The Boy is 10, soon to be 11, and he cannot tie his shoes.  We have tried over the years to show him how, but he’s just not interested.  And when he’s not interested, he’s not going to learn much.  For a long time, we resorted to Z-strap Skechers, which tended to last about 6-10 weeks before becoming so frayed at the seams, and looking so much older and worn than they really were.  Not my idea of a good investment.  Besides the Z-straps, there just aren’t too many velcro-closure-type shoes that aren’t geriatric in style.

And then my friend MaryBeth told me about Lock Laces.  Designed for runners, who cannot stop to re-tie laces in the middle of a race, and therefore need something they can rely on to keep their shoes on their feet, Lock Laces come in just about every color under the sun and are completely adjustable.  And they look cool.

I ordered some (so cheap!) and when they came, it took me about 5 minutes to put them on The Boy’s lace-up shoes.  Et Voilà! We no longer have to worry about a) tying his shoes, or b) tying them again 16 times a day.  Slip shoes on, adjust Lock Laces as necessary and… that’s it!  Yay!

Oh yeah, and they also sponsor the Special Olympics (I think I’m developing a crush on these things…).

Check ’em out.  Even if you don’t run, and even if you don’t have a child with motor skill issues, you may still want a pair for yourself, they are that cool.