• Make a contribution
  • Get the Print Edition
  • Sign up for our daily newsletter
Sunday, October 19, 2025
  • Login
Reading Today Online
  • HOME
  • YOUR AREA
    • All
    • Caversham
    • Central Reading
    • East Reading
    • Katesgrove
    • Reading
    • Southcote & Coley
    • Tilehurst & Norcot
    • Whitley

    Scouts battle for international Jamboree selection

    Royal Philharmonic Orchestra brings benchmark music-making and inclusive concerts to Reading in 2025–26

    Starbucks closes after a year at retail park in Reading

    Arrest made after woman left in serious condition following fail to stop road traffic collision in Reading

    Ella hits hat-trick for Sumas

    Reading planning round-up: Promotion continues for 209 flats development near town centre

    Reading councillors welcome Palestinian statehood and roadmap to peace

    Reading to receive over £1M in funding to help tackle homelessness

    Reading Buses driver shortlisted for top national award in bus sector

  • COMMUNITY
  • READING FC
  • SPORT
    • All
    • Basketball
    • Football
    • Rugby

    Reading FC: Noel Hunt confirms injury for Joel Pereira

    Pressure remains on Hunt as Reading FC stay in League One relegation zone after defeat

    Ella hits hat-trick for Sumas

    Reading RFC President Yasmin Miller honoured as a pioneer of Women’s Rugby

    Reynolds has mixed emotions as Rams earn home success over Birmingham Moseley

    Fitness concerns over Joel Pereira as Reading FC recall goalkeeper

    Wareham issues message to Reading FC fans after ‘hate and abuse’ during game

    Britain’s richest raceday descends on Ascot: A chance to see the world’s best flat horses at QIPCO British Champions day

    Reading FC: Time for a change or keep the faith?

  • ENTERTAINMENT
    • ARTS
    • READING FESTIVAL
    • READING PRIDE
    • WOKINGHAM FESTIVAL
  • READING FESTIVAL
  • PRIDE OF READING
  • JOBS
  • MORE…
    • ADVERTISE
    • CONTACT US
No Result
View All Result
Reading Today Online
No Result
View All Result
Home Featured

Honest Motherhood: One step at a time

Angela Garwood by Angela Garwood
Saturday, February 12, 2022 6:11 am
in Featured, Opinion, Wokingham
A A
baby shoes

A milestone moment: buying the first pair of shoes Picture: Pixabay

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

It’s official, our darling boy is walking at last. (Not that we’ve been impatient or anything…)

He’s still adorably hesitant and it only takes a brief gust of wind to knock him over, but his steps are frequent enough that we felt it was time to acquire the adequate footwear.

I think Joel was more excited than I was to buy Leo’s first pair of shoes. (Probably because I’m eight years more accustomed to the ludicrous cost of children’s footwear.)

“We’ll have to wait till Saturday, I want to be there. We have to take photos,” he says.

I was quietly delighted, we differ on many things but documenting the children’s milestones is not one of them. I just didn’t realise a first-shoe purchase was a milestone.

We went along and Leo wriggled and whined on Joel’s lap as the shop assistant attempted to take his measurements. This wasn’t the happy photo we were imagining but I snapped away anyway.

Related posts

Scouts battle for international Jamboree selection

Debate lingers over Berkshire joining forces with Swindon council leaders

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra brings benchmark music-making and inclusive concerts to Reading in 2025–26

Starbucks closes after a year at retail park in Reading

When the shoes were finally on, it appeared our boy had forgotten how to move. What were these strange things attached to his feet? What was the need for them?

He took a few wobbly steps sustaining a look of deep concentration. A lot of frowning. This was serious stuff.

“He er, walks a bit differently at home,” I said, picturing him happily tottering up and down our kitchen with a tad more haste.

It didn’t take long, and a minute later he had his usual toddle back. I made about four videos.

£58 later (we bought two pairs) we left Clarks feeling simultaneously triumphant and hard done by. I believe the trainers I was wearing at the time were cheaper than my son’s new shoes.

