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.