Confessions of a Croc Wearer

Jun 05, 2025

I’ve become a crocs person. Actually, we’re a crocs family.

I’ve owned gardening crocs for over a decade. They’re half falling apart and caked with dirt. They’re a well-worn, useful pair of shoes that get safely hidden away whenever guests come over.

A few years ago, when I heard – through my tween nephews – that crocs were fashionable I couldn’t believe my ears. Suddenly, I started seeing crocs everywhere. Even fashionable shop assistants in department stores. I couldn’t understand it.

It’s the most out-of-touch I’ve felt since the time I noticed something strange about one of my students’ headphones, and asked her how she broke them. (She told me they were called airpods.)

My kids now have a pair of crocs each, and wear them EVERYWHERE. My son likes to try convincing me they’re a sensible hiking shoe. (And when I can’t be bothered arguing, sometimes I let him win.)

Since their resurgence, I now own a second pair of crocs. And they’re not just for gardening. I bought them when my old flip-flops gave up their flipping and flopping. I swore to my family that I would only wear them to the swimming pool or the beach.

Soon, however, short neighbourhood walks crept into the equation.

Then, swimming-adjacent activities became acceptable too, like a quick trip to the supermarket or petrol station, before or after the pool or beach.

Am I on a slippery slope to crocs becoming my permanent shoe?

Recommendations

Aside from contemplating plastic footwear, in the past few weeks I’ve been:

Reading:
- The Ledge by Christian White – highly recommend, a great page turner!
- The Wedding People by Alison Espach – also very good. (I came across it when author Sarah Ayoub reviewed it in her substack.)
- 27 x Year 8 Maths assignments – slightly monotonous, not gonna lie.
Watching:
- The Residence on Netflix– I enjoyed it, and thought the quirky, bird-watching detective was fantastic, but think it could’ve been wrapped up a little quicker. (What do you think?)
- Lego Masters – excellent family viewing.
- Ghosts - I’ve finally joined the bandwagon.
Writing:
- Proofreading Robo-teacher, a middle-grade novel, coming in September… watch this space!
- Drafting Book 2 of a new junior fiction series, publishing in 2026 (and loving delving into an extravagant fantasy setting)
- Contemplating a new historical fiction idea while I’m washing the dishes or taking the dog for a walk.
Listening:
- Mushroom Case Daily, a podcast which follows the murder trial taking place in regional Victoria. A new episode is released each day that court is sitting, summarising the evidence and events. (I’m borderline obsessed.)
- Your Kid’s Next Read podcast with authors Allison Tait, Megan Daley and Allison Rushby . (I highly recommend their ‘first chapters’ series for entertaining the young listeners in your life.)
- Writers off the Page podcast with author Chenée Marrapodi. Her latest series includes interviews with publisher from Allen and Unwin, Hardie Grant, Penguin Random House and Larrikin House. (Highly recommend this one for aspiring authors.)