Parenting Shoes

The other day I was looking for pictures of shoes and I found this "pair" of shoes. There is so much that can be said about this picture!

These are called parenting shoes - or shoes for a child and his parent.

Before you have children, you didn't even know these shoes existed. You didn't know how they'd feel. You've never seen them before. But when your feet first slide into these shoes, you are amazed how comfortable they are. Then you slide in your child's little feet on the other side, and you are amazed at how wonderful it feels. You never want to take them off.

Everywhere you go, you can feel the tiny little toes wiggling around and there is a certain "extra" comfort in that. You know where your child is and what they're doing. You can take care of them. You are close enough to know when something is wrong and you're right there to mend a heart, wipe a tear and whisper I love you.

Then, one day, before you even know it, your child's feet grow too big to fit into the little shoe. They slide their foot out and get their own shoes - ones that just their feet fit into. You walk along beside them, but its just not the same. You can't feel the wiggle of their toes.

Looking back, you realize how blessed you are to have worn those shoes, even for the short period of time that you do. You are glad that your children have grown up and are able to wear their own shoes. But I have to admit - I miss how those shoes felt on my feet.