What a Difference a Sock Makes

Sissy Belle had a birthday party yesterday morning. Since the party was clear on the opposite side of town from our house, I dropped her off and took Miss Eden and The Boy to an indoor playground nearby called Lost in Fun. They were so excited—Eden especially since she doesn’t get the chance to do stuff like that very often being in school all day. The whole place actually grosses me out, but the kids burn off steam and climb and jump and run. I’ll take it. 

The main rule at Lost in Fun is that kids have to wear socks to play on the equipment. I’m totally cool with that. The one problem is this: they have a foam pit. If anyone has ever played in a foam pit you know that it basically sucks the socks right off your feet. Judah lost his sock first but after some digging we were able to find it pretty easily.

Then Eden lost her sock. We searched the pit. We dug and searched and searched and dug for the better part of 20 minutes. No sock to be found. Eden was really upset. She could see all the signs posted everywhere saying “Must wear socks to play” and “No Bare Feet” and I could just see the worry on her face. I tried to convince her that it was okay. That she could play with only one sock and if anyone said anything to her we could just tell them we lost one in the foam pit.

That lasted all of about four minutes. She climbed up onto one of the slide and tube areas and just sat at the top. When she did slide down the slide, she saw a Lost in Fun worker walking by and hid behind a piece of equipment. Always with that worried look on her face. Finally, she walked over to me.

“I’m too tired for this, Mom. I think we need to go.”

“We don’t have to go get Sissy yet. Are you sure you want to leave?”

“Yes. I’m too tired.”

“Do you think you might want to leave because you’re worried about having only one sock?”

“No, Mom. I just want to go.”

“Because I can go up to the counter and buy you a pair of socks.”

Silence. “You can?”

“Yes, babe. If you want to keep playing but you feel like you need another sock, I’d be happy to go up there and get you some. Is that what you want?”

“I don’t want to stop playing, Mom."

 

So up to the counter we went. And you know what? They had extra socks up there for just such a situation. Free of charge. Eden Mae practically lit up she was so relieved.

I see myself in Eden in times like that. There have been so many times that I have let something tiny ruin my mood or keep me from enjoying myself. I tiny spot on a shirt makes me self-conscious during a whole meeting. A zit on my chin makes church stressful, thinking everyone is looking at it. Ah, the drama I create for myself.

Mr. Bug didn’t understand right away when I was telling him about it. But I think so much of it goes back to understanding that littlethings are big to my Eden. All she knew was that she was breaking a rule, and it was making the whole experience too stressful to be enjoyable. Once she got that spare sock on her foot that girl was off and running and having fun again. I guess sometimes one sock is all you need. : )