I have the best job in the world. It’s fun. It’s exciting. And most of all… it’s rewarding. I get to be a part of the lives of hundreds of families every day.
I see their everyday interactions. The good… the mundane… and the struggles. One of these such simple struggles that I see is… “The Great Shoe Process.”
Anyone with kids knows about “The Great Shoe Process.” It begins with “Get your shoes on?” Meanders into “Please get your shoes on,” with a helping of “Shoes, please?” And ends up at, “How long does it take for you to get your shoes on?!”
While the process is similar for everyone, what I’ve noticed is that the style in which the process is handled does vary from family to family. Some parents take action and get the shoes ready for feet implantation. Others are back seat drivers, calling out directions from afar. While some parents simply give up and put the shoes on their kids themselves. I have actually seen a parent put Velcro sneakers on an 11 year-old while he texted on his iPhone!
As hard as it is, we have to let our kids do things for themselves. We have to let them struggle… seek answers… and make things happen.
Speaking from experience, I let my son cut up my steak dinner the other night. A few minutes later I watched my dinner slide off the table onto the carpet. Seeing my dog eat my dinner was not what I wanted… at all. I knew however, that when I let my son cut my steak this might occur. Why? Because my son was learning and chances are it wouldn’t go perfectly. But I knew him having the opportunity to fail would only help him learn.
Letting your kids flounder through “The Great Shoe Process” might be frustrating. And yes, probably turn a few of your hairs grey. But in the long run, your kids will learn so much by being allowed to fail. They’ll figure out time management. How to solve problems. And most importantly… how to accomplish things on their own.
Sometimes you have to cut shoe strings and let the kids struggle. They will be stronger (and you saner) for it.
