One pedal at a time

A week and a half ago the little girl two doors down learned to ride her bike.  It was so much fun, Sunshine and I were outside and I was helping her and as we watched, she started pedaling a little further each time.  Next thing we knew, she was riding her bike.


It wasn't a surprise then when Sunshine asked to have her training wheels taken off of her bike 2 days later.  She had them off during the summer but was either not ready or just frustrated.  When she cried that she wanted them back on I said fine, riding your bike isn't something that needs or should be an argument.  Well we took them off and this time I said this is it, I'm not going to keep taking them off and on.  I stood outside with her and tried to help her with the basics, pushing off, pedaling and not going super slow, look up, etc.  She was very frustrated and I was apparently at fault.  I left her alone with her bike and came back out every so often.  The progress was definitely slow but she was determined.


The next day, back outside she went.  Practice, practice, practice.  I went out again and was helping her.  The 2 little girls 2 doors down were also helping her.  Nothing is as sweet as an 8 and 6 year old trying to help a 5 year old ride a bike.  Patience and positive peer pressure are always on their side.  She was getting about 3 or 4 full pedals and then nothing.


The next day I promised her I would bring her bike with me when I went to the bus stop.  In the 3 houses from the stop to our house she figured it out.  All of a sudden everything just fell into line; she sat up straight, looked up, gave a big push and strong pedal and got that other foot up in time.  I saw her from behind and how she straightened her back.  It was so exciting, I was so proud and she was as well.  It's one of those moments that I'm happy I was able to witness.

Vicky