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Kathryn Mayer • Writing Out Loud

I write stuff down. writer • humorist • activist

When hand-me-downs are done, and it’s time for new socks

November 17, 2016 by Kate Mayer 8 Comments

A little brother finally balks at hand-me-down socksIt’s the socks that did it. Lacrosse socks specifically, finally pushed a now 6’2 little brother in high school to say enough of his big sisters’ hand-me-downs.

Enough.

It’s not that we’re cheap, it’s just we have four kids and not a whole helluva lot of money. Or time. Or energy.

Okay. We are a little bit cheap. Hand-me-downs save big bucks.

When our kids joined a sport, any sport, we ordered the sweatshirt, but only the last name was ironed on, because well, four kids. A $40 sweatshirt isn’t so expensive when divided by four.

The youngest, Boy, with three older sibs, got the brunt of if, as most littles do. We are a household full of feminists, him included, so the pink swoosh on his soccer cleats didn’t bother him nearly as much as the cleats were worn down to nubs.

He’s done just fine with hand me down sneakers, boots, skis. Soccer jerseys, ref shirts, basketball gear, and even for a short stint, swim team. Relax, not the suit, just the bag and goggles, caps, sweats. And towel. Last name only.

Drawing the line at lacrosse socks

Yes, socks is what did him in. Or rather, did us in.

This kid is loves his socks. Probably because he’s done his own laundry since 5th grade, and while not washing most of his clothes makes little to no difference, socks aren’t nearly as forgiving. He’s always asking for more, buying extras, sneaking the giant bundle into the cart at Costco, and because he’s the youngest, he usually gets it.

Sure he’s spoiled. He’s got so many more socks than his sisters ever did.

Spoiled. Rotten.

So I was kinda pissed when he asked to order yet more. Apparently each sport now has its own magically performance enhanced sock. Lax already costs more than humanely possible, and now socks?

hand me downs are only acceptable for so long

His sister played high school lacrosse for four years, so there is no shortage of fancy socks in the bottomless sock pit. And I know for a fact, we have plenty of socks with the trendy badass silhouette of a player taking a shot. Every color of the rainbow: hot pink, navy, teal, black, white, and the coveted Newtown High blue and gold.

The lacrosse socks were far more diverse than the players.

“Gimme a break. They all have ponytails,” he mumbled. “All of them. They’re girls. All of ’em.”

via GIPHY

I dug through the sock bin inspecting sock after sock, and he was right.

Every lacrosse sock had an image of a girl on them. Sure, it’s man’s world out there, but this is a female home, and this kid has paid his hand-me-down-dues for most of his 16 years.

So the big spender that I am, I sprung for the socks.

It’s time. He’s in high school, his sisters are out of the house, so call him spoiled, but this kid can is finally getting some socks of his own.

*

*This NaBloPoMo will return to your regularly schedule Trump protest shortly. I’m not done yet, and either should you be.


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Comments

  1. Susan Bonifant says

    November 18, 2016 at 1:50 pm

    I love your son’s attitude and yours too, he sounds like a keeper and you sound like a nice mom.

    Reply
    • Kate Mayer says

      November 18, 2016 at 2:49 pm

      He’s awesome; i have moments of greatness, but few and far between.

      Reply
  2. Gail says

    November 18, 2016 at 4:04 pm

    I only have two small boys, but even my oldest wears hand-me-downs. I gladly accept cast-offs from friends and family. I am sure my children will protest soon enough!

    Reply
    • Kate Mayer says

      November 18, 2016 at 5:01 pm

      I took bags and bags of hand-me-downs, and was sad when my kid outgrew the family that so generously donated!

      Reply
  3. Sharon Parry says

    June 16, 2017 at 2:06 pm

    Yay the boy gets his own socks! Love this post. I have three girls and I am a bog fan on handing things down but I do meet with resistance from the younger members of the family. Thanks so much for joining us at #TweensTeensBeyond

    Reply
  4. Nicky Kentisbeer says

    June 17, 2017 at 6:11 pm

    As the youngest I was at the end of the line for the handouts. Often quite exciting to get the big sisters gear though! I have to say with us having one child, many things feel wasted if there is no one to pass them on to. I am with your son on the socks, I always craved a pair that were shiny white that didn’t roll down! It must have cost you a fortune over the years. #tweensteensbeyond

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Couch shopping because sometimes you gotta know when to say when - Kathryn Mayer says:
    November 26, 2016 at 8:32 pm

    […] we ever owned, with most if not all of our household coming from flea markets, auctions, and hand-me-downs from generous parents and […]

    Reply
  2. Bra shopping lifts spirits and breasts to new heights - Kathryn Mayer • Writing Out Loud says:
    May 20, 2017 at 7:29 am

    […] was at a high school lacrosse game because I-still-have-a-kid-in-high-school-OMG, sitting with the only parents I can stand to […]

    Reply

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CT writer humorist activist kathryn mayer

An irreverent storyteller with a foul mouth and big heart, Kathryn Mayer (also known by Kathy and Kate), is a writer, humorist, and activist writing out loud with humor and grace about the little moments of life with big ripples, including parenting, social issues, midlife, and, sigh, gun violence prevention. Sometimes a big deal, sometimes not Mayer is national award-winning columnist, according to the National Society of Newspaper Columnists, and her essays have been recognized as Voice of the Year from SheKnows/BlogHer, named Best … Read More Here...

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