new shoes=new skill

As you know, the boys got their new school shoes last week.  When we got home, SJ was very excited to show his dad his new shoes.  My husband decided to give it a go with the shoe tying practice.  I had to run out to do some errands and I got a very pleasant surprise when I returned.

"Show Mom, SJ," said my husband.  SJ sat on the floor and very carefully tied his shoes.  They were super tight, but they were tied.  "That is awesome!" I exclaimed.  My husband was very proud of himself that he "taught" him to tie his shoes.

"So all the practicing I did with him this summer, that didn't count I guess?" I asked him.  "I am not saying that.  I just had a different method," he said.  Maybe his method was better, but it really doesn't matter.  What matters is that SJ can now tie his shoes!

His shoe choices are going to be so much greater now that he can tie his shoes.  We were limited to Sketchers (which are great shoes), but sometimes you want to get a different brand of shoe! (This is coming from a huge shoe lover!)

A few years ago, I thought he may never master this skill.  I thought he would still be wearing slip on or Velcro shoes when he was a 12th grader.  Does it really matter that he learned this important skill five years later than a typical child?  No, it doesn't.  I am just so proud that he finally could manage this on his own.  When you have a child on the spectrum, you are happy any time they master a skill.  If you could see my face now, you would see a very proud mom!