my maternity shoes

Shoes being a relative term here.  I bought these shoes sometime before I got pregnant with Trent.  Flats were in style at the time (still are, right?) and I knew they'd be comfortable work shoes.  I got pregnant with Trent and wore them all throughout my pregnancy.  By the time my feet started stretching and widening from the pregnancy the shoes were showing signs of being worn.  Scuffs on the toes and heels.  Nothing too major, but I knew their life was coming to a end.  I told myself I would toss the shoes once I had the baby - figuring my feet would shrink down to their normal width and the shoes wouldn't fit anyway. 

Well, I had the baby and didn't wear the shoes at all during my maternity leave, but I didn't throw them away.  That was mistake #1.  After 4 months on maternity leave it was time to go back to work - and what did I do?  I slide on my trusty old flats.  Yes, they were too wide, but they were there.  I wore them, and continue to wear them 5 days a week.  I wear them when they don't match my outfit, I wear them when I'm going someplace nice, I wear them on occasion with jeans, and to make matters worse, I wear them with black dress socks (a look I am not a fan of). 

Do they always stay on my feet?  Absolutely not.  Just ask my mother-in-law, who had to help me retrieve one of the shoes as I was walking up the stairs of a fire hall just 3 weekends ago. 

Mistake #2 came when we were in California.  We were walking Hollywood Blvd and I spotted a DSW store.  I have a gift card there so decided to browse.  I was immediately overwhelmed and ready to leave (if you've ever seen the size of this store, you can understand why I was overwhelmed).  Kevin said to me, "if you need shoes keep looking.  Take your time and don't worry about the price, just get something that will last".  I didn't listen.  Mistake.

Now here I am - still wearing the black flats more than 2 years after purchasing them even though the toes are falling apart, there are tears on the sides, they are too wide, the toe and heel are heavily worn, and I'm sure they stink.

Why don't I care more?  I should care more.