My kid's socks don't always match.

               I grew up with one of those mothers that would be more inclined to stay home for the day, than to let her children leave the house with mismatched socks. At 35 years old, I am still confused by the depth of this seemingly simple matter. Yet I find myself thinking about it every time I am folding the little's laundry. Since becoming a single father, obviously my role has changed and my gratitude for the little things has along with it. Whilst tackling the despised task of threaded maintenance, my goal is to make the "problem" go away as quickly as possible. Get it done, get it folded, put it away. Repeat.  Having a 3 year old that changes ever 45 minutes and a 6 year old that throws 4 pairs of pants on the floor to find the right one. I constantly find myself not really knowing what's actually dirty. It all ends up in the hamper and I start over again. But the matter of the socks always becomes my true nemesis. If not for my mother, would I really worry about it? Do I really need to spend the extra half hour it takes to try and match pairs? Or do I match the easy and obvious pairs and throw the rest in a dedicated bucket of foot gloves?



Spoiler alert: I match the easy and obvious pairs and throw the rest in a dedicated bucket of foot gloves.

                Why? Because it's my life and I do what I want. That's why. I certainly match my socks. A dedicated bucket of foot gloves for this dad does not exist. I'd rather stay home for the day than to leave the house with mismatched socks. How many times have you declined to go somewhere because you didn't want to put pants on? We all do it. But if I leave the house with socks that fail to mirror ones fellow, I legit allow it to bother me all day. Something tells me my children really don't care so I shouldn't have to.

Spoiler alert: The day my daughter complains about her socks not matching is the day she learns how to operate two very special machines in the garage.

             As a kid, this stuff didn't bother me. I just wanted to get the required items on my body to go outside as quick as I could. My kids are no different. So despite the astute training of my mother, I made the "difficult" decision to release that particular worry she had bestowed upon my potential parenting style. Life goes on and the day moves forward whether your socks match or not. Time doesn't stop so you can find the perfect pair. There are times when we are so far behind in the morning that I firmly tell a child. "Go to the sock bucket and find two socks.....literally any socks.....put them on your feet....followed by your shoes.....and get to the car." My youngest will often come back down the hallway with a purple glittery sock on one foot, and a pastel rainbow sock on the other. Guess how much I care. Zero much. That's how much. I won't be the dad that takes them out the door without a jacket or shoes. But the socks are not my concern. The older kid actually cares more than I let on. But only if whether or not her socks will be seen that day. But I tell you all of this to say something kind of important.

                What are the little things in life that we allow to have way more affect than we should? Do you ever think about this? I just spent a few paragraphs telling you about such a simple thing that could actually cause quite a dilemma. If I were to allow it. The problem here is that we often allow simple things to cripple us emotionally or raise our stress levels to unhealthy heights. You could be laughing about this topic in general. Or you could be giggling at my calling socks 'foot gloves.'

               Take a minute to think about the silliest things in your life that bother you. Why do they matter? Can you coherently do something about them? Do you allow it because it's the only way you know? Maybe its how you were taught? And the idea of changing someones education on the matter is too heavy for you? Life is beautiful, valuable, and never promised. My kid's teach me about myself everyday. Good things, and bad. Things I need to do more of, and things I need to change. I may not have time to match their socks pair by pair. But the time that I save and the happiness I gain by not worrying about it gives them more of me and a better version of me. That's just one tiny thing that you might think is crazy to think matters. Sometimes changing the smallest habits or tweaking the littlest part of your routine can change your world. You may even change someone else's and that is what we should strive for.

Worth mentioning: I still fear the wrath of my mothers opinion on mismatched socks. When I know my kids are going to be with her for a few days, I just buy them brand new socks and send them along. #Thinker

Be blessed and be loved.
Because you are.

-adam