The other day I heard a speaker use an analogy that caught my attention, but not for the reason he intended. Right now I can’t even recall why he was speaking of it, but he was speaking of doubleknotting his shoes. He told how that he has a pair of dress shoes that have laces that come undone easily. So when he wears these shoes he double knots them when he ties them up. He almost apologized for being a grown man that double-knots his shoes.

I always double-knot my tie-up shoes. I guess I just never got out of the habit. My mom always had us tie our laces twice. She was thinking of our safety and our appearance. There are some young men walking around that I wish someone had impressed upon them to tie their shoes in the first place. It just would make them look like they cared about themselves. Anyway, I guess I still tie my shoes in this way because no one ever told me to stop. When should I have stopped? I have had other adults harangue me about double-knotting my shoes.

This speaker’s apology and my friends’ joking make me wonder, what’s wrong with an adult double- knotting her shoes? At what point does it become okay to be less safe? Why does it become appropriate to trip just because you are an adult?

We make this switch in so many ways. The legal drinking age is twentyone. Why is it okay for an adult to get drunk, but not a child? Because the adult is more responsible when he is drunk? Responsible drunk – oxymoron. Not possible. We would be appalled and looking for DHR if we heard an eight year-old walking around daily cussing like a sailor. Yet, if an adult constantly spouts out filth and foul, it’s alright because – why? That baby puffing smoke circles on that David Letterman clip is horrible. And yet we puff on. I remember when our youngest son asked me, “When can I start going to the movies that have the bad stuff in them?” How do you answer that question?

When do you start letting your child do the bad stuff? Why do we do the bad stuff? Why does innocence and purity have to go away? Because, as some dude said the other day while explaining his bad habit, “That’s just what men do”? What we need are innocent, blameless adults who give an example of fun, happy living. Innocent adults – oxymoron, but very possible.

We are what we decide to be. Your life does not have to be filled with filth and foul. If you want a better life for your children, you may have to choose better friends. If you truly want to set a better example for your kids, you may have to reach way deep down and practice some self-control. If you don’t want to trip, then double-knot your shoes.

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