Shoelaces and Soft Moments

Shoelaces and Soft Moments

Most mornings before work, my mom ties my shoes for me. It’s not that I can’t tie them — I can — they just never seem to stay tied when I do it. They come undone before I even reach the front door. But when my mom ties them, somehow they stay perfect. I don’t know what she does exactly, but they hold tight.

She says I should just get slip-on shoes so she doesn’t have to keep doing it. Jokes that she’s been tying my shoes for 32 years, and it’s about time I handle it myself. I tell her she’s already invested this much time, why stop now?

Truth is, it’s not about the shoes. It’s about the moment. Those few minutes are just me and her. A small window of connection in a busy day. No one else. Just the two of us.

While she’s bent down tying my shoes, I usually pat her on the top of the head. She says she hates it, but I always catch a little smile. She knows I don’t like to be touched much — it’s a big deal for me. A small pat is me letting her in. Letting her know she matters. That I trust her.

"It’s not just about shoelaces. It’s about connection, care, and quiet love — the kind that’s tied into the ordinary."
— Chronicles of a Quiet Fighter

I don’t care if it makes me look silly or like a “goofball,” as my mom sometimes teases. I’ve got a whole lifetime of these soft little rituals tucked in my pocket. And I plan to keep them tied tight — just like those laces she does best.