Learning To Ride

This actually took place last summer...B decided it was time to lose the training wheels! I think this was more of a big step for me than him! I was a nervous wreck. We decided to meet his dad at the high school parking lot up the road from our house. This was sort of a milestone in a kid's life and I didn't think it was fair that just one parent got to experience it. Anyway, since this was planned I had the helmet, elbow pads, and knee pads all ready to go. Yeah, yeah, safety first...but, man, does he look like a dork! I never had a helmet or pads...skinned elbows and bloodied knees was just part of it. I know, real damage can be done with head injuries, but we're talking riding four house lengths to the end of our road here. On the road with cars is a different story.

His dad started off running beside him and trying to teach him to get his balance. I stood by biting my nails. The better he got, the more I wanted to participate too. So I took off running on the other side cheering him on. Poor kid...his dad was throwing out pointers at the same time I was. It's a wonder he could even concentrate. But he did and in a matter of minutes he was riding by himself! He had his balance and would look straight ahead instead of at his feet and everything. Hadn't quite mastered turning yet, but what a great start!

One week later he was taking off down the street by himself (with me standing at the end of the drive way on car patrol) trying to pop wheelies. Honest. He did have one bad spill that resulted in a skinned knee.

Just between you and me, I thought he was going to be a wuss about the whole bike riding thing, but he proved me wrong!

I must be on a video kick, because here's another one. B's step mom is behind the camera. Thanks, A!