Studious feet

Here are the grubby soles of my elder son's feet, resting on the end of the sofa as he lies revising his Master's chemistry course. It's a while since I had a good look at them.

As new parents we quickly become familiar with every inch of our babies' bodies as we handle and tend them. A baby's untrodden feet are especially appealing: so small and soft and perfect. We treat them with the greatest care when we trim the tiny nails and protect them with those little cloth pouches that serve as infant footwear. Then there is the fun of choosing the first shoes and making sure they fit properly and look becoming. Later, there are scuffed school shoes to be flung off, disputes over what is and what isn't suitable and later still, we trip up over flotillas of enormous adolescent trainers. Then all that fades away, the children are grown and they make their own choices and purchases. Feet don't feature in our relationship with them any more!

Of course I still love these 25 year old feet that brought back all the memories.