Riding Bikes

I've been pushing Ethan to ride a two wheeler for years.  Donovan learned almost two years ago (right, Marcy?) and I thought for sure Ethan's competitive edge would motivate him.  He tried for a few times, and actually did great in terms of balance, but he was so scared that he would brake every 2 feet and never got any momentum.  So the training wheels went back on that summer and he rode happily around the hood with his buddies.

Last summer when we moved back to Madison I took the trainers off again and refused to put them back on.  He tried again but was too scared/frustrated to really get into it.  Then began a silent duel over who would cave in first: pushy mom vs. terrified but able child.  No bikes were ridden.  No training wheels were bolted back on.  No one won.

Now Spring has arrived and Ethan wants to ride again.  This weekend I figured, hey, I'm maturing as a parent, no need to be so pushy.  Let's just loosen up and let the kid tell us when he's ready!  So, I said, "Sure thing, let's put those training wheels back on."  After an hour of searching through the basement and garage, we couldn't find them.  (But we sure had fun with the rollerblades, plastic easter eggs, sleeping bags and winter boots we did find.)  

J: Do you want to just try once without them?

E, nonchalantly: Sure 

So out he goes, snaps a helmet on and climbs onto his bike, trying to use gravity to get him rolling down our driveway.

E: Just push me to get started, but then let go right away.

I grab onto his seat, give him a little push and he starts yelling at me to let go, let go!  He rode right down the driveway, down the sidewalk, around the park, no problemo.

This is exactly how Ethan has learned so many things.  He is nervous at first and so easily frustrated when it doesn't go perfectly that he is totally unwilling to try for more than 30 seconds.  I push, he resists, we wait, then repeat.  And then, when he is good and ready, he just does it like it's no big deal. I love this kid and how he keeps on teaching me how to chill out and be patient.