Monday, April 29, 2013

Why let them learn to tie their shoes?

My sons are 6 and 8. We went shopping for a pair of news running shoes for Jakey (the 6 year old). "No laces please. Only velcro." I told the sales girl. I would've bought the pair that fit but Jake didn't like the looks of them. Good enough reason for me, (I am wrapped around Jake's finger). Me: "Do you like these?" Jake: "No." Me: "Why not?" Jake: "I don't know." And off we go to continue on our quest. I heard myself say it again: "velcro only." And then I cheekily added "because I don't want them to ever learn to tie their shoes..." And an image popped into my head: Nathan and Jake, in their thirties, sitting on the bench at the foyer of our house, with me bent down in front of them tying their shoes. I suppose they'll learn to tie their shoes one day. Nathan kinda already has. Kinda. I'm not helping him much, as in I just tie them for him. I don't want him to get too "I don't need you, Mom." I want him to need me forever. Bad Mommy. For now we stick with the velcro shoes. Makes me feel better somehow...

1 comment:

Andrew Joseph said...

That's nice. I do think a lot of it does revolve around the fact that kids aren't as cognizant of the simple things we take for granted... like the ability to read a clock face, because they only see it flashing on the PVR or on the computer. My 7-year-old son is the same way...
But... in your son's school... do they have to change shoes for indoor/outdoor like at my son's? It's that ever-present convenience factor. It may be why I also have slip-on shoes for work.