Because Shoes Would Just Get In The Way Of Couch-Jump Training, Right Tom?

Okay, so, first of all: we all know that Suri Cruise is an adorable little girl who is in no way responsible for the batshit craziness of her father. Second of all: it seems perfectly clear that, even if Katie Holmes was impregnated by turkey baster after a partial lobotomy, her diminished capacities of self-determination have in no way diminished her ability to adore her daughter. This is all to say, of course, that I would never in any way cast aspersions upon Suri Cruise herself, nor upon her mother's love for her.

That said: where the eff are her shoes?

Sure, it might be argued that the above pic of her getting out of a car with her mom in Manhattan is misleading, because don't kids often kick off their shoes in cars? (Mine does. Makes me only a little bit crazy.) In which case, fine. But then there's this:

This is in some shop in Manhattan. Note: NO SHOES. No socks, even. They're adorable little feet, but still. Totally bare in a high-traffic public space? This, I suspect, is just another strange Scientology glitch that's based on some esoteric teaching of L. Ron Hubbard. Something to the effect of Verily Shall Athlete's Foot Upon The Very Young Toughen Tiny Feet And Hinder Xenu.

Of course, it's possible that this is some new toddler trend that I've haven't heard of. It's also possible that I've never heard of this trend because I don't move in the parenting circles of the Very Rich and Extremely Crazy. It's also possible that highly-trained Scientology security units move in advance of Katie and Suri and lick the ground that they're about to tread, the better to ensure that there's no Xenu-dust  or intergalactic space turds laying about.

Whatever. I think that I'll restrict my own child's bare-footedness to our home, our backyard and perhaps certain dog-shit-free beaches. Because, you know - and maybe this is just me - I just think of Xenu as far lesser a threat to feet than Manolo-tracked street crud and dog crap.

Source

Comments

[Sils]

As someone who has no children of her own, but has watched 16 nieces and nephews being raised, along with 2 great nieces and a great nephew -- I'm well awre of the holy fit pitching abilities of a toddler and have watched my siblings give in, on occassion, to things that they said they would "never" do "when [they] had kids." It's entirely possible that this was an argument that just was not happening that day for whatever reason, and perhaps Katie knew the store that they were going into and that it was a clean place with (what appears to be) plush carpeting so it just wasn't worth the hissing, spitting, screaming fight that would have ensued otherwise.

I think that most parents should just be happy that there aren't legions of papparrazi hanging out when they surrender to a lollipop before noon, or junk food for dinner, or FINE EAT THE MICROWAVE POPCORN FOR BREAKFAST JUST STOP SCREAMING AT 6 AM THIS IS NOT HOW WE ARE STARTING THIS DAY, DO YOU HEAR ME?

Also, I went EVERYWHERE in my bare feet when I was about 6 years old that didn't have a sign requiring footware. I hated having shoes on.

[BaltimoreGal]

I would still go most places without shoes if I could. I'm no Britney, now- bathrooms, etc def. require footwear- but my feet really never liked shoes.

[rockle]

I don't really care so much about the shoes because I hate them myself and wouldn't wear them if I didn't have to -- and that is a really cute dress Suri is wearing, BTW -- but WTF is up with that bottle? Isn't she, like, 2 years old? My 13-month-old won't be seen in public without her sippy cup.

[Elaine C.]

*snort* xenu-dust and intergalactic space turds! i love it

[Dawn]

The shoes don't concern me as much as the kid still using a bottle. Why? She's old enough to be off the bottle. My pediatrician wanted all 4 of my kids off the bottle by 12 months. I believe most doctors do recommend 12 months.

[Lisa]

Yeah, sorry. Not seeing why this is a huge deal. She's in a (most-likely) high end store with carpeting, not out on the hot pavement with shards of glass and bird droppings everywhere.

[Robyn G]

Yeah, to this I'm like, whatevs, dude. She's in a place with soft carpet, where the staff is likely catering to her every move. It's not exactly the dressing room at JC Penney, ya know? I hardly see danger, or even poor hygiene. I would do something like this, and thank God there would be nobody around to take pictures of me and then judge me about it.

I am choosing to not judge and instead covet that adorable dress. WANT!

[Amanda]

My problem is with the bottle, not the shoes. She's two and should be on her way to weaning off the sippy cup, not the bottle.

[A dude]

So I can totally understand poking a little fun at celebrities and usually enjoy reading gossipy sites; I've been a fan of mamapop since its inception. There is something about this post (and one yesterday about Britney), however, that just strikes me as mean spirited. Six paragraphs about a kid with no shoes? Really? And yesterday making fun Britney for carrying a Wal-Mart bag. Really? For once she's not strung out and/ or in the mental hospital and we choose to bash her for carrying a Wal-Mart bag. I just think that this crosses the line from light-hearted fun to bashing people just for the sake of bashing people. For me, it really takes the fun out of gossip.

