Bicycle
on May 06 in General by DanThe corridors of Toys R Us isn’t the most conventional place to learn to ride a bike, but you take it where you can get it.
Much like with her reading, Amy has recently made a quantum leap from anxiously relying on stabilisers to confidently going it alone on just two wheels. She can’t actually turn corners as yet, and tends to stop by simply steering into walls, but she’s upright and she’s peddling that’s the main thing.
I’d love to claim superdad status for her achievement but the truth is she did it all on her own.
In fact I feel a little bit cheated – I’d been telling her all winter that by the end of the summer I’d have taught her to ride a bike. I’d even envisaged wonder-years-esque scenes of me running behind her holding onto the back of her saddle until she found her balance. Then I’d secretly let go and watch my daughter peddle away from me, no longer needing my support and taking yet another step towards independence and adulthood. I’d then sigh a bittersweet sigh and probably head back into the house to write a touching and lyrical post about the whole thing that would impress you all with my amazing sensitivity.
But the little bugger has gone away and done it all by herself, so that’s the end of that then.
Still, I’m rather proud of her.
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Right, she’s doing the Hadrians Wall bike ride with us, she’ll probably finish in front of us every day, but we can live with that
@Gary, As long as there are no corners and she doesn’t have to stop she’ll be fine.
awww bless her, whilst you were letting her ride all the bikes in ToysRUs were you wearing your pyjamas still or is that saved for the Tesco stop?!!!! All the best kids learn to ride in TRU – I used to let mine play in all the electric 4×4′s for hours – it was way cheaper than the ones outside the supermarket!!!!
.-= kelloggsville´s last blog ..United Colours of WA =-.
@kelloggsville, I wear my toga in Tescos generally.
Your Toys R Us is obviously a little more forgiving than mine. The Electric cars at ours are never charged up.
You can still have the Wonder Years moment with Evan, but get him a balance bike. He’ll go straight from that to a proper bike without ever having stabilisers. Oliver did it and I even got the running behind and letting go moment. Priceless.
Sorry, but you know cycling is a passion of mine so hopefully you’ll excuse me.
.-= Steve´s last blog ..Lucy – the updates =-.
@Steve, we already have a balance bike, which is probably why Amy did so well (although it is much too small for her and she doesn’t like riding it)
These kids change an learn so quickly! Well done Amy!
That perfect moment you described, I had that with my Grandpops on the cobbled road at the back of our house when I was about 5. I remember it clearly. Happy memories. :)
.-= Insomniac Mummy´s last blog ..The Gallery – A World of His Own =-.
@Insomniac Mummy, cobbles? Blimey!
Awww….you big softie.
@notSupermum, nah. Well, maybe a bit.
how is crashing into something a strange way to stop? Breakes are for those who can’t face the walls.
.-= Arjan´s last blog ..Youtube ‘saturday’: Mr Scruff – Keep movin’ =-.
@Arjan, She has trouble squeezing the breaks hard enough.
Amy is awesome.
But, what’s the hardest part of learning to ride a bike?
The pavement.
.-= Ian´s last blog ..Dulcet tones =-.
@Ian, certainly is, although we’ve had no spills as yet
Wow she has done fantastic, Maxi is at the taking them off stage, so we are going to a park over the bak holiday, only thing is Mini wants his off too!
Way to go Amy!
.-= The Mad House´s last blog ..Please Vote for me! =-.
@The Mad House, we have the advantage of having a private road we turf her out onto each evening so she has a safe place to practice.
Rad.
I took my two year old in there a few weeks ago….and vowed never, ever to do that again.
Great job Amy. We use the wide ailes of the Home Depot for Lukas and his balance bike.
.-= Seattledad (Luke, I am Your Father)´s last blog ..My 1st Giveaway – $50 PayPal Gift Card =-.
Excellent…that’s a proud moment! No doubt your encouragemnet gave her the confidence she needed. The Decathlon shops are always full of kids learning to ride…it’s a dangerous place to be! Not sure how, but my lad learnt to ride in two hours flat (he was a late starter at 9) and the next day we did a 7 mile ride…and at 13 we cycled from Brighton to Essex – 120km….
.-= Nota Bene´s last blog ..The Gallery…graveyard shift =-.
Yes – don’t you just hate it when they show independence and initiative. Little bastards. ;-)
.-= Mwa´s last blog ..Fragiles, fixers, cracks, books and no more Little Miss Perfect =-.
You got off too easy. What they don’t tell you about those Wonder Years moments is that it kills your freaking back!
.-= Ed´s last blog ..Give Me a Number =-.
Have you heard a short little song called “Toddler Highway” by They Might Be Giants? I know Amy’s no toddler but this post immediately made me think of it. The lyrics fit so well!
.-= Simon´s last blog ..Twelve Toms =-.
A link would help. :-) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nZpGXxouAE&feature=related
.-= Simon´s last blog ..Twelve Toms =-.
Haha, can you send some of her magic here….I was trying to teach my seven year old daughter last week unsuccessfully ( feel terrible that she can’t yet) Maybe I should take her to Toys R Us?
.-= Nova´s last blog ..I am grumpy! =-.
YOU TOOK A CHILD TO TOYS R US??????
I think internet shopping was invented by a parent who took a child to Toys R Us once.
That’s funny and sweet. Sounds like you have a clever, independent little girl there. Good for her!
.-= Rosie Scribble´s last blog ..Logging off and letting go =-.