Hello hello,
Having 3 little kids means that we need to set aside funds to deal with all the shit my kids break at other peoples’ houses… This is to be expected, no? If my husband and I had a profit and loss statement for our family, I’d account for a very generous line item related to incidental expenses (aka accidents). A downside to this approach is that we don’t really get worked up when it happens (duh…we plan for it!) We KNOW our kids will throw a rogue ball that will make its way to a TV screen or ride their bikes into a sideview mirror (sorry neighbors!). Personally, I have very little attachment to material things, so I find it hard to display the proper level of concern for others when things go awry. I’m curious if my approach here is too pragmatic, and it reads as callous. Is there a better/different way?!
Speaking of that family P&L statement, upon review you’d also see a growing line item for sneakers. Sometime last year, my then 7 year old starting asking for Jordan sneakers. Some of his friends at school had them, and to his great surprise (and my husband’s ;)), Santa brought him and his brothers these coveted sneakers for Christmas! Fast forward 6 months and we’re fully addicted to sneakers (by we, I mean me). All of a sudden, I have three pairs, Chris has a pair (which I bought him in order to rationalize my own three), and the boys now have multiple pairs. I love the shoes, but I also paused to wonder if it’s cultural appropriation for me to love the shoes? So I searched and found this Atlantic article:
https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2012/08/the-racial-divide-on-sneakers/261256/
And obviously the first search item is often the most digestible. Lucky for you, I’m a real scholar and subsequently fell into a deep rabbit hole that did not disappoint. People have devoted their academic life to this topic!
https://ojs.stanford.edu/ojs/index.php/intersect/article/view/1416
And one more article…
https://www.complex.com/sneakers/2018/04/the-gentrification-of-sneakers-is-killing-the-culture
Mostly what I’m realizing is that I’m very removed from true “sneaker culture” and all that it entails – e.g I was surprised to see the article(s) recount sneaker-related violence and that folks are hoarding product in order to sell it for a profit. I have no answers, only more questions and this has me ruminating about what all of this says about my privilege…
Nevertheless, it’s a great reminder for me to always honestly inquire about my burgeoning interests…
Talk soon,
Jessica
PS Admittedly, I have a healthy obsession with Khalid, and while it’s completely unrelated to anything… I feel like everyone should be listening to this NPR Tiny Desk performance on repeat at the highest possible volume… I used to have a max volume limit in the Odyssey (30), but I breach my own rule for this performance. I regularly allow our ears to properly bleed at a +30 volume level… You’re welcome.