I know we shouldn't have bought him all those velcro shoes.
I know I shouldn't have given up on trying to teach him the "rabbit in the tree" technique.
But seriously, he's eight years old. And this is the best he can do?
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| Kid C demonstrates the Gordian knot, which is often used to tie aircraft carriers to the dock. |
My pediatrician used to tell me - in reference to a pacifier addiction - "Don't worry about it! He'll lose it. How many first graders have you seen with a binkie?"
Does the same hold true with tying his shoes?
Will my kid be the only sixteen-year-old on the basketball court with a 3-D representation of String Theory on his foot?
Will the ref have to pause the game so Kid C's mom can rush down the stand to tie his shoes?
When is someone going to get on the ball and teach my kid how to tie his shoes?
I'm sorry... Did you just say I'm supposed to teach him?
I did not sign up for this. The thing is, I know how to tie my own shoes, but I don't know how to explain the technique except to say, "I know it when I see it."
That whole rabbit and the tree thing? I've never understood it. Bunny ears? I've never had the dexterity.
But something must be done. And it will be. When Sam gets home.
Isn't there a shoe-tying day-camp we can send him to? Why can't shoe-tying be learned from osmosis? Or just be a natural instinct?
Like they show on the nature channel.
"The baby seal is only a few hours old, and yet he slides over the ice like his elder siblings. Sensing he is not alone in this world, he instinctively knows to stay near his protective mother. By tomorrow, he will be hunting alongside her. And by Thursday, he will tie his shoe."
Is my kid alone on this?
After a solid year of effort, my almost-8-year-old has just about mastered the shoe-tying thing. Time [for Jerry] to start teaching the 6-year-old. :) As soon as they all get back from their vacations.
ReplyDeleteRobin- You have seen success! How about I send my kids up to your house?
ReplyDeleteI haven't even tried that with my 6-year old, yet. I did, however think he would be in college when he finally got potty trained. He was 4. Yep. Worst potty training child ever. Good luck with the shoe-tying! ;)
ReplyDeleteChantele- Hey! We're four-year-old potty trainers too! Everyone kept saying "Wait until he decides he's ready"... but if we had done that, he'd be in kindergarten with diapers.
ReplyDeleteWasn't your pediatrician your dad? =)
ReplyDeleteMarianne- Yes. But I didn't want to be all, "My dad says that..." And then other people would be all, "Why should we listen to her dad?" :)
ReplyDeleteso, i have found myself incapable of teaching my kids how to tie their shoes. what worked for us was to have another kid teach my oldest, and then she taught her brother and so on. kids make the best teachers when it comes to this, i'm convinced.
ReplyDeleteNope, your kid is not alone. Some things just come easier to some people. And it can be a challenge when the teacher is challenged in teaching. ;) I tried to teach my little sister (a south paw) how to crochet. I'm right handed. Didn't happen.
ReplyDeleteRachel- Excellent advice! Now off to go scope out kids at a park to watch for one who knows how to tie his shoes, and then I can steal him.
ReplyDeleteDonna- Maybe that's Kid C's problem! He's left-handed, but he doesn't know it yet?
I shall from here on out force him to do everything with his left hand. Thanks! (Although that might not have been your advice...)
I think we should just buy 30 shoes every month. Tie all of the shoes all at once, and then he can just force his foot into the new shoe each morning. At the end of the day, we either throw the shoe away or we we put it in storage for next month. This will then eliminate us having to tie his shoes every single day because we got it over with at the start of the month.
ReplyDeleteOr, we just bite the bullet and we spend 40 hours one week drilling him on how to tie his shoes.
If Kid C is really left-handed, I can teach it. Or, at least try. ;)
ReplyDeleteI meant him not it. I do recognize that Kid C is a boy, not a neutered boy.
ReplyDeleteSam- I like the 30-shoes-a-month idea better.
ReplyDeleteJenni- Ha ha! I figured you didn't mean "it". :)
"Will my kid be the only sixteen-year-old on the basketball court with a 3-D representation of String Theory on his foot?"
ReplyDeleteLOL! Ah, Brodi, you crack me up! I think I was ridiculously old before I learned to tie my shoes, or tell time, or basically do anything, so don't worry...or maybe you should. ;)
No, you're not alone. My 9 year old still takes so long to tie his shoes, that I usually end up doing it for him! I guess that's not really helping him get better.
ReplyDeleteNo success over her yet with the shoe-tying and we're starting first grade. Why is it so hard?? Like you, I can do my own, but I can't teach it. And I knew there was something about a bunny and a hole - but wha? That's mumbo-jumbo to me. Maybe we can sign up for a class. Or I liked this tactic:
ReplyDelete"But something must be done. And it will be. When Sam gets home." love love love your blog.
Our school district practices tough love. They make the kids learn to tie their shoes in Kindergarten. Actually, they just send home a note telling the parents that the kids need to learn to tie their shoes. And of course I passed that note on to my husband, because the teaching of shoe-tying is Dad's Job.
ReplyDeleteOur son got it figured out after a few rough days. But you better believe we bought him slip-on Vans as soon as he hit first grade. I doubt he remembers how to tie a shoe anymore. And I'm OK with that.
Let's just say this is a by-product of a different generation. Meg doesn't know how to tie shoes either. Yea, I have had a few thoughts about doing it; but if I wait a few minutes they pass by. If you find a day camp let me know. Or will Sam do it if I bribe him with food? I am just saying...I'd rather bake than get yelled at by a frustrated 7 year old.
ReplyDeleteJenny- I don't even remember learning to tie my shoes! My mom was much more on the ball than I am. :)
ReplyDeleteLaura- Me too. I have no patience waiting for him to do it himself! I just say, "Here, let me get it" about 20 times a day.
Cath- Maybe there's a YouTube instructional video on it! I'm going to check today.
Gypmar- Shoe-tying should be added as a traditional "rite of passage" between child and father. I need to go shopping for those Vans slip-ons. That really is a good idea.
Keersten- And I'd rather eat the result of your baking than teach my own kid. When should I come over? :)
Send him over and I will teach him, or maybe Zoe can do that, better yet Ezra could do it and pass off some scout requirement. By the way what are you doing over there.........are you cleaning?????
ReplyDeleteAmy- Why, I AM cleaning! How did you know? (By the way, your comment made me look out my window. ) :)
ReplyDeleteI know you too well! Scary.......isn't it!?!
ReplyDeleteMy kid is almost twelve and still can't say all the months of the year. He starts getting confused around August. There are no issues at play here besides the fact that he sees no reason to know all the months of the year. But yes, he can tie his shoes.
ReplyDeleteMelanie- Your kid has a point. Why learn the months when there are calendars everywhere?
ReplyDeleteDeny, deny, deny. Right? If God wanted us all to tie our shoes, he wouldn't have let someone invent Velcro. Or elastics with nubby holder-thingies on them.
ReplyDeleteAs long as you teach them the important things, like say how to sing "It's the end of the world as we know it (and I feel fine)" at age four and how to recognize "Highway to Hell" in 5 notes or less, it's all good! Also, make sure they can recognize the good live version of "Hotel California" by age 12, but don't tell them what a colita is. I'm just sayin'. The line between good and bad parenting is thin my friend!
Sal- Okay, you win comment of the week, my friend. Hilarious.
ReplyDeleteI am a mom who had the same problem with teaching my daughter to tie shoes. I developed a product that teaches shoe tying in minutes, direclty on the child's shoe. My website is www.loopeez.com.
ReplyDelete