I struggled with Plantar Fasciitis. Since I didn't know any "shoe off people" it wasn't an issue. The only problem I had was in Hawaii and I just made sure I kept one pair of shoes clean and designated to change into for "house shoes" trying to respect the airbnb host's wishes. I knew it was a cultural norm there so went prepared. Slippers do not provide enough support. While many people say it is a cultural norm here, that simply hasn't been my experience.

 

[Kimkimba]

We are a no shoes and no carpet house. We are all a bunch of germaphobes. I don’t force visitors to take off their shoes, but my 2 teenage daughters might.

 

[violina]

We're a shoes-off kind of household, as that is how we were raised. Most households I've been to are shoes off as well, so my norm is to take off my shoes unless the host says to leave them on. Most guests follow our rules, with the exception of one and we have to badger him to take it off all of the time. I am close to putting up a sign at the door just for him.

We don't forewarn guests as it's normal for us to have shoes off and most of the people we're around.

 

[Aimeedyan]

I've never been to a no-shoes house, but I have read many of these debates online over the years It's extremely regional/cultural so what is odd in one area is not in another.

I personally would not go barefoot in someone's home so if I were not forewarned or provided slippers or socks to wear, I'd decline to stay (or at least run home to get something else to wear).

 

[HopperFan]

Very interesting conversation.

I know of no one around me that requires you to remove your shoes, not even my neighbor with WHITE WHITE carpet. I've never been to a house that asked me to remove my shoes. You all have certainly given me something to think about should I be invited to a house I've never been to ... in terms of being prepared, having feet covers and/or exit strategy. I have no desire to have my feet touch the same surface with lots of other feet.

I think it is interesting that folks don't want their floors dirty but don't think about NAKED feet with who knows what going on with them walking all over their carpet, shedding, leaving germs .. where they and their kids walk, sit and play. I am a person that doesn't like feet, especially other people's feet. Now if they have on socks it's all good but what if they are sockless? I might have to leave sooner than later.

Question for those who wear shoes all day inside doesn’t it get uncomfortable if you curl up on the couch? What kind of shoes do you wear?
How about when you are in your pjs?

I don't buy uncomfortable every day shoes, so no I'm comfy.
Feet are basically not allowed on the couch, unless you nap then shoes off.
I have a variety of shoes for a variety of events, but everyday are comfy loafer style.
PJs, I do have slippers, or cozy socks. My one kid likes barefoot but others wear comfy shoes or slippers in the house all day.

Also for those who wears shoes all day do you also wear socks?
And do you put shoes on from the minute you wake up?
Do you change shoes when you leave the house?
Do you match your outfit around the house?

For most part yes, on the socks. My more "sandal" and non-sock shoes are for going out.
Well as soon as I'm up I'm taking dogs out, getting ready, getting kid ready and driving to program, so yes shoes on.
I do not change my shoes when I leave house, generally, unless I'm shifting to do something .
Match around house? What does that mean?

 

[FQLover]

Gosh, I am very much in the minority here. I would not want my bare feet on someone's floors or carpet, picking up whatever germs or fungus may be deposited there. In my own house, if my shoes are growing uncomfortable, I put on my flip-flops. I don't wear socks because my feet and ankles are swollen due to a circulation problem, and socks only make it worse.

Now if it is snowing or pouring rain, I would bring another pair of dry shoes to change into at their front door, but these would not be shoes or flip-flops that have never been worn outside. I don't have any of those. I don't own slippers as I have hardwood floors and those are too slippery for me.

If someone who is hosting insisted, and it was "barefoot" or nothing, I would offer my regrets and go home. It seems very weird to me to be barefoot in some else's home. Obviously, folks in my circle keep their shoes on which is why this discussion has surprised me so much. Only one family I have known requested that of us because they are germ phobic. I could wear socks back then so that is what I did. Our daughters grew apart over time, so we haven't been over there in years. And no one else I know does this (asks or expects guests to remove their shoes). Now if someone came over to my house and took off their shoes and walked around barefoot, I would feel kind of squeamish inside but I would not say anything to them.

To answer the question, I do put on flip-flops when I get up in the morning. I change into shoes when I am ready to go out. I may keep those shoes on until bedtime (I wear very comfortable shoes) but snow boots are different. I take them off and put on shoes or flip-flops, probably shoes as it would be winter and cold. Right now, it is after midnight and I still have my shoes on. Pretty comfy.

Shoes also make my high arches and insteps feel better, as do my supportive flip-flops. Wearing just socks alone leave me hurting after awhile.

 

[Boopuff]

Here’s my thing: shoe off people please give a heads up! I really think feet are gross. Bare feet- yuck! ( ever see the bottom of feet that are bare all day?) They’re disgusting! And do people wash their feet before bed ? Check out Some flip-flop wearers feet after a day in a park!! No thanks. My sad orthopedic feet will be happily shod.

 

[disykat]

I feel the same way about bare feet on everything. To me, everyone wearing shoes is much more hygienic than everyone getting each other's foot germs. Don't even get me started about what my dog tracks (and scoots) on our floors.

 

[DLgal]

Yeah, the issue of people walking around barefoot and potentially spreading warts and athletes foot is so gross to me. Why would anyone hosting a party want THAT many potentially bare feet walking all around, sweating, potentially smelly...

 

[DLgal]

Here’s my thing: shoe off people please give a heads up! I really think feet are gross. Bare feet- yuck! ( ever see the bottom of feet that are bare all day?) They’re disgusting! And do people wash their feet before bed ?

ITA. I can't stand to see the bottoms of people's feet, especially the people who spend all day barefoot. And I am so grossed out by even my husband walking around our (very clean) home barefoot that I insist he shower before bed every single night because I don't want his dirty feet under the sheets. Yuck. It's a pet peeve of mine.

 

[Moliphino]

I don't make anyone take their shoes off at my house, but they can if they want. That seems to be the norm among my social circle. I tend to kick mine off when I get home, but that's more because I hate wearing shoes than because I'm worried about dirt. I would only think to take shoes off at someone else's house if they asked or if my shoes were particularly wet or muddy.

I also purposely bought slippers that I can wear outside to take the dog out or get the mail. I then wear them all over the house when it's cold.

 

[sam_gordon]

Easy solution:
Don't go to other people's houses and don't invite people to yours.

Then you don't have to worry about shoes on/off (yours or theirs)

 

[ronandannette]

When I was living in Canada shoes off were just what you did in my house and others. No big deal. I really liked the whole idea.
Now that Im back in the US I still remove my shoes in my house. I have a basket by the door with some slippers etc.
I don't get many guests so it's not an issue for me. If it's family I do ask them to remove their shoes. If Im at friends house I remove my shoes because Im just more comfortable that way.

I guess Im of the When in Rome do what the Romans do adage. (Or however that goes)

This just got me thinking - I’ve never been in an American home other than those of friends and/or family who were originally from Canada, so it’s never been an issue. I’ve got a friend or two who are American ex-pats; if I get a chance I’m going to ask them their take on it.

 

[jrmasm]

Easy solution:
Don't go to other people's houses and don't invite people to yours.

Then you don't have to worry about shoes on/off (yours or theirs)

Or don’t lick your floors.