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A mum has been left with a $700 replacement bill, a strained relationship with her ex and the threat of legal action after her son accidentally stepped on another child’s expensive shoes.

The 37-year-old divorced mum-of-two says she has custody of her children for the majority of the year, because their 38-year-old father travels for work. But when he is in town, he will often take the kids for a week at a time.

“My kids were at their father’s for the week last week and when they came back my son brought me a receipt for a pair of $700 shoes that he needed to pay for,” the mum explained on reddit.

“Obviously I was confused and so my son explained that while at school he accidentally stepped on a kid’s shoes, my kid’s shoes were muddy from being outside and apparently the mud caused so much damage to these expensive shoes that they need to be replaced.”

She decided to call her ex-husband to help clarify the situation, and understand why their 17-year-old son has been lumped with a $700 replacement cost of the shoes.

“My ex told me that it was our job as parents to set a good example to our kids and show that we fix things when we make mistakes which is why he told this kid’s mum that I would pay for a new pair of shoes.

“His reasoning for this was that I receive child support from him and that I should have enough money to replace these shoes.”

“I ended up calling the mother of this kid to try and talk to her to explain that I had not agreed to pay for these shoes which caused her to get very upset with me over the phone because my ex had told her that we would cover the shoes and that it was our right to pay for these shoes.

“At this point, I was pretty frustrated and told her that if her son was so worried about his shoes he shouldn’t wear them to school. I told her this was all just a mistake that happened but that I wouldn’t be paying for a new set of shoes. Since then the mother has told me she would ‘seek legal counsel’ if I didn’t pay but I’ve decided to stick to my guns on this.”

What do you think of this whole situation? Let us know in the comments below. 

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  • So the ex is telling this lady that his ex wife will pay for new shoes ? I would be quite cross about that.


    • So the $700 pair of shoes are so damaged because somebody stepped on them ? What nonsence !

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  • The parent of the child with the shoes should have taken out insurance on the shoes if she was going to the her child wear the shoes to school. How about responsibility of the child who owns the shoes, get a job and replace the shoes yourself and learn not to wear expensive items to school.

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  • Why was a child wearing $700 pair of shoes to school, why did the ex say the mum would pay? If they shoes are muddy they will happen and I can’t understand how muddy shoes are ruined, unless they are white?

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  • Best to find out about the legality of this issue.

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  • $700 shoes… for a child… wearing them at school also… some people have more money then brains

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  • $700 is a crazy amount of money to spend on shoes. If these shoes were so special then they shouldn’t have been worn at school. Common sense will tell you that they could get dirty.
    If the Dad is saying that they should be replaced, he can put his hands in his pockets and pay for it.
    I really hope this Mum hasn’t paid for them.

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  • No, you shouldn’t have to pay for them. It is reasonable that if your son willfully broke them or destroyed them due to negligence that he should be held accountable. But he got them muddy. By accident.
    It is completely the other parent’s fault for giving a kid expensive shoes! They cannot make you or your ex pay for them!
    I really hope you didn’t.

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  • There is so much about this situation that is ridiculous. Firstly, that any school-aged child has $700 shoes. Secondly, that he would wear them to school. Thirdly, that the ex says his wife will pay for them. It has nothing to do with her and if the ex wants to set an example he needs to put his hands deep into his wallet. I’d encourage the Mum of the shoe-owner to seek legal counsel and see how well she goes with that!!!

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  • No way, I wouldn’t pay it. Agreeing with other comments, why was the child wearing $700 shoes at school.

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  • Don’t pay for the shoes. Shoes get dirty. This is a ridiculous request. Her son should have apologised, and that’s where it should end. And if Dad wants to fulfil this ridiculous request, he can foot the bill.

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  • He should show more respect and do his utmost to repay his mother.

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  • I agree with this Mum. If the shoes were so expensive, why was he allowed to wear them to school? Don’t pay for the shoes, seek free legal council (since you don’t work) and let the other boys Mum know that you’re also getting council. Also since you never signed anything, it’s your ex who should have to pay if it ever gets that far.

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  • This mum should stick to her guns. I wouldn’t pay this excessive amount and anyway, who in their right mind would buy their child a $700 pair of shoes and let them wear to school.
    Also didn’t she know shoes do get dirty..Accidents happen so this mother should move on and get a real life.

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  • I would wait and see what happens but if you did have to pay I would be saying it was over to your ex to pay as he was under his supervision at the time of the incident.

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  • That’s an excessive amount to spend on kids shoes. If they were so special the kid shouldn’t have warn them to school. If the mum cared so much she shouldn’t have paid so much.

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  • If the ex wants to make promises he has to take reponsebility for this himself
    And let the mother of this kid seek the legal counsel if she likes, I think that’s pure bluff and manipulation.

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  • $700 for a pair of shoes that the child wears to school ! That’s insane. I think that this has nothing to do with the mother. It is her ex that made said they would be replaced, not her. The agreement is with him.

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  • Let her take legal action!
    I get the dad’s lesson here of we fix our mistakes, but honestly, mud damaging shoes to the point that they need to be replaced is just ridiculous! I’d offer to pay for dry cleaning at best!
    The absolute problem here is that the shoes cost $700!!! Who has shoes that cost that much? I have 3 children in shoes, two of them are lucky if their shoes cost over $20 a pair. One has shoes that cost $150 because they are specialty shoes that are required for her condition.
    I’d love to read a follow up of this if it does go to court and to hear the ruling. I can’t imagine a judge believing that a bit of mud made the shoes unusable. If that were the case I’d be going to the manufacturer!
    I’m 100% with the mum on not paying for them and for saying if they were that precious they shouldn’t have been worn to school!

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  • If the kid was at his dads house, then he’s the responsible adult that pays any bills.
    If the mother doesn’t know how to clean a pair of shoes, she shouldn’t have bought them to start with.
    She needs to prove in court HOW mud ‘destroyed’ the shoes. She wouldn’t be able too.
    She sounds like a moron with a brat of a child. Idiocy wearing ‘expensive’ shoes to a school in the first place!

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  • Tell the other mother to go ahead with legal counsel and you go in and fight your case yourself so that all legal fees get paid for by the person bringing the case. Of course, the courts are so far behind with the litigation that piled up over the Covid period that it’s quite possible by the time the case is heard, if at all, that everyone will be many years older and able to afford the final bills anyway!

    Reply

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