MPW.65 / 2013 Soles, Sons, and Salvation by Codi Mills
Photographer
Codi Mills Vallecito, Calif.

Team Chapnick

Story Summary

Richard Ishmael has worked with shoes long enough to know that repairing each shoe needs its own solution.

At the age of 57, Richard has discovered that there is no one way to raise every child.

He has a total of five children, ages ranging from 4 to 35, but has taken the lead in raising his 4-year-old son Isaiah. Richard ended up with full custody of Isaiah after his mother went into rehab for a pain medication addiction.

Keeping track of an active 4-year-old is still difficult for Richard, even though his business is across from his home. One of the challenges of raising Isaiah is the boyís inability to express himself clearly through speech. Richard has tried coaching Isaiah on his speech, but there is still work to be done.

After 37 years of mastering leatherwork and shoe repair, Richard must find a way to walk the line between being a father and a businessman.