shoes

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Dear Holly: Your New Indoor Scooter

10 years old!

Dear Holly,

Mommy and I have been spending some time still attempting to teach you to ride your bike, but now I realize maybe your heart just isn’t in it.

I say this because now that you finally got your scooter for your birthday, which you have been asking for a very long time, you ride it every single day… inside of our house.

Yeah, I might have had something to do with that…

For my birthday, just a few days before yours, I found the perfect pair of shoes… but then I just couldn’t bring myself to “ruin” them by wearing them outside of our house. So then I bought two more pairs in other colors, thinking I would use them as my “outside shoes” instead.

Nope. I now own three pairs of “indoor shoes” that I wear everyday, in rotation.

You’re simply learning from the example I am setting:

Get something special for your birthday that is clearly intended to take outside… and then use it everyday indoors instead.

Love,

Daddy

1 Comment Posted on fatherhood, parenting, songwriting, Storytelling, Uncategorized

Dear Jack: Your Homemade Rack for Your Nike Shoes

11 years, 11 months.

Dear Jack,

Your number one “collectible commodity” these days is Nike shoes. When our family went on vacation last week for Fall Break, you insisted we stop by the Nike outlet near Dollywood.

You found a pair of Air Flight’s for $30. It was quite a win.

When we got back home, you had the creative idea to use your Nike shoeboxes to build a shelf for your Nike shoes.

I imagine that in a few months, between your upcoming birthday and Christmas, you’ll get at least one more pair.

Therefore, I am expecting at least a triple “parking garage” for your Nike’s!

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: You Earned Money from Pet Sitting, Then Bought New Nike Shoes!

11 years, 9 months.

Dear Jack,

Last week, I drove you early each morning and later each afternoon to take care of your pet sitting duties in the next neighborhood over.

Your responsibilities included letting two dogs in and out of the house and checking on the two cats; as well as feeding them, along with the dozen or so fish in the aquarium.

Just like last time, you took your job extremely seriously. And you were paid well for your hard work!

Fortunately, your job payment was just in time for you to buy your new 6th grade shoes.

You are now the age where shoes are apparently a big deal- and very expensive.

But you didn’t complain at all, in learning that Mommy and I would pay for most of the expense of your new Nike shoes, but that you would have to take care of the rest.

You have asked me a couple of times now since, “Daddy, how can I get more pet sitting jobs?”

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: Your New Converse All Star Shoes, with Flames

9 years, 1 month.

Dear Jack,

You’re at the age where you are constantly wearing out your shoes, as well as outgrowing them.

For your “2nd half of 3rd grade” shoes, you decided it was time for a new pair of Chuck Taylors; like I have.

However, when we went to Kohl’s, we learned that Chuck Taylors are not made is size 4 for boys.

Instead, we had to buy you the slightly more cushioned upgrade:

Converse All Stars.

You got some really cool black ones with flames on the bottom.

And, they aren’t designed to lace up all the way, so they look extra cool!

Love,

Daddy

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The Benefits of Using Custom Running Shoe Orthotics 

Many runners will, through their lifetime, experience lower body issues. Only a small number of runners can perform perfect running patterns without custom orthotics as their feet are capable of properly absorbing shock. There is also overpronation which occurs when the arch flattens, which causes the foot to roll inwards. Underpronation, on the other hand, happens when your foot does not turn enough, or even at all. Both overpronation and underpronation can lead to your feet’s joints misaligning, leading to several issues like blisters, chronic pain, leg length discrepancies, and shin splints. Instead of enduring the pain while running and hoping that it does not get worse, why not try custom orthotics?  

Turn All Types of Running Shoes into Your Shoe  

Each custom orthotic is made by creating a plaster cast or 3D impression of each of your feet. As a result, the resulting orthotics fit your feet perfectly. While you could go ahead and buy the most expensive pair of running shoes in the world, you will still end up experiencing pain when running unless they’re crafted to fit for your feet only. Sneakers are generally designed to conform to everyone’s foot shape, and that is why they do not offer enough support. To find out more about getting custom orthotics designed for you visit the Orthotic Shop.  

Support in All the Right Places 

 As custom orthotics are designed for your feet only, your feet get support where they need it. If you were to purchase over the counter orthotics, you’d get support every time your feet hit the ground but won’t be evenly distributed to the areas of your feet where it is needed.   

Long Lifespan 

The over the counter orthotics you buy at a pharmacy can’t withstand the wear and tear placed on them as you run for a long time. It is also worth noting that most of them aren’t designed to last more than a couple of months. Custom orthotics, on the other hand, can last anywhere from two to five years. And the exciting thing is that you can have your custom orthotics refurbished to extend lifespan.  

Helps You Recover from Injury Faster  

If you have sustained running-related injuries, orthotics customized for your feet can help you recover much faster and back to running in no time. Since they are created based on the shape and contours of your feet, their design helps distribute weight more evenly on impact. For instance, if you are recovering from a broken toe, your orthotics can be designed in a way that the broken/injured toe doesn’t have to bear any of your weight, making it possible to run without experiencing any pain.