A Tough Customer

Most days I enjoy the excitement of marketing and sales until recently when I experienced the absolute most challenging customer….my three-year-old daughter. Most of the time I can “sell” Lyla on almost anything, but there was a great debate waging in our house: Why are shoes are necessary for school?

I’ve pulled out all the stops. I give her a choice of at least three different pairs arranged for her viewing pleasure. She usually gets at least 10 minutes to mull over her options. Socks are available for viewing as well, and I always include a shoe that is sock-optional, in case she is feeling ‘granola’ that day. Yet, on the three days of school each week we usually leave the house in tears because ultimately she doesn’t want to wear shoes. I don’t fault her. We have a really relaxed household and on most non-school days, she is the barefoot princess. I grew up in the country and would rather endure the pain of stickers in my feet than don a pair of perfectly good shoes. It’s probably genetic, but school doesn’t care about genes. They do care about shoes.

So do I have a solution for this dilemma? A short-term one I suppose. I caught a shoe sale last week and purchased three brand new pairs of shoes that I let her pick out herself. All of you gasping moms take a breath. Yes, I let my three-year-old pick out her own shoes because if she likes them in the store the odds of her liking them at home are much higher. Her choices included a silver patent leather dressy shoe, a pink tennis shoe (we should have gone with the light up option) and a washable sandal. All are preschool and cool-weather appropriate. I even threw in a pack of socks for grins. Lo and behold, this week we haven’t had any shoe drama. And which pair has she worn the most to school – her dressy silver shoes. Do they match her attire? On most days not, but I’m all about shoes on the feet, not if they actually match. Do I think the great debate is over…not by a long shot, but I’ll take one week of no drama anytime!

What have I learned from this? There is a solution for even the toughest customer!

— Chellie Thompson, Cofounder, Monarch Media & Consulting, Inc.