A few months ago Emma's teacher emailed me asking if we had a pair of sneakers we could send to school with Emma so she could participate in their gym class. First of all, Emma is 10 years old and she is autistic. (She is also the star of my blog, Emma's Hope Book.) Because of her many and varied sensory issues, Emma doesn't like wearing shoes, or socks, for that matter. But when she must, which is most of the time, she wears one of two types of shoes -- Uggs in the winter or Crocs during the summer. She has a couple of variations on this theme such as a pair of Ugg slip-ons that resemble black pumps (spring/fall) and some fake fur-lined Crocs (fall/winter), but as I said, Uggs or Crocs are the only two brands of shoes her feet have seen in recent years. So, no. We did not have sneakers to send into school. However, I decided to change that.
"Hey Em. Today after gymnastics I'm going to take you shoe shopping for a pair of sneakers." I smiled enthusiastically at her and winked at her older brother, Nic who muttered, "That's probably not such a great idea, Mom."
"Together," was Emma's reply.
"Yes, we are going to go together."
"We are going to go together, just you and me!" She pointed to herself when she said me and bounced up and down.
"Yes! That's right. Just you and me."
Later in the sporting goods store we first went upstairs where they have their snow boots, rain boots, hiking boots and rougher terrain shoes for children. I figured these might be an easier sell as most of them have velcro straps, which do not require tying shoelaces, something Emma cannot do yet, and besides, these looked more in keeping with some of the shoes she's agreed to wear in the past. "Hey Em. Do you like any of these?" I motioned with my hand in a sweeping gesture toward the wall with shoes.
"Really?" I was surprised by both her answer and her apparent enthusiasm. "Which do you like?"
"This one. I like this one." She reached up and grabbed the one pair of shoes they had that did not fall into the rough terrain, outdoor shoe category. In her hand was a pair of delicate, black pumps.
With a tiny leather bow on them with, what looked like, a fake pearl on each.
"You want to try on these?" I asked.
"Yes. I like these," she said, nodding her head.
First I had her try on at least a dozen pairs of traditional sneaker type shoes. I even took her downstairs where they have their running and gym shoes. Emma was terrific about trying on lots of different shoes, but each time she would say, "No, no, these are too tight!" or, "Too big, Mommy!" or, "No. I don't like these!" or, "No, no, no, no!"
Finally back upstairs, she tried on the black patent leather shoes. "Do you like these, Em?"
"Yes. I like them." And then just to be clear, she said, "I like these shoes, Mommy." She looked at me and beamed.
"Will you wear these if I buy them?"
For more on Emma's journey through a childhood of autism, go to: Emma's Hope Book
Emma's Hope Book has been nominated as a "Top Autism Blog"-- if you like it, please vote for it by clicking on the "like" button opposite Emma's Hope Book after opening this link.
For more by Ariane Zurcher, click here.
For more on autism, click here.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.