Wow your mom must be really furious indeed! Breaking wooden needles!
I have been meaning to try bamboo but then forgot about it. I'll have to go and find some and try working with it. We have very hot summers and I'm always sad to not wear my socks. I don't mind wearing with sandals to show them off, but then it's too hot. I have tried knitting larger guage socks to allow air flow but then they are too loose on my feet.
How my stitches around are your socks? Where did you find your pattern that you love?