I was running in and out of the office, meeting after meeting. My feet were killing me because I had been wearing high-heels all day long. I was dreaming of the clock to hit 5pm so I could go home and put my feet up for a minute.
In the corporate world, I had a few different pairs of shoes. I had black heels for my black suit. Blue heels for my blue suit. Brown heels for my brown suit. Red heels for a pop of color. And my heaven-sent ballet flats that I kept under my desk for walking around the office when I didn’t have clients around.
I loved my job. I loved my co-workers. I loved my company. AND of course… I loved my shoes.
After many years as a Sales Manager, the time came for me to hang up my suit and put on my yoga pants. To put away my heels and put on my slippers. To put away my curling iron and put on the mom bun. And to say goodbye to a steady paycheck and hello to my dream job that didn’t pay me with money, but something even better… all of the hugs, cuddles and loves I could ever ask for!
The other day I was cleaning out my closet – something you would think a stay-at-home mom would be able to stay on top of, but doesn’t. At least THIS mom doesn’t. 🙂 I was throwing out the old and putting in the new, when I noticed my shoes.
To the right I noticed the black heels. The blue heels. The red heels. Even the flats, that I use to wear around the office. All of which, were a little dusty. I must have not even touched them in months.
And to my left were eleven pairs of shoes that were a little tattered and a little torn, discolored and falling apart. I sat in my closet and looked at these pairs of shoes compared to my clean heels tucked away in the back. And although these shoes weren’t as pretty or kept-up… they were special to me.
The heels said the story of business-woman, success, money, fun co-workers, meetings, contracts and emails. But these mom shoes said the story of mom, wife, sister, daughter, friend, service, happiness, teacher and love.
I lined up the shoes and realized these were the shoes that were most important in my life. And quickly realized that EVERY mom has a pair of shoes that are important.
In fact, these are 11 significant stories your mom shoes share:
1. BLACK SANDALS: These are the shoes that were worn to every doctor’s appointment, every ultrasound, every surgery and every test. Through every failed fertility treatment to the final successful one, these shoes saw it all. They saw my tears when I walked in the door after finding out that once again, a treatment had failed. They heard me yell, “I will never be a mom.” They felt me fall to the ground and pray for strength. And they saw me literally WEAP of happiness, when I saw our miracle’s heartbeat for the first time on the little ultrasound screen.
2. MOCCASIN SLIPPERS: These are the shoes that were worn as I walked into the hospital to deliver our baby. They are the shoes that remind me that miracles happen. They are the shoes that I wore as I got wheeled out of the hospital, barely being able to walk from a difficult labor and c-section. They are the shoes that welcomed my three-day old baby into our humble home and the shoes I wore as I rocked my baby to sleep.
3. COMBAT BOOTS: These are the shoes that were worn on hard days. The days that I never thought would come, because let’s face it – I was going to be the best mom in the world and would be flawless! 🙂 But I was wrong. Hard days come. REALLY hard days come. These are the shoes that I wore when I was ready to give up and needed someone to come save me. These are the shoes that saw me struggling to keep a clean onesie on my baby, went to doctor’s offices when my toddler was sick and saw the frustration, hardship and trials that come with motherhood.
4. WHITE CHUCKS: These are the shoes that were worn on good days. The days that I felt like super-mom and was on top of the world. These were the shoes that saw playdates and successes. Clean houses, four hour naps and my favorite show at night. These are the days of giggles and cuddles. And these shoes made me feel confident.
Photo from CoEd Review
5. GRAY FLATS: These are the shoes that have seen tears. A baby’s tears because they were hungry. A toddler’s tears because they fell down. And maybe even my tears, because I was sad. But these shoes helped pick me up and carry on. These are the shoes that helped me realized that bad things can happen, but they can’t bring me down. These are the shoes that gave me courage and strength, to know that all of us can do hard things.
6. TOMS: These are the shoes that have seen play time. They have seen me put my phone away and unplug from the world for a minute and just PLAY. They have seen paint get splattered and play-dough fall on the floor. They have seen sticky bubbles, chalk break, stickers everywhere and crayons galore. These shoes have seen piles of barbies, lego towers and princess dress-ups. They have heard belly laughs, make-believe conversations and songs sang at the top of our lungs.
Photo from weheartit.com
7. TENNIS SHOES: These are the shoes that have seen the outdoors. They have been to the gym, to try to stay healthy for my family. They have been on runs around the neighborhood to get some fresh air. They have pushed a baby in a stroller and a toddler in a wagon. They have been to the park, the pool and ran errands.
8. HOUSE SLIPPERS: These are the shoes that have seen sticky floors, piles of laundry and dishes stacked up to the ceiling. They have made hundreds of meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. They have served friends who needed help. They have made cookies for neighbors and babysat friend’s kids. They have cleaned the same room five times in one day and then cleaned it three more times the next day.
9. HIGH HEELS/PUMPS: These are the shoes that have seen date nights and girls nights – because every mom needs a little break. These are the shoes that have seen a nice restaurant or maybe the movie theater. They have seen me fall more in love and hold my husband’s hand. They have seen true friends and real smiles. They love to be worn and I like to wear them too.
Photo from Miss Dress
10. RAIN BOOTS: These are the shoes that have seen it rain, maybe even pour – BUT have taught me how to dance in the rain. They have taught me how to have a good time and to try to stay positive. They have been the boots I throw on when I need extra protection, but am ready to face a new day as a mom.
11. FLIP-FLOPS OR THE EASY GO-TO SHOE: These are the shoes that have seen the real ME. Or, for all moms, they have seen the real YOU! They are the shoes that go with everything, so you wear them almost daily. They have seen you at your highest of highs and lowest of lows. They have seen you smile. They have seen you laugh. They have seen you want to be better. They have seen you become better. They have heard you say, “I love you” and have heard others say “I love you” back. And they are the shoes that have kept you going and reminded you that you are blessed. Because you are a MOM. And that is the biggest blessing you could ask for.
Now look at your mom shoes – what do they look like? What story do they tell? Where have they been? And what have they seen?
Ratted and torn, stained and dirty, with holes and maybe even the soles coming out – our mom shoes tell a story. A story of giving. A story of thinking of others before ourselves. A story of happiness we can’t even describe. A story of hard days and good days. A story of success and triumphs. And most importantly, a story of unfailing love.
So go out there – and ROCK those mom shoes! They are definitely something to be proud of.
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Danielle is the owner of Today's the Best Day. She strives to provide creative and uplifting content in order to enrich the parenting experience for women everywhere. Danielle hopes to help you and your family to make every day the best day! 
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