Yesterday afternoon Archer took off for a ride around the block. Shelly asked if she could go with him but I told her no. The little wooden coaster bike is just too small for her. She can't keep up with him, she can't go very far on it because she's not comfortable, no you can't go. I told her when she can ride a regular two wheeler then maybe she can go. Someday. Tears in her eyes, slouched over and defeated, she asked, "When can I learn?" I suggested this weekend. Three days away. "Can I learn now?" I couldn't deny her. I dropped everything else, it can wait. Shelly can't.
We went outside, I set up the playpen for E to watch from a safe distance and we brought the bike out to the street. No training wheels. All or nothing. The two wheeler. The little wooden bike lay in the grass and Shelly climbed onto her $2 garage sale pink bike, spurred on by her desire not to be left behind. Courageously gazing down the street, she listend to my instruction. Its just like the wooden bike, Shelly, push with your feet till you're coasting then put your feet up on the pedals. And NO KIDDING within seconds she was RIDING that big two wheeler down the street! She got about ten feet away and stopped, hopped off that bike and started screaming and jumping up and down like I've never seen her do before! Of course, I was screaming too, clapping my hands for her and she ran to me for a big hug and NOW she's a two wheeler girl! More screaming, high fives, celebrating, and the entire neighborhood got to witness Shelly's graduation to her big bike. On a 70 degree day in March you just can't be holed up inside and so we all watched as Shelly practiced up and down the street, getting the hang of turning and stopping and not a single wipeout.
The question this afternoon, I'm sure, will come... "Mom, can I go around the block with Archer?" And I'm so proud and happy to say that today, the answer can be yes, go!
1 comment:
Yeah Shell!! great job!!
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