Monday, June 16, 2008

Biking!!!

John and I have been somewhat frustrated at our lack of ability to get the kids biking without training wheels. We have asked ourselves many times "what are we doing wrong?" Last week, our neighbor boy, J, was up insisting that we bike. He is a very persistent young man and Savannah finally gave in to give it a try.

Last fall, we had taken the training wheels off and tried biking without them, but without success. So - I went through the task of putting the training wheels back on so they would be willing to try biking. Savannah tried first. You see, the training wheels don't go very well in chirt. I suggested that maybe we could just try without the training wheels and see how it goes. She agreed, and with a little help, lots of tips from J, and some determination, she TOOK OFF! Now, she is a biking fool going up and down the road as if she has been biking for years. Crazy!

Oh a side note - I laughed very hard at myself for this one ... I wanted to take a little video with my camera of her "first" bike ride. I did ... but shot the whole video vertically! I didn't even think about it until I went to watch it :) Must tilt head to watch it - I may just have to use it for a Wordless Wednesday for fun.


Hadden - oh, the Hadden. He is our "need-to-know-every-possible-thing-before-trying-it" boy. At first, he didn't even want to bike at all (my thought is because he is also a perfectionist, and J was here). I finally convinced him.
"Honey, can you 'test' out the training wheels for me so that I know if they are in the right spot?"
"Sure."
"Well, how about just taking it for a little spin to make sure they stay that way?"
"Sure."
"Well, how about we put your helmet on, just in case you might like to go a little further?"
"ok"

Again, the training wheels just don't really work in chirt, but he was determined so I let him have at it. He did eventually get too frustrated, so I convinced him to take them off. He is not quite able to bike on his own, but he is getting closer. I think I pulled a muscle in my sitting muscle and have a pretty sore back from running after him, but I have faith that he will get it soon ...


Here is a picture of J popping a wheelie.


Psalm 74:16-17 The day is yours, and yours also the night; you established the sun and moon. It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth; you made both summer and winter.

2 comments:

  1. All my girls learned to ride on dirt and gravel...by the way what is chirt? Never heard of it before...They have hardly ever even ridden on anything paved. Just like your daughter when mine were ready they just took off with it. When my youngest was about 3 1/2 to 4 she kept asking to be taught how to ride a bike. We kept saying, "soon very soon you will be ready"..she was so persistant and kept asking we kept giving the same answer. Then one day I looked out the window and there she was riding her sister's bike. She gave up on us and taught herself..we thought she was too little. Boy were we wrong! I hope your children are having fun riding around. It is nice when you don't have cars to worry about in their riding area!
    Enjoy their smiles! Kim

    ReplyDelete
  2. You are a very clever Mom!!!
    Susan

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