It's interesting that, in the prior post, I referenced childhood memories of my father running beside me as I learned to ride a bike, sans training wheels. Because I did that Saturday afternoon. (No, not learn to ride a bike without training wheels... this time I was the running father). At 4.5 years old, at their bequest, they gave it a try. The training wheels came off. And we are sincerely stunned at how well my son picked it up. I probably only ran beside him 3 or 4 times before he had it so down pat that he was making turns and eventually going in circles without any help. Within an hour, he was starting himself on the bike from a dead stop with no assistance. I've seen him smile, grin, and beam with delight in the past, but the pride on his face was priceless.
My daughter's picking it up as well, although not quite so quickly out of the gate. At first it was more like a ride for her to be pushed along without real effort, but we've gotten to the point where she can make it, typically, from one end of the back patio to the other, while I run behind to quickly assist when the persistent wobbling leads her into a wall or onto the grass. I think (read "hope") she'll continue to improve with a little more time and practice. I've even looked up a few tips on how to help them learn the balancing part, which I think will be useful for her.
I've written before about this "parenting pendulum"... that there are times that children test your patience and they'd be up on eBay were it not prohibited by law (as found out last November, but that's a whole different story), and there are other times that they have to wriggle free from your arms because you just don't want the hug to end and you can't imagine the average human heart would be capable of feeling as much love for them as you do at that moment. Today was a case of the latter.
03/18/08 : Day 2 : Takin' It To The Streets
Saturday was 'back yard proving ground' time. We took things to the next level on day two: We took it to the street. Using a couple of bright orange pylons to alert any drivers to proceed with caution, the kids took to the open road [well, about 4 or 5 house lengths of it, anyway] and continue to perfect their balancing skills. My daughter's learning curve has dramatically increased and she's now turning circles and navigating on her own, with only the 'starting by herself' hurdle yet to leap. My son, well, the boy's fearless.... so my grey hairs are coming in double-time now.
The image below is for posterity. The things strapped to their backs? My son wanted to take his stuffed bear along for a ride, strapped to his body with packing tape. My daughter followed suit.
