Dorothy can still wear her red shoes .

Girls who are coming into the teenager years are truly special . The passage through these years requires love , time , listening , non-reaction and simply being available . Last night while tucking my daughter in bed I realized she had forgotten who she is . As girls grow up and mature , many think they must lose their fun-loving free spirit . Maybe they think it won't work for them in high school . Maybe over the summer they focused too much on being in a different school . Maybe they thought being a freshman mean't they needed a fresh start . Whatever . As i spent a few precious minutes with my daughter , I reminded her of first grade . When she was given a pair of red sparkle , Wizard of Oz , Dorothy shoes . They were her to the tee . This pair of shoes stayed on her feet until her toes could no longer squeeze into them without great pain . I became known as the mom of the girl with the red sparkle shoes . I encouraged my daughter to revisit her red shoe days of carefree , fun , sunny times , where hearts can fly and minds can develope crystals of all colors . As I remembered these times with her , I also remembered the most important thing of all . The sparkle from her spirit and personality bounced OFF of the shoes . The world hadn't been mean to her , yet . Classmates hadn't burdened her with cruelty . The only weight she carried was her backpack . So..... I suggested she picture herself in those shoes . Reclaim the innocence of being sunny , seeing the good , smiling through the clouds , accepting the people and things she can't change and when things seem hard.....click those heels together and hold that chin up . That sparkle will rise up from her heart and bounce off the lockers in the hallway . It will shine alittle light on someone who needs it . She will make a new friend and the old ones will remember why they need her friendship . Growing up is never easy , but remembering how you started down the yellow brick road will help lead you to the right place and a pair of red shoes never could hurt .