When traditional shoes overcome barefoot shoes

Let me tell you a story of resistance, almost like that of a gladiator in the arena, but on this occasion, the battlefield was the shoe shop and the gladiator, a father desperate for his son's wellbeing.

Yes, that was me, back in Easter 2011, fighting against traditional footwear as if they were monsters from another era.

When I cut the heel off my youngest son's shoes, when I went into a shoe shop and twisted the shoes as if I were wringing out a washcloth, when I ripped out the insole looking for what little space there was inside those narrow shoes.

That odyssey cost me more than money and time; it nearly cost me my marriage.

And I had to deal not only with my wife, but also with my mother-in-law, my brother-in-law and the comments of the townspeople.

How things have changed.

Now it's my wife who complains about narrow shoes, and sees minimalist shoes as normal and beautiful.

Since my "barefoot awakening", the only thing I've been looking for is respect for her feet.

To their shape.

To their movements.

To their function.

And those bad times where I had to deal with everyone and everything had a result.

My son's foot has always maintained its natural shape, with its straight and spaced toes, and what this entails for the rest of his body.

But another Easter week arrives and although the battle seemed to be won, there are still some small setbacks.

My son, now almost a teenager, sometimes prefers to go with the flow and put on those shoes I worked so hard to avoid.

I understand that it is not always easy to convince youngsters of the benefits of minimalist footwear, especially when they are influenced by trends and the opinions of their friends.

However, the important thing is that, as a parent, we have instilled in our children an awareness of the importance of respecting the anatomy of their feet.

And even if I don't like the narrowness, stiffness and heel of Castilian shoes, he likes to go like his friends.

That's it.

You might be there, on the other side of the screen, thinking:

"This guy, does he really think he's going to change the way I look at my son's shoes with a few words?"

And you're absolutely right. Because what difference does it make what I say?

At the end of the day, you and I both know that shoes are just the tip of the iceberg in the eternal struggle between parents and children to find a balance between what's cool and what's trendy.

Because it's not about shoes. It's about feet. It's about health. It's about respect for the anatomy that carries us around.

So, dear reader, if you find yourself in this battlefield between fashion and health, remember: sometimes, big changes start with a small step... or in this case, with a good pair of shoes.

Like those of the German brand: ZAQQ

Minimalist shoes with a design so clever that they trick the eye, appearing to have a heel without having one, perfect for those days when Easter tradition and style meet.

Not just for your kids, but for you. Because in the end, when you look back, you'll want to know that you did everything you could for them, even in something as small, but significant, as the footwear they choose.

Health starts with their feet.

Antonio Caballo