It turns out all that stuff they tell you about sensible shoes is totally true
So, so, so. Today has been so… SO.
I don’t want to get too into it because it’s his medical info and all of that, but because it’s also tied up in the large portion of my day that left me completely frazzled and stressed out, I’ll talk about it. Kind of. Let’s just say that Jasper has been going to physical therapy (this was his second time) because he’s been walking around on his tip-toes and the Achilles Tendon in his right foot is super tight (the left is somewhat tight), and as a result his hamstrings, calves, and hips are tight.
We’re not sure how/when/why this happened, and only really noticed it in the last two months, when Jasper started running around barefoot a lot more. This could be related to being born two months early (it’s kind of surprising how prematurity can randomly pop up as a cause for something two years later, but it still happens) or it could just be something he does. My sister ran around on her tip-toes all the time, but I’m not sure if my parents ever had it investigated. Regardless, we did, and here’s where we are: thirty minute weekly sessions that usually stress us both out.
Jasper’s in the phase where he doesn’t want to do something unless he thinks it’s his idea. I both appreciate this and can’t stand it — I appreciate that he thinks of things to do and likes to have agency. I can’t stand that he’ll get mad at me when things don’t go his way, and I don’t want him to develop a sense of entitlement. This is especially important to me because he’s an only child and won’t have siblings to keep him in check — it’s all on us. I think this is the kind of thing you don’t really realize you’re supposed to be on top of as a parent when you have one child. What I mean is… since he’s our only kid, I think it’s easier to not realize we’re letting him dictate things to us, basically. Especially when it’s one-on-one, because there’s not anyone else to be like “HEY THAT’S NOT FAIR.”
Or that could totally just be me.
Anyway…so after his session we were on a mission to find shoes that are actually supportive, hence the title of this post. Right now Jasper has two or three pairs of super cheap (like $5 or less) foam sandals and a pair of black velcro Converse because they’re cute. It turns out all of these shoes SUCK (his therapist was much nicer about it), so I went to a shoe store and asked the sales dude a lot of questions about supportive shoes. I was about to buy one pair but the guy kept trying to get me to buy a pair that was double the price (the only difference was the design, as far as I could tell), so I got flustered and left. We went to another store where I found two pairs for less than the one I was originally going to buy…so we win.
Minus this whole tip-toe walking thing. We totally win.
In between all of this we had to run like three more errands in actual pouring rain (when we walked outside this morning Jasper said “buckets of rain!” like the song, and I audibly awwed at him). We ended up eating lunch out because Jasper looked out the window and pointed at a bread place, saying “Mama, eat there!” and I was like.. sure. Let’s do it. Between trying to wrap up wedding editing (goal: two weddings by Thursday and I’m FINISHED until September) and not getting nearly enough sleep (due to said weddings and their editing), this week has kind of been an emotional roller coaster. And by “kind of” I mean it totally has been, complete with teary-eyed breakdowns (from me) for each weekday so far.
I’d like off, but it’s only Tuesday.
I don’t want to get too into it because it’s his medical info and all of that, but because it’s also tied up in the large portion of my day that left me completely frazzled and stressed out, I’ll talk about it. Kind of. Let’s just say that Jasper has been going to physical therapy (this was his second time) because he’s been walking around on his tip-toes and the Achilles Tendon in his right foot is super tight (the left is somewhat tight), and as a result his hamstrings, calves, and hips are tight.
We’re not sure how/when/why this happened, and only really noticed it in the last two months, when Jasper started running around barefoot a lot more. This could be related to being born two months early (it’s kind of surprising how prematurity can randomly pop up as a cause for something two years later, but it still happens) or it could just be something he does. My sister ran around on her tip-toes all the time, but I’m not sure if my parents ever had it investigated. Regardless, we did, and here’s where we are: thirty minute weekly sessions that usually stress us both out.
Jasper’s in the phase where he doesn’t want to do something unless he thinks it’s his idea. I both appreciate this and can’t stand it — I appreciate that he thinks of things to do and likes to have agency. I can’t stand that he’ll get mad at me when things don’t go his way, and I don’t want him to develop a sense of entitlement. This is especially important to me because he’s an only child and won’t have siblings to keep him in check — it’s all on us. I think this is the kind of thing you don’t really realize you’re supposed to be on top of as a parent when you have one child. What I mean is… since he’s our only kid, I think it’s easier to not realize we’re letting him dictate things to us, basically. Especially when it’s one-on-one, because there’s not anyone else to be like “HEY THAT’S NOT FAIR.”
Or that could totally just be me.
Anyway…so after his session we were on a mission to find shoes that are actually supportive, hence the title of this post. Right now Jasper has two or three pairs of super cheap (like $5 or less) foam sandals and a pair of black velcro Converse because they’re cute. It turns out all of these shoes SUCK (his therapist was much nicer about it), so I went to a shoe store and asked the sales dude a lot of questions about supportive shoes. I was about to buy one pair but the guy kept trying to get me to buy a pair that was double the price (the only difference was the design, as far as I could tell), so I got flustered and left. We went to another store where I found two pairs for less than the one I was originally going to buy…so we win.
Minus this whole tip-toe walking thing. We totally win.
In between all of this we had to run like three more errands in actual pouring rain (when we walked outside this morning Jasper said “buckets of rain!” like the song, and I audibly awwed at him). We ended up eating lunch out because Jasper looked out the window and pointed at a bread place, saying “Mama, eat there!” and I was like.. sure. Let’s do it. Between trying to wrap up wedding editing (goal: two weddings by Thursday and I’m FINISHED until September) and not getting nearly enough sleep (due to said weddings and their editing), this week has kind of been an emotional roller coaster. And by “kind of” I mean it totally has been, complete with teary-eyed breakdowns (from me) for each weekday so far.
I’d like off, but it’s only Tuesday.
