My four year old son has a catchphrase of sorts, that he says mostly when his parents are attempting to correct him: I like it how I like it.
The phrase originated when he was first learning how to put on his shoes all by himself. We’d often notice that he performed this task incorrectly, that his shoes were on the wrong feet. When we pointed this out to him, he’d cross his arms over his chest and proclaim: I like it how I like it.
I like to imagine this phrase spoken by a large man with a thick mustache and an Italian accent, handling a cigar in one hand, the other arm gesturing furiously. But sometimes a four year old really can put things into perspective. Don’t we all, at the end of the day, simply like it how we like it?
I have this pair of goldenrod clogs. They are a bold, proud, statement shoe. They have a chunky, stacked heel and are referred to in this house as my dinosaur shoes.
I love them. They are the only thing I asked for this Christmas. My husband hates them but because he is who he is bought them for me anyway. Even my mom, who generally supports my fashion choices, was caught off guard. When she first saw them, and each consecutive time after that, she’d scoff: those shoes are ridiculous!
I’ve only ever worn them around the house for two reasons. One, because clogs aren’t super conducive to Chicago winters. And two, I haven’t felt brave enough to venture outside with them on my feet. But yesterday, I looked down at those clod-hoppers and thought, your time has come my friends—we’re going outside!
And wouldn’t you know it… not one, not two, not three, but four people stopped me to compliment my insanely large and bright shoes, and two of them were complete strangers! After the first two compliments my responses were something like, really, you like these?! Everyone I know tells me they’re ridiculous. I get made fun of, relentlessly, for wearing them. And this includes my four year old, who upon seeing them for the first time laughed out loud and pointed. But when I got that third compliment, I knew it was time to bask in the light and glory of my choices. Thank you, I responded, I like them too.
And so, I want everyone reading this to remember something. It’s okay to like it how you like it, to like what you like. You never know who might like it too!
