Where did all the socks go?

When I was a teen I used to get socks with patterns, funky colors, and print on them just because I really liked them. Now I love those socks as they are easier to match. I know a lot of people look at me funny and say how hard is it to match white socks. Well it can be hard if you have a bit obsessive compulsive disorder. If the socks are not the same ones you wore at the same time then they likely have stains that are not similar or are not the same shade of white. This bugs me. There I said it.

As for when I had children I bought colored socks or ones with colored heels and toes. This I thought would be simple but of course I never thought about the fact that these socks are soooo tiny that they are very easy to get lost in transition to the wash, dryer or anywhere for that matter.

When my daughter was old enough to take off her socks this turned into a new ball game of sock issues for myself. Again this really bugs me when I am pairing socks and can't find have the matches. "A" will take her socks off anywhere and I mean anywhere! I have had socks found in our van, my purse (because she would take them off on walks or at places), all over the house, behind/under her bed, on the couch, in my room, anywhere they can drop they have been found. I have a pile of unmatched socks and honestly we have checked everywhere for the matches and can't seem to find them.

I really love when A will come to me and say "Mommy, I have NO socks!" well my reply is usually like this "if you would take them off and put them in the laundry basket where they are SUPPOSE to go, then mommy would be able to match socks and you would have socks to wear" HA well that is usually answered with "but I doooooo".

How do you keep your children's socks matched? Is there a trick to not losing socks?