Okay, so, “football mom shoes.” It’s a thing, apparently. I had to figure this out the hard way, people. My kid started playing soccer, and suddenly, I’m spending hours on the sidelines. My cute flats? Not cutting it. My sneakers from college? Bless their hearts, but no.
The Search Begins
First, I tried to just tough it out. I mean, how bad could it be? It’s just standing, right? Wrong. So, so wrong. My feet were killing me after the first game. I limped home, defeated. I was so tired.
Next, I asked around. I’m not proud, I’ll admit it. I cornered some of the other moms at practice. “What are you wearing?” I asked, trying to sound casual. I got a lot of blank stares, some pitying looks, and a few helpful suggestions.
The Requirements (Because Apparently, There Are Rules)
Here’s what I learned. Football mom shoes need to be:
- Comfortable: Duh. But like, seriously comfortable. We’re talking hours of standing, walking on uneven grass, and maybe even chasing after stray balls.
- Supportive: No flimsy sandals. My arches were screaming for mercy.
- Weather-resistant: Rain, mud, early morning dew…you name it, your shoes will encounter it.
- Easy to clean: See above re: mud.
- Somewhat stylish?: Okay, this one’s optional, but I didn’t want to look like I’d completely given up on life.
The Experimentation Phase
I went to the store. I tried on what felt like a million pairs of shoes. Some were too clunky, some were too sporty, some were just plain ugly. I walked around the store, I jogged in place, I even did a few (very awkward) squats. The sales associate probably thought I was nuts.
The Solution(Finally!)
I found them! My perfect football mom shoes. They’re not the prettiest things I’ve ever worn, but they’re amazing.
They have passed their use test, after the game I felt good! And I will wear them all the time.