I was going to make sure he wore these daily.

Keen to test out the new investments, we walked from Clarks all the way to GAIL’s. This took approximately 28 minutes. I’ve never paid so much attention to the pavement. Or to the pace and location of other pedestrians. I’m now forever fearful he’s going to be knocked over.

“I wish the ground was made of mattress,” I muttered to Joel as we comforted a tearful Leo after a fall.

Still fearful but equally excited by this new phase, I decided it’d be fun for us to walk from the car to collect Maia from school, a short journey I’d normally do with Leo in his pushchair.

It is not, in fact, a short journey for an 18-month-old. It is a very very long journey.

When it soon became clear this was not going to be particularly efficient, I scooped him up and carried him the rest of the way. (This was not well received.)

Thankfully Maia still enjoys seeing Leo walk, so when the rest of the school had vacated the area, (you wouldn’t have known it was a school day) we took our time meandering back to the car. Meander being the key word.

Because, of course, toddlers don’t follow the path. Explorers by nature, they want to go where they’ve never been, where the masses might avoid. Like the driveways and front gardens of strangers.

“No Leo that’s not our car… Not our lawn… NO LEO!”

Maia was admirably patient holding Leo’s hand and cautiously accompanying him at snail pace. She giggled as he took us off into yet another driveway and we attempted to guide him back.

“Come on Leo… this way,” She repeated.

As I put her to bed that night, I asked what her favourite part of the day was.

“Seeing Leo walking,” she replied without hesitation, as if the answer was obvious.

“Mine too,” I said.

Seeing the two of them walking together, hand in hand, really was the best thing.

Angela blogs at The Colourful Kind

Keep up to date by signing up for our daily newsletter

We don’t spam we only send our newsletter to people who have requested it.

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Previous Post

Thames Valley Police opens £100,000 funding for community groups

Next Post

Vegetable Soups with Toppers

FOLLOW US

POPULAR STORIES

  • ‘We should have signed him’: Former Reading FC loanee hits hat-trick for new club

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Wareham issues message to Reading FC fans after ‘hate and abuse’ during game

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Reading FC keep long-standing league record after Liverpool lose at Crystal Palace

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Former Reading FC player retires from professional football

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • ‘It’s flattering’: Gareth Ainsworth reacts to Reading FC links

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

RDG.Today – which is a Social Enterprise – provides Reading Borough with free, independent news coverage.

If you are able, please support our work

Click Here to Support RDG.Today

ABOUT US

Reading Today is dedicated to providing news online across the whole of the Borough of Reading. It is a Social Enterprise, existing to support the various communities in Reading Borough.

CONTACT US

news@wokinghampaper.co.uk

Reading Today Logo

Keep up to date with our daily newsletter

We don’t spam we only send our newsletter to people that have subscribed

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

The Wokingham Paper Ltd publications are regulated by IPSO – the Independent Press Standards Organisation.
If you have a complaint about a  The Wokingham Paper Ltd  publication in print or online, you should, in the first instance, contact the publication concerned, email: editor@wokingham.today, or telephone: 0118 327 2662. If it is not resolved to your satisfaction, you should contact IPSO by telephone: 0300 123 2220, or visit its website: www.ipso.co.uk. Members of the public are welcome to contact IPSO at any time if they are not sure how to proceed, or need advice on how to frame a complaint.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • HOME
  • MY AREA
    • Central Reading
    • East Reading
    • Bracknell
    • Calcot
    • Caversham
    • Crowthorne
    • Earley
  • COMMUNITY
  • SPORT
    • Reading FC
    • Football
    • Rugby
    • Basketball
  • ENTERTAINMENT
    • ARTS
    • READING PRIDE
    • WOKINGHAM FESTIVAL
  • READING FESTIVAL
  • PRIDE OF READING
  • OBITUARIES
  • JOBS
  • ADVERTISE
  • CONTACT US
  • SUPPORT US
  • SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER
  • WHERE TO GET THE PRINT EDITION

© 2021 - The Wokingham Paper Ltd - All Right Reserved.