More About Shoes

Since my last post I've been on a roller coaster.  Two days after getting those darn shoes on her feet in 30 seconds, I spent 20 minutes one morning trying to get her shoe on that left foot.  I cried all day, convinced that her feet are just a mess.  (It didn't help that things have been a little stressful at work...)

When I picked her up from Steve's aunt that day, she had managed to get the shoes on, but said the left one had been a little bit of a struggle.  I was just beside myself again.

At daycare the next day I told Evelyn's teacher what had happened at the shoe store, and asked her to watch her walk for me a little today to see if she noticed anything.  She didn't even have to think about it, she said that she had just noticed a little turn in the week before.  She was also very reassuring in that it's not uncommon, it generally corrects itself.  Ugh.  Another day spent on the verge of tears.

Steve and I spent days watching Evelyn's walking and came to the conclusion that her foot is definitely turned in.  He did what he always does with any kind of ailment, and WebMD-ed it.  I did what I always do...call my mom.  Steve's research reinforced what Evelyn's teacher said, that the turned in feet are very common in infants/toddlers, and it often corrects itself.  My mom was reassuring, too, but reminded me of my awesome insurance, and said if I was really upset about it, call the doctor and take her in if they want to see her.  I've calmed down a little, and haven't made the phone call yet.  I may wait for her 15 month appointment.

Since last week, some days I can get her shoes on no sweat, others are a little harder.  If I struggle, I put them aside for a while and try again later.  I've discovered a few things.  The socks make a difference.  They need to be very fitted.  Often the day after she's worn them for a while, it is harder to get them on (is it possible her feet swell??).

To finish off, Steve and I took Evelyn into DSW last weekend because we needed to look for some shoes ourselves.  Evelyn acted like she's been shopping for shoes for years.

She knew exactly what section to go for!

And loved checking herself out in the mirror!

New Shoes

Something happened yesterday that I am having a hard time getting over.  My little walker is in need of actual walking shoes.  So, after our play date at the mall playground with Evelyn's BFF, we rolled on over to Stride Rite.

I wasn't too keen on going to this Stride Rite because I had been there once before and ended up with a pair of shoes I couldn't even get Evelyn's foot into, even after watching the woman "try" them on her and pointing out to her that her foot didn't seem to be sitting totally flat in the shoe.  She assured me that it was just the way the boot appeared, that her foot was in them fine, etc, etc.  Needless to say, I had to take that pair back.

So, I wasn't too happy when I walked in and the only person there working was the same woman who sold me the shoes that didn't fit my kid.  (I guess I could have refused to buy the shoes when I didn't think they fit, but that's beside the point.  The point is that I had already predetermined that I didn't like this sales lady.)

We started looking at the walking shoes, she sized Evelyn, and I picked out a pair to try on.  As the woman was trying to get the shoes on Evelyn's feet, it seemed to me to take way longer than was necessary to put shoes on a one year old, especially a one year old who was actually sitting relatively still for a few minutes.  It was when she was trying to get the second shoe on that things really went downhill for me.  She got the shoe on and then turned to me and said, "Just so you know, her left foot is turned in quite a bit.  You should really mention it to the pediatrician.  I'm sure it's fine and will straighten itself out, but you should still let them know."  And I just didn't even know what to do, what to say, what to think.  There was a big part of me that just wanted to leave, but I didn't even know how to go about getting the shoes off Evelyn's feet and back in the box with some kind of plausible excuse for why I didn't need them anymore.

So I tried to come up with something.  "Is it normal for it to take that long to put the shoes on?  If they fit shouldn't they go on a little easier?"

"Well, she's not used to shoes, so she is tensing up her feet and curling her toes, plus it doesn't help that the one is turned in.  That can make it harder to get shoes on."

THERE IT WAS AGAIN!  Oh my gosh.  What is wrong with her feet?  So in my new state of heightened anxiety, I rushed to pay for the shoes (which took a ridiculously long time because the computer froze and I had to make small talk with this woman who I was really angry with).  I couldn't even really enjoy the hysterical way Evelyn was doing high knee steps around the store with her new shoes on.  She wanted to walk everywhere in her new shoes, it was pretty adorable.  She wore them to Kohl's today and had a ball stomping around the whole store waving to each new person she found.

Unfortunately for me, since yesterday I have been watching her feet like a crazed person.  I am now convinced that a woman with no medical degree whatsoever has diagnosed my child with some kind of foot deformity.  I'm really trying to let it go, especially after it took me about 2 seconds to get the shoes on her feet today.  Tense, turned in feet my...foot.

2014

I've been experiencing writer's block.  I have sat down to write a few times with ideas in my head but nothing ends up coming out.  I've also been contemplating switching my blog over to a different website, so I've kind of been holding off on posting so I have less to transfer if I make the move.  I was so focused on the computer last night Steve even asked me if I was posting.  (I was working on Evelyn's first year photobook.)

I think the reason I have been struggling to post is because for some reason I feel like I need to post about the new year and how it relates to being a parent and post all of my great resolutions for how to be a better parent, blah, blah, blah.  There is no real reason for me to think this way other than it popped in my head and now won't leave.

Here's what I have to say about New Year's Resolutions...I think they are dumb.  Total personal opinion.  I 100% support anyone who makes a resolution, if there is a way I can help you, I will.  I just feel like the whole resolution thing just makes me realize all of the things I am supposed to be doing anyway to be a better person.  I get overwhelmed trying to decide what to focus on and I undoubtedly get mad at myself when I fail to keep my resolution 2 weeks into the new year.  Perhaps I just don't have the will power needed to succeed when it comes to a resolution.

I have come to a decision, though, in light of the beginning of 2014.  2013 was really the year of Evelyn.  I was (am still) learning how to be a parent, then I was (am still) learning how to be a parent who works.  It was a great year being her mom.  But something dawned on me the other day as I was whining to my mom and sister about how I didn't want to buy anything at the fabric store because I don't have time for sewing.  I have entered the stage of parenting where I need to put my needs on the same level as her needs.  I think every new parents go through this, but I am starting to realize that the only thing really getting in my way these days is me.  There is time in every day that I can spend on myself, I just have to manage that time better and know what I want to do with it.  I took out a sewing project yesterday and felt very accomplished.  I read every day over Christmas break, and it felt great.  I am going to get back into a workout schedule (having nothing to do with the new year...I just want to start working out again because I feel better when I do!).  I can still do that, and get done all of things I need to do, too, if I just remove the things I am doing that are unnecessary.  Like checking Facebook every 5 minutes.  It hasn't changed...and if it has, it will still be there later.

So I guess I just made a New Year's Resolution (ugh!).  I'm going to make 2014 the year of me, and to do that I need to become a better time manager.  And it's going to make me a better mom down the road.  And I guess I just accomplished what I thought I needed to do in my first post of 2014.  I wrote about New Year's resolutions, and how making one will make me a better parent in the long run.