[DianaCLT]

Holy Intergalactic Space Turds, Batman!

That is all. You may go about your day.

Catherine, thank you SO much for giving me something new to put between the "Holy" and the "Batman." I mean that, sincerely. :-D

[april]

I let my kid play in the library play area without his shoes yesterday. Were other moms judging me? Probably. Did I give a flip? Not at all. His feet are so thick that I have to buy extra big shoes just to get them on. So, they are constantly coming off. I wasn't about to let my few minutes to sit and chat with my friends and his few minutes to play with other kids be interrupted by me trying to keep his shoes on. I'm sure the play area is totally germy, but sometimes you just have to let some things go.

[jwnnidwe]

Jesus fucking Christ. I hope you never take a picture of me outside my house with my kid. Isn't Amalah on your staff? Didn't she just write a screed on her own blog about judgmental asses judging her for formula-feeding? Where the fuck do you get off? Beat this, bitches, my kid was off the binky at four months and the bottle at seven. Can I judge you? Oh, but my kid refuses to wear foot gear. Call CPS! I must be a batshit insane mother!

I swear, after outing the alleged victim of a sex crime, I don't know why I kept you on bloglines. You get one more chance. Clean up your act.

[Lisa]

Well her child is still using a bottle at age 2 but *my* child stopped using a bottle at 12 months, so I must be a better mother than Katie Holmes!

I mean, get a grip, people. Who cares if she's still using a bottle? I'm sure she won't be using a bottle in Kindergarten, so don't worry your pretty little heads about it.

Please, just stop judging how other people raise their kids. Unless the child is in some sort of danger (like Britney with the kids not in car seats, that is a cause for concern), then I don't see the need for the righteous indignation.

[Suzy Q]

Eh, I don't see the big whoop about all this. I grew up barefoot, too, as much as possible anyway, albeit not usually while shopping with my mom.

The bottle? Sure, she could probably lose it, but maybe it makes her feel secure in the face of all the freakin' paparrazi that are always surrounding her.

Cute kid.

[sweetney]

please people, DEEEEEEP BREATHS. it's just gossip, everyone's entitled to their opinions about any multitude of things. for serious. DEEEEEP BREATHS.

(i don't care that you disagree with Catherine's opinion, but jeez, really, is it something worth getting so riled up about?)

[cindy w]

My mom (who perhaps spends a wee bit too much time reading People magazine) is also Very Concerned about the fact that Suri is still on the bottle. I pointed out that being two years old and having papparazzi swarming around you has got to be scary as hell, so maybe she needs the bottle as a comfort object. Nothing wrong with that.

As for the shoes... meh. It looks like a posh store, so I wouldn't be too concerned. Outside on a NYC sidewalk would be a totally different story.

[Nic]

"intergalactic space turds" may just be my favorite phrase ever.

Plus, you know Tom and Katie, they probably required the store owners to recarpet before they set foot in there. And then recarpet after they left so zero Suri DNA could remain in fear that someone test to see if Tom is her biological father.

[Her Bad Mother]

Holy smokes. I just thought it was weird that she was roaming around Manhattan without shoes on. I mean, like, from limo to shop to shop. My kid absolutely roams around without shoes on, but I draw the line at city streets and department stores. Still, I didn't condemn the kid for it. Didn't say that it was evil or negligent parenting even. Just, you know, made a joke about Scientology. Whatever. It's JUST GOSSIP.

(And, for the record, I said NOTHING about the bottle. And, also, breathless person who got all riled up about Britney and her Wal-mart bag? I said in that post that I loved her for that. SHEESH.)

[chatty cricket]

WOW- have I been missing stuff around here or WHAT?!

You know, fight to keep the shoes on or not, I still hate the idea of kids walking around with no shoes on. Being carried? Ok. Not judging the parents, because LAWD would I ever throw popcorn at my children for breakfast just to not start the day with the yelling, so you know, sometimes the shoes just aren't worth the tantrum, but still. Ick. Bare feet in public. I also just hate bare feet period.

Can I also add that I think Suri is seriously one of the cutest kids out there? Her little face is so sweet.

[BaltimoreGal]

OK this criticizing of our noble posters is going too far, I think. They are just writing WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN REPORTED OR SHOWN ON OTHER SITES.
DO YOU GET IT NOW? Jeebus Cripes on a cracker.

They are NOT "outing victims of sex crimes." They are NOT "bashing people just for the sake of bashing people." This is a pop culture site- and what happens with celebrities and their families is part of that. Get with the program or get out.

-This post does not necessarily reflect the Editors & Overlords, Contributing Writers, or Columnists or MamaPop.-

[Kim]

My doctor said not wearing shoes was actually kinda good for little feet. They're not crammed into stiff shoes and it helps them walk and strengthen their feet.

And who is to say her shoes aren't in the diaper bag because she took them off like most kids do. How many times have you had to backtrack through the store to find the lone shoe?