What’s really important
Getting ready to go today, I got out the twins’ shoes and proceeded to sit the kids down to put the shoes on.
Upon seeing his shoes, TheMonk declared that he wanted to wear his sandals. Since it is cold outside, I told him that we were going to wear his “big boy” shoes today and that we’d wear the sandals another time. (It should be noted that I let him wear his sandals yesterday – with socks on – but felt it was better if he wore shoes today)
Hearing the bad news, TheMonk proceeded to cry and all the while I put on his shoes, he kept yelling out through the tears, “I DON’T WANNA WEAR BIG BOY SHOES! I WANNA WEAR MY SANDALS!!”
When he didn’t get his way, he proceeded to hit me – which promptly earned him a time out. All through the timeout he kept crying about his sandals.
When his two-minutes were up, I brought him out to the car to go to daycare. When we arrived at daycare he had calmed down and we walked into the daycare provider’s house I explained to her that he wanted to wear his sandals.
And that’s when she told me a story that broke my heart.
Apparently, TheMonk loves wearing his sandals because he can take them off and put them on his feet all by himself – just like the the bigger boys and girls at daycare. All day yesterday he kept taking off his sandals and putting them back on and was so obviously proud of himself for being able to do this all by himself.
As I heard this story, I looked down at my son’s tear-stained face and I asked, “Is that why you want to wear your sandals, Monkey?”
He somberly nodded, “Yes.”
I knelt down to his face level and I said, “Daddy didn’t know that’s why you wanted to wear your sandals, buddy. I promise you can wear them tomorrow, okay?”
He smiled and gave me a hug.
And I left reminding myself that there are worse things than letting your son wear sandals on a chilly winter day.
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Awwww…this story made me tear up too. We had a similar insident here last night. My hubby was going to take my 2-year-old out shopping since I had fallen asleep on the couch with the flu. While he was dressing her she started resisting the jeans he was trying to get her into and saying “These aren’t the comfy ones.”
Well, he didn’t understand and insisted that she wear them. She started screaming hysterically “These aren’t the comfy ones!” and he was so frustrated that he yelled at her until I intervened, explaining that those jeans had gotten too tight on her and she needed to wear her other pair.
Later, she had a particularly icky poopy diaper and it was obvious that she had had a tummy ache, which was probably why she got so hysterical about wearing jeans that were too tight.
My poor hubby felt so bad, and I hope next time he will realize there is probably a reason she is resisting so strongly since normally she is pretty compliant.
Comment by Mindy — December 19, 2007 @ 11:46 am
Aw. I’m so jonesing for another kid. Stories this sweet aren’t helping, dammit.
Comment by Redneck Mommy — December 19, 2007 @ 1:55 pm
Buy the boy some Velcro tennis shoes!
Comment by Deanna — December 19, 2007 @ 3:27 pm
What a cutie he is. I agree with getting Velcro shoes! I used to love mine when I was little bc I could do them all by myself
Comment by Amy — December 19, 2007 @ 6:43 pm
Just throw them in the diaper bag and he can wear them once he gets to daycare. It works. Trust me. If it didn’t, then my 2 year old would be wearing a football helmet or fireman’s hat in the car instead of his winter hat
) It’s a good compromise. So sweet!
Comment by JamesMommy — December 21, 2007 @ 6:52 am
LET HIM WEAR SANDALS EVERY DAY FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE!!! Man he’s cute.
Comment by samantha jo campen — December 21, 2007 @ 4:42 pm
Awwww – been there a few times. Crocs are great for kids. You can get them without the holes. Boots too, although those might be too hot. They do love to do things themselves don’t they. Makes your heart melt at how proud they are when they discover new things they can do all by themselves.
Comment by Amy — December 27, 2007 @ 3:50 pm