My inner 3^rd-grade self has recently resurfaced as the platform sneaker has hit the streets once again. Back in the mid-90’s the Spice Girls were the pop-culture sensation. Every girl my age wanted to be a Spice Girl. Whether you were into being just like Baby Spice or Ginger Spice, all of us have posed in pictures with peace signs in the air—a signature pose that the band used— and we would wear clothing according to whichever Spice Girl we related to the most. Baby Spice fans would fix their hair into pigtails and wear sundresses. Scary Spice fans would wear leopard. Sporty Spice fans would wear sneakers and athletic apparel. Posh Spice fans would act mysterious and pose sexily. The stereotyping went on.

It’s funny to me looking back on it now because at one point I really wanted a pair of platform sneakers; I thought it was the hottest in footwear. I’d stare at them through store windows—and admire them when I saw my girl-band heroes wear them in music videos. I’d pore through Pop magazine and clip out photos of the band and hang them on my bedroom wall.  My mom wouldn’t let me buy a pair which caused many tears and arguments. My hero Baby Spice wore them—why couldn’t I?

Today I see why my mom wouldn’t let me.

1. It isn’t appropriate for a 3^rd grader to wear platform shoes.
2. They’re straight up ugly.

In hindsight as it usually works out, mom was right. My 3^rd-grade self was wrong. But how was I supposed to understand? Just like how I didn’t understand the meaning behind the Spice Girl song 2-Become-1 when I was belting out the lyrics while my mom car-pooled me to YMCA cheerleading practice. Now I get it.