Ties

 Not the cloth round the neck nor connectedness.

Just simply tying one's shoes.

Imagine a kid who wouldn't tie shoes.

It was so bad his Mom got special clip on shoes.  So tying was avoided and not tying was indulged.

His brother got fed up with such indulgence.  He sat the kid on the couch and wouldn't let him up til he tied some shoes.

Kid tried to get up and bro shoved him back down.

The kid knew how.  He was just spoiled.

Bro knew that the kid would eventually suffer in years to come.  He knew there were things one has to do oneself.

Sweat broke out but the kid finally tied his shoes.

Bro just walked away.

That was that.

The kid can wear loafers and ties both -s-.

No clip ons.

Ties go beyond shoes.  

Knots and other attachments might follow.

And independence rises.