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I am a slacker. I have an 8 yo Pirate who has never been on a bike. Not because we don’t have bikes. We have more bikes than children, I think.
If you’ve been reading here very long, you will be familiar with my position on blood. Especially blood that has recently been inside of MY children. Your children’s blood ooks me out too, just not the way my children’s does. And this is the excuse for the slacking on bike riding lessons.
I know it’s just an excuse. But, I’m the Mama and if I tell ‘em they’re not big enough to do something, they’re gonna obey. And I decided that The Squid and The Princess aren’t big enough to bleed in front of me, so no bike riding, yet.
Well, Mary at Owlhaven has the distinction of inspiring me twice in as many weeks.
First, she started all of this 30 Days of Nuthin’, which, by the way, I’m already a little tired of, but I’ll get over it.
Second, she has, just today, led me to read a post/comment at Antique Mommy about a new-fangled way to teach the little powder monkeys how to ride a bike. Well, new to me, anyway.
And it sounded so logical and the weather is so fine today that we – brace yourselves – went.out.doors to try it out. Oh, the children go outdoors all the time, but I have been indoors for the last four months. Ummm, Texas, Summer, heat, ummm, no thanks.
There have been occasional forays out back to hang laundry, but that doesn’t count, that’s work. This was purely voluntary, and since it’s only 73° out today, we had FUN.
And while The Princess didn’t learn the whole job in one day, I am happy, pleased and very PROUD to announce that THE SQUID CAN DO IT. He went from never having been on a bike (that I’m aware of) in his life, to hollering over his shoulder as he rode off down the street, “Mama! I’M DOIN’ IT!!!!”
What a happy day! We had to stop so I could come in and post about it prepare lunch and in the process of putting all the bikes away he asked me, “Mama, can we come back out after lunch and do it for the rest of the day?” Ummmm, a whole day of P.E.? “I guess so, Little Man, as long as it doesn’t get hot later.”
And I am also very pleased to report that there were no skint knees or bonked heads AT ALL. Who ever heard of a pirate learning to ride a bike without blood coming out of him, at least once? That has to be a record, we should call Guinness.
No related posts.
Yeah, I’m feelin’ the same thing about The Squid. The Princess is so independent, but The Squid, he’s got my number. So, now, watching him zoom up and down the street with the “big boys”… He’s so happy, and he was exhausted last night as I’m sure he will be tonight.
I have never taught any of my kids how to ride bikes. It’s a sad thing in my mind, but not a big deal to the kids at all.
See, Daddy taught our oldest how to ride (I think I took pictures of that event). Then oldest taught next child down. That child taught next child down…and on and on. It wasn’t like a plan or anything – they just did it. Weirdos!
Then, a couple of months ago, my barely-5-year old taught himself. It took him 10 minutes. He went outside, and decided he wanted to learn how. So with NO HELP WHATSOEVER (and no sentimental mama to take photos), he gutted (that doesn’t infer blood) his way through the process and is now adept at the skill.
That was amazing to me. It made me look at the little guy who, up until that moment, was still my “toddler”, as much more intriguing than before. I wonder what this says about him – is he BRILLIANT? MOTIVATED? A LONER? hm…
woohoo!! Go tell Antique Mommy too, ok?
Mary
I think that’s true of so many skills we have to learn, tying shoes, going potty, reading, and obviously, riding bikes.
I suppose it must be that later better than early thing they all say works for school too?! Congratulate the Squid for all of us.