I was given the opportunity to participate in a Stride Rite giveaway and review campaign and jumped on the chance to get a pair of shoes for my daughter, Brianna, who recently outgrew her only pair of “church shoes”. She’s hard to shop for because many of the dressy little girl shoes are too narrow for her wide feet – something I hope she doesn’t hate later. Funny how moms worry about that kind of thing for our kids, isn’t it?
Stride Rite’s Facebook Page is full of testimonials from parents who have trouble fitting their children properly in shoes, but have success with the flexible sizes available through Stride Rite. And they are hosting a giveaway! More about that at the end. We were encouraged to write about our children’s first steps. An easy thing to do for me because that’s ALL I’ve been thinking about lately.
Micah turned a year-old last week and is to that stage where he probably COULD walk on his own, but crawling is still easier. It’s had me thinking a lot about the symbolism there. It is easier for Micah to crawl. He’s good at it. He gets anywhere that he wants to go, regardless of whether there is support to catch him if he loses his balance. He gets crumbs off the floor if I haven’t swept up after Evan and Brianna in the last 20 minutes. He really has it made.
Why then is there this drive to change? Why do babies know what so many grown-ups have forgotten – risking the fall, letting go of the support and stepping out for yourself can bring a whole new world of possibilities.
Evan was already walking by this point. He’s always been ahead of the game physically – tall for his age, throwing like a “big boy”, climbing things he should NOT be able to climb on top of yet, etc.
Brianna wasn’t quite walking at a year old. She was so tiny and petite – still in 6 month clothing though perfectly healthy in every way. Just small, like I was growing up. Now she’s fast – almost as fast as Evan, but tends to trip and stumble over her own feet. I was glad to receive the Stride Rite shoes with the Sensory Response Technology (SRT) in the mail yesterday because I think they might help her increase her body awareness and equilibrium.
Meanwhile, Micah is teaching me yet again that my recent changes and “new steps” are definitely the right thing. As he stands and looks at me wondering if he dare to take a step, and I cheer him, “You can do it! You’ll love it! I know you can do this!” I am hearing the voices of my sister-bloggers around me…..”Angela, you can do it. You’re on the right track. Yes, a new site is scary but you’ll love it. I know this is your first conference to speak at but you’ll love it! Just wait until after you’ve taken those first steps!”
And so I, like Micah, am learning to let go of my easy support, and simple crawling. We’re both stepping out and learning to dust ourselves off along the way. Will you join us? What new steps are in store for you? And most importantly, are you willing to stand up and stop the comfortable crawling, in order to see the new world before you?
Enough rambling – on to the giveaway. Stride Rite is giving away 5 pairs of shoes, sizes 3-8 infant/toddler (including medium and wide). Each pair of these SRT shoes is valued at $50 retail. In order to enter please – easy as that!
Are the shoes worth it? Well I can tell you, when she put on her Stride Rite SRT shoes yesterday Brianna spent the rest of the evening jumping and running about. Usually this behavior would result in at least two or three stumbles, falls, pop knot or puffed lips and last night we didn’t have ANY accidents. She loved the new shoes so much she refused to take them off for bed time. She told me she was going to pray in her bed so that was like church and she needed her “new church shoes”. How adorable is that?
One of my favorite things to notice in life is how we keep learning the same lessons over and over and usually don't recognize it, LOL.
You have a terrific way of recognizing things, Angela!
(BTW – Brianna looks darling in her new shoes!)
Ohh. This is so appropriate.. My toddler has finally started walkin at 18 months and I've been scouring stores for shoes for her, since like Brianna, she too has wide feet which are also incredibly pudgy:-)
Anyways, hopefully will find something suitable in my part of the world..
P.S Brianna looks adorable, Angela!