I don’t remember much about learning to ride a bike. I’m not sure how old I was, but I do remember the house we lived in at the time. I don’t remember how long it took me to learn, but I remember vividly the pink hue of the bike and the fancy white banana seat. I can’t remember how many times I fell, but I do remember my Dad running beside me with his hand gripping the edge of said banana seat. I do know that eventually he let go and I learned how to ride the bike.
Letting go. . . the ongoing theme of parenthood.
We’ve been working with Charlie and his bike. I was perfectly content with him on his big wheel. . .
A day came, though, when we thought it was time for the training wheels to come off. It has been quite awhile since I learned how to ride a bike, so my thinking was how hard can it be?
At first Charlie was enthusiastic and ready to go. Once we started, though, it was a little tough. Balance was a foreign topic and paying attention to what was in front of him rather than the butterfly fluttering across his path was important. I quickly learned that my patience and understanding was slightly lacking nonexistent and Daddy was probably going to be the better teacher.
(Okay, so I’m not big on bribing kids, but in all honesty. . . it worked like a charm. I can admit it, I am not a perfect parent.)
Charlie has been asking for a razor scooter and we knew we would get him one, but were unsure when. Why not now? We bought the scooter, put it in the garage, and told him he could have it when he learned how to ride his bike.
Ta-da!
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This is the moment when he realized he was doing it all by himself.
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The process was not without it’s trails, but he was a champ. We celebrated him with lots of high fives, shouts of praise and a stolen hug here and there.
. . . and of course his much desired scooter.
The hardest part of raising a child is teaching them to ride bicycles. A shaky child on a bicycle for the
first time needs both support and freedom. The realization that this is what the child will always need can hit hard.
In fact, I love the process so much, we got Chanelle started. . .
. . . and I’m going to enjoy every second of it.
Oh goodness, the moment Charlie realized he was doing it on his own, I lost it. Crying. …and kept crying all the way through. Ah, kids growing up gets me. Love the quote though, so true and so tough to balance.
I love Charlie's shirt. Super cool.
I am looking forward to bike trips on the Holmes County Trail…..by the way…..love bribery! I am always open to it.
Yay Charlie! Caleb learned to ride without training wheels just this past spring. The look of pride on their little faces makes all the work worth it! 🙂
Love it! We bribe all the time. It mostly works.
Yay for Charlie!
I love the pics of the procession.
First of all, Charlie is sporting a pretty cool and very TRUE t shirt! 🙂
Congrats Charlie! His face was precious! Wow, you sure can take some great pics. You seem to catch all their expressions.
You go girl, Chanelle! You can do it! She seriously is so pretty. And she is so girly, love that!
The picture of Charlie when he "gets it" is AWESOME.
O I love the pic when he realized he was doing it! That is what God gave us children for. To love to keep safe to give them wings to fly bc they do and we need to be grateful they can. Bribery is good worked with my oldest and his bottle.