I knock their socks off

When I unzip my suitcase, I feel thankful my boys don’t surround me chanting, “What did you bring me?! What did you bring me?!” Instead, they have started asking, “Did you get me some socks? Did you find me any cool socks?!” This may seem like a strange question, but they ask it for a good reason.

My schedule can get pretty packed when I’m traveling, leaving no time for shopping for a treat for my kids, but I inevitably find myself waiting around airports with long layovers. To pass the time I wander through the shops and think about how many neck pillows are needed on the planet. I also look for socks. Yes, socks.

I found the perfect gift for my boys is a simple pair of socks. Well, actually, the ones I choose are anything but simple. I select socks decorated with the name of the state I’m in, the state bird, the local sports team, native plant, or famous attraction. The socks themselves are usually detailed and decorative, but the idea of arriving home with a pair of special socks seems simple to me. And my boys love them.

Socks from around the world

This tradition began years ago when our family traveled all over the state when we had a friend visit us from Australia. He stayed with us for a month and we took him on a journey of over three thousand miles. We covered a lot of ground and had limited space in our car for souvenirs. Socks quickly became the perfect solution. It seemed everywhere we travelled had a specialized pair of socks for a good price. We got socks from Yosemite, Disneyland, San Francisco, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Santa Barbara, and the San Diego Zoo. Every time our boys wore them, they remembered the great time we had together and the places we visited.

Now I gather socks for my three sons every time I go out of town and even grab some for my husband as well. Each time the boys wear the socks we talk about where I went and they know I thought of them while I was there. Sometimes when I travel, my youngest son wears socks from my other trips and thinks of me while I’m gone (at least that’s what his daddy tells me and I love to think it’s true!)

Another bonus with the socks: they easily fit into my suitcase or even my purse, no matter how much I have crammed my belongings inside to ensure I only have a carry-on sized bag. I love having this tradition with my family every time we take a trip or even when I travel without them.  It turns out socks on your feel have the ability to warm your soul.

When Eileen Calandro is grounded in reality, she is the Chief Mom Connector of Mom Central. You can read about her race-car driving and other adventures on her own blog at calandroclan.com and connect with her on twitter as @MomCentralChat and @calandro5.

Eileen Calandro