Like daughters, the sons also grow faster and some become even taller than you in no time. This is where you start missing your belongings and you feel extremely happy about it.
My teenage son had to go for a friend’s party, and he was getting ready for the same. He asked me how he was looking? Everything was perfect, I told him.
Suddenly, I went to check his shoes and I could sense that these shoes were similar to mine if not identical. I asked him about the shoes and he smiled – “Yes, they are bound to be identical since they are yours only.”
I didn’t know that he has been wearing my new shoes for quite few months. Suddenly there was a feeling of insecurity. My shoes fitting him only meant that my all shoes have become vulnerable now.
I asked him when did he find that my shoes would fit into your feet? He narrated me the whole incident.
He said – “One day I was placing all the shoes together in the house and while placing the shoes together, I found a brand-new pair of shoes, completely unused in your shoe-rack. I was excited to try the pair and immediately tried as well. Once my feet went inside, I accepted that the shoes were meant for me only. It was a perfect fit. This secret was kept well within the family members – meaning mother and sister only – so you were not told.”
His smile was more of a victory rather than being caught red-handed. No sorry and no thankyou either.
Everything was smartly done. My shoes were picked-up in my absence and placed back after use in the same position, same direction and same box.
All knew that I am very possessive about my shoes. They are well maintained and I keep them always at their place.
Seeing my son wearing might have triggered a feeling of losing a pair of shoes, but there was a deep sense of pride and happiness. I always had this desire to see my son putting his feet into my shoes, and since, he did now, it was a feeling that had no words. I was very happy inside.
Though I had lost one pair of shoes and he had added one into his collection, he was still wondering which one to try next. Since the secret was out, he wanted to try my other shoes also. I was more than eager to let him do that.
We all want to see our children grow and we forget that someday they would be taller than us. One day, we would be able to discuss with them all issues, family matters, future planning and long-term plans. One day we would be interacting like adults and would find them participating like mature advisers.
I share with my son a bonding of a friend. He observes more and speaks less. He has his strong liking and disliking but often adjusts. I don’t act like a father to him anymore, and he too doesn’t like me to father him all the time. Few things that you perhaps missed with your parents; you want to develop that with your children.
Now when I buy shirts or t-shirts, I ask him to try first. In the process, as he models for them, I have lost few, but that exactly makes me happy.
I know one day my shoes will not fit him anymore. He would be taller than me and he has to be. I am just waiting for that day, not to get my shoes back, but when he buys me a new pair of shoes.