Who knew tiny feet grew so fast?

He never complained, just let me shove those feet into hand-me-down shoes, got right up and went about his day. Watching him tackle milestone after milestone, I didn’t stop to think about what he was wearing while doing so. And then it hit me one day, as I jammed his left foot in unceremoniously… These shoes might be too small.

So off we went to a children’s shoe store, to get him sized properly. As it turned out, I had been stuffing size 7 feet into size 5 shoes. After guilt-purchasing two pairs of the best brands in the store, I spent the afternoon pondering my misstep.

I have learned a lot so far as a mother, but this lesson hit me hard. Because my only job, really, is to help him put his best foot forward, and here I was doing exactly the opposite. My only real responsibility is to raise my child to have a curious mind, a good heart, and two feet planted firmly on solid ground.

Already he is growing faster than I can keep up. What else am I failing to notice?

And now for the toast — with each day that I fasten those Stride-Rites, may I recommit to nurturing that boy from head to toe. May I watch him run, and fall, and pick himself back up, heading out into the world full speed ahead.