natural consequences to irrational footwear

a parents guide to letting your children learn the hard way

Footwear is important.

Footwear mediates our relationship with the earth beneath us.

At a barn it’s highly encouraged to wear leather boots.

This is especially important when loading 1200 pound animals onto a trailer. One misstep could result in a child with a broken foot.

There were several of my pals chirping at their children.

Why aren’t you wearing boots? Where are your boots? Be careful, you could get hurt.

My message?

Don’t be so greedy.

Stop fighting with your children.

You just don’t want to have to endure the pain in the arse involved in going to the hospital.

Let them win.

Let them wear whatever the fuck they want on their feet.

Let the horse step on their feet.

Nothing will remind them more to wear boots then missing a couple of horse shows with a broken foot.

When my son was three he refused to put on his boots on a slushy winter day.

Boots or no boots, when it came time to leave, I insisted we leave.

He was brave. He didn’t flinch when we waddled down the driveway.

He didn’t complain as we passed our own house.

Once we reached the end of the street though, the little man was in tears.

Back to the house we went.

Now, he’s a teen.

Now, when I suggest footwear, he tends to listen to my opinion - sometimes.

As a parent, you really don’t have to natter or discipline your kids.

Natural consequences are everywhere.

You don’t need to hit your kids.

The world will do it for you.

All you need to do as a parent is get out of the way.

They’ll learn

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