Wednesday, June 03, 2009

"Light Up Shoes"

Seriously, if you had told me five years ago that I'd one day be buying "light up shoes" for my kids, I would have laughed in your face and said, "NEVER!" Never, ever, in a million years would I have thought I'd buy these things for my kids. Never. For so many reasons; I can't even count the ways in which I felt completely opposed to all that "light up shoes" are and represent. But five years ago I did not know what I know now.

I did not know then that it so doesn't matter what kind of sneakers they are wearing-- even if they are "light up shoes." I did not know then that they'd genuinely want "light up shoes" so very, very much that their little hearts would skip a beat and they'd become almost breathless at the mere thought of somehow acquiring them. I did not know then that I'd actually really 'get it' why, and how, they wanted them. I did not know then that deep in my soul I'd feel such overflowing, unreserved, gushing adoration for these boys. I did not know then that I'd want the world for them so badly; that I'd do anything in my power for them; that my heart would melt a hundred times a day because of them-- even amidst them driving me absolutely crazy and making me feel like I have truly zero parenting skills and pushing me to the brink of numerous nervous breakdowns on so many, many occasions daily. I did not know then that it would make me so happy to see them so happy with something so tiny and minor as "light up shoes." I did not know then that at this point I'd fully grasp how very quickly they are growing up, how very short life is, and how very menial "light up shoes" are in the grand scheme of it all. I did not know then what I know now: That I would become capable of just letting it all go and being so giddy happy while watching them stomp around, delighted, this morning, wearing their new "light up shoes."

13 comments:

grumpy chicken's mommy said...

Heather - I am so with you on this one! I just bought my son his first pair last month.... oh the excitement. What joy... light up shoes!

Robin said...

Ha ha ha next your'll be putting those inflatable decorations in your yard. I bought the light up shoes too.....and I love them just because they love them. :-)

Mark and Sarah said...

It's so good to hear how you change your mind for the love of your kids. Life is too short, eh?

Kristen said...

So cute!! I also had light up shoes (back then L.A. Gear light up shoes were all the rage!!) and they made me very happy as well!! Mine had butterflies and the wings lit up - and seriously, I loved those shoes until those little lights finally went out. And I still remember them :) So I bet one day Kyle and Owen will think back and remember how happy they were the day their mommy bought them "LIGHT UP SHOES!"

:)

Christina said...

They are good boys. And you're a good mom! But please...no "Heelys!" :-)

Anonymous said...

Beautiful, loving!

Brightlight said...

As a parent of three young children, I often feel like I am completely lacking in parenting skills and am one incident away from being carted off to a padded cell! Having said that, my kids bring immense joy to my life and I have found myself doing many things for them that I previously swore I never would (pink clothes, anyone?) because it brings them joy. It's so refreshing to read a candid blog, where not everything is reported through rose tinted glasses! I really needed that today! Thanks

twintours said...

Isn't it just a wonder how much we all learn with kids. Every day. Every nano second. I am also a twin mother and I love to read your blog. It's inspiring and funny and there are so many things I agree a thousand percent with you. I also blog. look for twintours.blogspot it's german. But pictures will often tell similair stories. Have fun Party of Five. The Hamburgers

Nicole said...

I felt the same way about Heely's- the tennis shoes with wheels in the heel. My kids coveted heely's for months and months... finally at the end of the school year a couple years ago I suprised them with new Heely's. They took care of those shoes soo well, and had so much fun wheeling through Disney World, Chicago, the Miami airport on the way to Haiti, the zoo... never have we gotten so much fun out of a pair of shoes. I think they will always remember them, I really do. Sometimes you just gotta say yes!

Thanks for writing Heather... I look for new stuff everyday and hate when you go on vacation! : )

june said...

Yep. That's pretty much how I ended up buying "Cars" bedding after swearing that no Disney licenced products would cross my threshold. And yes, my son also got "light up shoes" at age 5... Hot Wheels ones no less. Sigh.

Sha Zam- said...

Light Up Shoes. (Shrug.) What are ya gonna do?

This post is on today's highlight 'real'.

Sarah @ Cozy.Cottage.Cute. said...

Oh man, now I want some light up shoes!

;)

Holli said...

I have learned I should never say never.

I used to say...
I will NEVER let my kids watch Wiggles.
I will never let my kids have dried milk etc on their face.
My kids will NEVER act like that!
And I never let them wear, character shirt, light up shoes or costumes out of the house.

then I became a parent!:)

HERE'S TO BEING A KID!