Socks With Holes
As a young boy I remember my father coming home from work and sitting on the couch with his shoes off revealing large holes in his socks. I found it humorous that my father wore socks with holes, exposing his calloused heels. At the time I was too young to realize the economic factors that were probably in play, as opposed to assuming that he made some bizarre style choice.
Now I am the father of two young boys and have found myself at times having to wear socks with holes. For me this has become multi-layered. This isn’t just a simple sacrifice a father makes for the benefit of his children, but also a reflection of our current economic system and the acknowledgement of the depressing reality that I cannot provide a better life for my children than my parents were able to give me. Neither of my parents were college educated, but as a young husband and father my father was still able to purchase a home and support a family on a single income. My wife and I both have jobs and multiple degrees, yet we are buried in student loan debt and will never be able to afford a home. There are times when I wear socks with holes, and my sons have pointed and joked at my toes sticking out, and I smile along with them, hoping that their children will never have to see their feet poking through holes in their socks.
