The Sock Ladies

It is really cold here in Ohio.

Like freezing cold.

Cold enough that most people wear socks, boots, hats, gloves, etc.

Except, I hardly ever put socks on my little guy and it drives the Sock Ladies raving mad.

You know who the Sock Ladies are right?

As a mom you have probably encountered a few of them yourself. You might even have one your two in your family.

These are the sweet little old ladies that come up to your baby in the grocery store or at the park, grab his squishy little tootsies and the kindly admonish you for not having socks (or shoes) on his feet. They give you the “poor silly Mom, you must not know any better” look while cupping his chubby little feet as if to protect them from the elements.

I try to respond with the but He doth protest socks excuse but they are having no part of it. I exclaim that he takes them off and we lose them or worse he shoves them in his tiny little mouth and chokes but they are still firm in their concern and belief system.

I try to explain further about how he is learning to crawl and that he needs to use those cute little toes for traction.

Nope. Not having it.

The Sock Ladies are steadfast in their belief of cotton foot covers. It’s like their religion.

Today, I brought little man to church, sans socks. He was snuggled in to a fuzzy blanket. Cozy and warm . I dropped him off in the nursery. It’s the perfect room for his backwards scoot-roll maneuvering. It is also filled with 5 rocking chairs and the sweetest grey haired volunteers you have ever met. One for each chair. They are professional baby holders extraordinaire.

[You know where this story is going right?]

After service, I picked him up, gathered the other two offspring and headed out the door. Buckled him into his car seat and we were on our way. I have one of those mirrors that allows me to keep an eye on the little guy. He was practicing his yoga moves (he’s quite the contortionist) and that is when I noticed it…

HE HAD SOCKS ON.

And not just little baby booty socks. These were tan tube socks that went all the way up his chubby calf. He had managed to twist his leg so that he had pulled a quarter of it off and was gnawing on part while simultaneously gleefully squealing, tugging and kicking the other leg.

I did a little double take.

I couldn’t believe it. The Sock Ladies had actually commandeered some baby socks and put them on him. I have to wonder if they had secretly been holding them in their purse or folded in their Bibles, just waiting for the chance to bestow them onto some tiny unexpected bare baby feet. These ladies are like sock ninjas.

As I watched him try his best to get the sock off, I had to chuckle a bit because it isn’t every day the Sock Ladies win the sock wars.

Well played Sock Ladies. Well Played.

Have you ever been asked where your baby’s socks or hat is? Do you have a Sock Lady in your life?