Subscribe Now

FP-logo-2022-black

In the trenches.

Working with children might seem like fun, but it's not always peaches and cream. In fact, it can be downright difficult--and icky--at times. Tamsin Carlson, owner of Wee Soles in Silver Lake, CA, reveals just how challenging it can be and how, sometimes, childish parents are half the battle. Sound familiar?

 

Naughty not nice: "Discipline is my biggest issue with parenting right now," Carlson says, revealing that a child once slapped her in the face and the mother didn't even apologize.

Working with children might seem like fun, but it’s not always peaches and cream. In fact, it can be downright difficult–and icky–at times. Tamsin Carlson, owner of Wee Soles in Silver Lake, CA, reveals just how challenging it can be and how, sometimes, childish parents are half the battle. Sound familiar?

 

Naughty not nice: “Discipline is my biggest issue with parenting right now,” Carlson says, revealing that a child once slapped her in the face and the mother didn’t even apologize.

Hair pulling: “Small children tend to grab whatever is closest in order to feel secure–very often this is my hair!”

Superstition be damned: “Children insist on opening umbrellas. Some parents are really good at restraining, others not so much. Many a time I’ve fit shoes on a kid whilst dodging a swinging umbrella.”

Ewwwwww: Since opening the store seven years ago, Carlson has been inflicted with lice–twice!

Sock it to me: Sometimes, barefoot kids with dirty feet come into the store and their parents refuse to put socks on them when trying on shoes. “That’s valid if the kids are going to wear the shoes with no socks–it’s important that the shoe feels right with no socks. However most of my shoes have white or pale insoles,” she says, adding that she now insists on washing kids’ feet.

The March 2024 Issue

Read Now