Toddler Shoes and Playing “Spy”

This morning, on the way to school, Will said, “Mommy, if I learn to put my own shoes on, what will you do?”

Pause here. Let me just tell you that my morning was comprised of: A two-year-old tantrum over not wanting to wear the pants we had agreed upon the night before, me having to brush his teeth because he was too tired,  me not “brushing his tongue right,” making waffles, making snacks for school, letting him help make his smoothie and cleaning up the seriously pound of protein powder that was all over the floor, counter, every appliance, cord, electrical outlet… Having to change both of our clothes because they had so much powder ground into them. And this was all before 8 a.m. Let’s not forget the fight that then ensued over which shoes he would wear. (Why do I fight with him about this? Who cares….!! Fight the big fight, Kristy. Come on.)

But, as I’m hauling him the thirty minutes to school, after getting his car area, complete with blanket, just the way he likes it and handing him a “boogie wipe” that “isn’t cold enough” and a waffle that is “too crunchy,” I realize that my child thinks the only thing I do is put his shoes on. So, to clarify, I say, “You mean, like, what will my purpose on earth be if I don’t have to put your shoes on?”

“Yeah.”

Before I reply he says, “Well, you can still play ‘spy’ with me.” (As in “I spy something that starts with ‘t.'”)

Shew. At least we cleared that up. And then I guess that it’s a tree. And I’m right. And he’s so excited. And I’ve already forgotten about all the other stuff because he’s so, so stinking cute.

I wondered if Francie Nolan in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn would have ever thought all her mother did was put her shoes on. Probably not. Because Mary Rommelly, Katie’s mother, shared with her all of her best parenting advice, as her 18-year-old daughter was looking up, holding her baby, and panicking about how she was going to raise this baby, in poverty, with a husband who was at the bar and couldn’t hold down a job. One hundred and twenty years later, it might still be pretty good advice:

1. Read the two great books, Shakespeare and the Bible, every day.

2. Tell the fairy tales of the old country.

3. Teach the child to believe in Kris Kringle until the age of six, so that he or she can grow up with an imagination.

4. Children must suffer because it builds character.

5. The child must believe in heaven as a wondrous place where people might dream and their dreams come true.

6. Own a bit of land that the child can inherit.

7. Save five cents a day.

Number four is especially reassuring. I wouldn’t want Will to be scarred from that crunchy waffle and warm wipe…. I guess all of us, no matter who we are or where we’re from or what century we’re living in are trying to do our absolute best to raise these little people to be amazing adults. I think I’d better go call my mom now… And tell her “thank you.”

I hope you have a great day and a wonderful weekend!