Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Weekly Winners: On the Road Again

I've written in this space before about the ups & the downs of teaching a child how to drive. Well, here is the genesis of that story: I couldn't even go near my kid and her bicycle, for fear of World War 3 errupting.

She was 6; I was a little older. I know, I was the adult, but still a young adult. My position was that Mommy Knew Best-about everything, including getting the training wheels off and going for a solo spin.

College Girl was having none of that hoo-haw. She was gonna ride when she felt like riding. And her Mommy wasn't going to be part of that equation.

One weekend, CG asked her Dad to take the training wheels off. Then she asked for a push. KER-PLOP! She fell on the driveway, and skinned her knee.

I made a mental note to teach her how to ride alongside the lawn, and fall on the grass.

After that First Fall, the bike stayed garaged for a week. She hit me up after school one day. Wanted to try out that two-wheeler again.

KER-PLOP! She rode alongside the lawn, and aimed her fall perfectly-but tumbled off the wrong side, and skinned her other knee.

The bike went back in the garage again. For the next several weeks, I'd steal a peek at it when I went to wheel the trash down to the curb on Garbage Eve. I mentioned once or twice that I thought the bike was getting lonely.

College Girl was having none of that. She went back to her American Girl Doll books and even volunteered to practice the piano.

I figured if the child had turned to the piano as a refuge, then bike-riding was a lost cause.

Until Aunt Julie showed up.

College Girl and Julie Eliz put the bike in the car and headed for the nearest large parking lot. Within 30 minutes, the kiddo was burning rubber like she was Danica Patrick.

Danica Patrick on a pink Huffy bike with a pink-and-white basket centered on the handlebars. Oh, and pink leggings, too. The quintessential Haute Couture of the 6-and-under set.

This tale is sponsored by Angie and her Wordful Wednesday.

12 comments:

Aunt Julie said...

Seems like only yesterday! And to think that in only 11 days, she will graduate from college...where does the time go? Reminds me of the country song "You're Gonna Want This Back". You didn't mention that a few years after learning to ride her bike in that parking lot, we returned there one summer to master a manual transmission...

Susan Holt Simpson said...

Bike lessons do tend to stay in the memory, don't they!? Your daughter's story sounds a little like my middle son's adventure in learning to ride! Thanks for bringing back some good memories!

Dee said...

I love it! Wow, time flies!

Sandi McBride said...

I never even got to teach my boys how to ride bikes...they just got on them and drove off without ever looking back...such is life...
lovely post...lovely girl!
hugs
Sandi

Sherry said...

Oh if we could just stop the hands of time and make them little forever!!

cat said...

Great post - we are on the training wheels stage right now.

McClure Family said...

great thread! we are barely on the tricycle! LOL!


my ww's:
http://www.mcclurefamilyspace.blogspot.com/
&
http://2by2boutique.blogspot.com/

Marrdy said...

Alex and I met Danica Parick when she was a wee bit older then College Girl. I think College Girl puts ole Danica to shame. I love that independent spirit!

Two Pretty Little Skirts said...

woohoo for Danika!

stoppin by from SITS to check out your blog and say HEY!
followin ya!

Dawn

Michelle said...

Huh. So do you think the great Aunt Julie is available to help teach Mister Man how to ride? We're good with the training wheels, but ....

Brenda said...

Its so rewarding when they finally do learn to ride a bike!

Mozi Esme said...

Great photo - that looks like a scary moment!:)