No Training Wheels

At nap time yesterday we hit a bucket list item.  I wish I had taken a picture of Lew helping him in some way (I have a picture of my dad teaching me to ride a bike) but I wasn't there.  I stayed with the littles and they rode off to the park, training wheels on.

He rode back a bit taller, a bit older, and a teeny bit wobbly.

He was so proud of himself.  A little at a time he's noticed his friends taking their training wheels off. But he was nervous about doing it.  I'd ask if we should take them off and he'd say "not yet."  I knew this was going to be a parenting decision and we'd just have to rip off the band aid, otherwise he'd give up the bike before trying the scary new thing.  And we could have done it months ago - but weekends are short and this was something Dad needed to do.  He of the deeper patience and with two parents around to watch the littles.

Lew called me as they rode back home.

"You should come outside."  So I ran to the front door and I saw him turn the corner and he rode past me, such a proud smile on his face.  He then swerved into the grass and toppled over, but he ran over to me ...

I got it on the first try!  I got it right away!

And again, he was so proud.

His Dad is really good at stuff.  Like lots of stuff.  You don't need to tell him, he knows.  But he is really good at empowering the kids.  He had G ride with the training wheels on to the park, a wrench in his pocket.  Then he had G take off his own training wheels.  He took videos (because I demanded them) and it is pretty cool to see a nervous G turning the wrench and taking them off.  He was so excited.  And then he got up on his bike and he rode for 30 seconds before he toppled over.

And Dad turned that into ... You got it on the first try!

And done.  Armed with confidence he tried over and over again and he got it pretty good.  He needs to practice but now that he knows he can do it (and did) he's ready.

And he's riding taller, and he wanted to ride by his friends house (who was outside) so she could see him on his bike without the trainers.

This is a big milestone for him, in my mind.  This is like the close of his little kid status and in a few months he'll be ready to ride his bike solo to his friends houses.  Next year he'll be ready to ride his bike to school alone.  It's the opening door of childhood independence.

Proud of him.