@cherokeepatti that was a tough situation even with a regular lunch bag. Not even backpacks where common for kids. Lunch boxes I might have had one given to me. It as well didn't last long. So paper bags it was.
@DeWayfarer the boy’s feet have radar for mud and that’s where he was usually planting his shoes when he’d walk outside. From the car in the driveway to the house, he would still manage to get mud on them. Same at school. I finally gave him a bucket, a brush and a rag and some dish soap and told him to start cleaning his shoes, the bottoms, sides etc. every time he did it. Also he had a habit of banging his backpack around and ripping the straps etc. He got told in 3rd grade that the next time he was seen swinging the backpack around he would be bringing his stuff to school in a large paper Braum’s bag with paper handles on it. So he stopped that.
@cherokeepatti took shoes off under the cabana before entering the house. Mom had shoe boxes for me and her outside next to the steps. Dad didn't care when I went there on weekends or vacations.
Such threats didn't scare me. Often I did without.
Remember one time I needed sneakers for the German clubs soccer team. I finally had to tell the teacher why because he insisted on me being on the team.
Wound up he bought me the shoes himself.
Parents had weird priorities. Not the average thing was important. While a color TV with remote was important to mom. My clothes weren't. That as well went for a trip to Germany, Northern California Iowa and so forth. Dad was the same way.
