I kept thinking we’d be able to knock out a bunch of childhood milestones during the pandemic. But it turns out that parenting while working full-time without access to any of the usual supports is a wee bit exhausting?
Anyhoo.
A few months ago, when one kiddo finally expressed some interest in ditching the training wheels, I declined to take any action and the moment passed. So we’ve been going far, far too long with training wheels. Long after either needed them. So one afternoon a couple weeks ago, I had My Better Half officially remove the training wheels and we brought both kids out front for a spin.
Lo and behold they both got it mostly on the first try.
And now, Kid Two just can’t get enough. Let’s ride to the school! Let’s ride around the parking lot! Let’s ride to the canal! Let’s! Keep! Going!
Today I had a lovely ride with him, where he led me on “his route” and I just followed. Down our street, to the school, past the little park, up to the canal path, down the canal path, and back.
Dear Reader, I was just in the zone. It’s pure bliss watching him explore and grow and become braver and more self-assured, and physically capable.
Trailing behind him slowly, I could just bask in his perfect idyllic childhood moment. His rainbow shirt, and his rainbow pants. His turquoise helmet, and bright shiny new blue bike. His wobbliness. I could just feel him growing more steady – both on his bike and as a growing kiddo.
I wish I could have filmed it from behind so you, too, could relive it from my perfect point of view. But I’m not skilled enough to bike AND whip out my phone to video, especially while riding slowly. Instead, I’ll share this still from another day and place.
It also strikes me as a fitting metaphor – as on flat and empty stretches, he’s increasingly leaving me in the dust behind him, pedaling as fast as he can, without a care as to where I might be. I suppose that’s about what parenting is about, isn’t it? Raising them to be independent….which, in turn, means that we parents will get left in the dust someday. A little too soon, I suspect.