Last year I bought my son J 4 or 5 pairs of gloves from a local shop of the ‘poundland’ variety. They were 79 pence per pair and I bought multiple pairs. They had distinctive rubbery designs on the palms to make them easier for rugby catches, etc. and they were a nice fit. I labelled each glove up before allowing them out.
Over the course of last winter they all got lost. Or should I say almost all did. I have two single gloves left from different pairs. I think they were all lost at school. So why have none of them come back to us? They were labelled clearly, just inside the cuff, not hidden away anywhere. A quick glance inside would have revealed who they belonged to. So why didn’t this happen? Do the school have a glove mountain? If every child lost as many gloves as J, then they’d be struggling to store them.
I know there is an element of my son needing to look after his things too. He’s only 6 though and he doesn’t yet seem to have that much awareness or at least when it comes to gloves. If you asked him where his Lego pieces were, he’d know. I could try elastic through the sleeves and other tricks, but I don’t want him to be seen as a baby by his classmates.
So I’ve been to the shop this morning and bought 2 more pairs of gloves which I have labelled up. So they are all ready to go to school and get lost again. Got a bargain with those as they were only 50p per pair. I think the shop is getting rid of some old stock before getting more in. I’d have bought more than 2 pairs if they had had them. I’ve also arranged to do some single glove swapping with one of J’s friend’s mothers as they bought gloves from the same shop too. They’ve lost most of theirs too and only have a few single gloves to swap.
I am on a glove finding mission in the morning – new ones alas as I know last years are long gone – no doubt off on holiday with the odd socks!