Lucy in Bloom

I love me some Vinted!!

I just wish it really worked like that 😂

Take those babies to church 🤍

Folding laundry today and it was raining... For some odd reason, that combination triggered my mind to wander to something I'd long forgotten about, but now seems so much more significant than it did back then.

A few years ago, we had a placement of a 6 year old boy. He had 4 or 5 pairs of shoes, but insisted on wearing one particular pair every single day because his mom bought them for him. No biggie, I'm cool with whatever as long as their feet are covered with something appropriate for the weather. Probably not gonna allow anyone to get frostbite with flip flops in a snow storm, but otherwise, your choice, kid.

Anyway, one day his teacher messaged me and asked if he needed new shoes. I replied no, he has a few pairs at home plus the ones on his feet, and thanks for asking, but also WHY? 😅

Turns out, they'd played a game that day in class and she'd seen the bottom of his shoes. They had holes in them. This baby was walking around with holes in his shoes.

As soon as we got home from school, I asked him if I could see his shoes. He held his foot up and let me see them. I pointed out the hole (like I didn't know from his teacher) and asked if he knew it was there. He said he did. I asked why he didn't tell me that he needed new shoes. He said he didn't need any.

I was confused and just said, oh ok then. What should we do for dinner? And went in about our evening.

I wasn't sure in the moment how to handle the situation. I didn't want to hurt his feelings by insinuating that the shoes were torn up and needed to be replaced, but I also wasn't about to let him walk around with holes in the bottoms of his shoes. So I knew I needed to tread lightly and really think about it before I had a conversation with him so that I could handle the situation in the best way.

Later that night after everyone was in bed, I asked him to come talk to me. I told him that I didn't want his feet to get wet when it rained, so we probably needed to pick some new shoes. He asked me why? And I repeated that he had holes in his shoes, so he should probably wear some of the other ones that he had, or we could even go get him some new ones, identical to the ones he was wearing if that's what he wanted.

He had to think about it for a minute.

"Do you think we could get the same ones so my mom won't know?"

Of course! But why would you not want Mom to know? 🤔

Because, when she got me these shoes, she said "now I'll be wherever you are." And I don't want her to know they're not the same so she still thinks she's going with me. 🥹

😭😭😭 My heart just SHATTERED. This baby wasn't worried about the holes in his shoes, or that his feet would be wet, or that his socks might be dirty-- he was worried about his Mama.

I hugged that kid, and I let him know that we would get the exact same ones, and she's still be with him because she always was, even when he wasn't wearing those shoes. Mamas are always a part of their babies.

That was good enough for him in the moment, and we replaced those shoes the very next day. It was never brought up again, but it stays with me to this day, popping into my mind at the most random times.

The moral of the story is, don't assume you know something. Don't look at a situation and take it at face value. Slow down, ask questions, and take the time to really listen. Little things really do matter.

Kids in foster care have lost so much. If something so small means something to them, do your very best to help them keep holding on to it. They deserve that, no matter what their situation might be.

A little compassion and understanding goes a long way.

Have you ever had a similar situation with a little one? I'd love to hear your story, too 👇👇

You are enough 🤎