I remember seeing this short story (supposedly written by Ernest Hemingway) a few times on the Internet, and it was always with a tragic tone. The interpretations mostly implied a loss that necessitated the sale.
However, being a parent has given me a new perspective on the story, and I have a few (not tragic) reasons for the sale.
1. Babies seem to sprout like weeds. You tell yourself you’re saving an outfit for the weekend, but they outgrow it by Thursday without any care for your feelings or pocket.
2. People love to gift babies things which is great, but couple that with not asking the parents what they need, then the parents end up with multiples that they have to put up for sale.
3. Some parents don’t want their babies wearing shoes till a certain age because they are concerned about any negative effect on the child’s development. If you gift one of such parents baby shoes, well they just might end up on an ad somewhere.
Our perspectives are not static. As we go through life, we collect experiences that constantly shape our perception. Just because we see things one way does not mean that it’s the absolute truth.
Context is always king.
differentshadesofbrown 