they're familiar. they're comfortable. they're Sam's shoes.

It was after a conversation with our sweet Dallas friends that I decided it was time to buy Sam a pair of shoes.  After all, we had planned to go clothes shopping for him the next day, so shoes were added to the list.

He's been wearing the pair that he had on, which are fine, but he's going to need more than one pair of shoes.  Right?  Kids grow out of things fast, and boys are rough on things, wearing clothes and shoes out easily.  Yes, he definitely needs another pair.  With these thoughts going through my mind, we start the hunt for shoes.  Our find yielded a simple pair that were easy to get on and off; not to mention they would be perfect for playing outside.  He was a trooper, trying them on in the store and waiting in line to hand them to the cashier.  Wow, what an easy shopping experience!

Then the bottom fell out when we got him home and tried to put them on him to go outside.  He was NOT having it.  No way were those shoes going on his feet.  Off he went to find HIS shoes.

The logical adult side of me was thinking, "Oh, it's just shoes; put them on already."  Thankfully, though, this was not my response to the little boy in front of me who was needing anything but logic at that moment.  What he needed was empathy and understanding.  He is in a completely different world where there are new sounds, smells, sights.  His clothes are different; most of the food he eats is different; his toys are different.  One of the only things that remains unchanged are his shoes.  How could I take this familiar comfort from him?  There's absolutely no way that I can do that.

So, walk on, Sam, in your tiny black shoes!  The new ones are ready for you whenever you're ready for them.

Let me just say that I'm glad he wasn't wearing heavy winter boots when he came home...the South is no place for winter boots during the Spring ;).