And then it clicked

Sometimes the biggest lesson we can learn from our kids is to step back.  When it comes to skiing and cycling I've been a bit ahead of the curve with the kids.  At least with my first one.  I put her on skis earlier than I was on them.  Point of pride?  Probably.  We bought a run bike for her.  It was a big moment for me.  Her legs were a bit too short but withing a few months she grew into it.  And then took off on it.  She rode it until she was so scrunched up I couldn't figure out how she could be comfortable.  She had a pedal bike; she just didn't get into it like the run bike.  She actually grew out of that bike before she stopped riding the run bike.  Testament to their popularity.  She never had training wheels and never needed them.  She's on a 16" wheel bike now.  Classic kids bike.  It's 1/4 the size of my daily ride and weighs twice a much (OK, maybe an exaggeration).  She's been into the "razor" scooter thing since last fall when a neighbor passed one down to us.  I'm relatively terrified by them.  I've seen far too many close misses and full crashes on those things.  Kids do love them.  My youngest is big on it now.  He's been trying the run bike for a couple of months but his legs a just a bit short.  Just like big sis :)

I've been wondering when and if the bike bug would bite the kids but it seems like it's either a long time coming or has passed us by.  Then three or four evenings ago the strangest thing happened.  My daughter out of the blue looked at me and said "I want to ride my bike".  I paused and asked her if she meant her scooter or run bike but no, she reiterated "BIKE".  Great news for me.  We got on shoes and helmet and dragged the bike out of it's spot, aired up the tires and went out front.  She kind of looked at me as if to say "How do you do this again?" and asked for help starting up and then something magical happened.  She went from wobble to spin and for the last few evenings riding is all she wants to do.  She's getting pretty good.  She's working on the brakes right now.  She still uses her feet like it's a run bike but that's more than OK.  The only important thing is she gets back up when she falls and she is having fun.  The later is probably the single most important thing.  Last fall I pushed the bike and she lost interest.  This spring I never said a word and she initiated it herself and is loving it.

The second evening of riding my son asked to try the run bike.  Knowing his legs are too short I went and got it but didn't say much else.  It seems he went through a growth spurt because last month he could barely tiptoe on it.  Now he's zooming around the street with his sister.  Still a bit tip-toe but he's figured it out and like his sister something clicked for him.  My personal moment of reflection and the one I take out and polish off a couple times a day is when he said "Ride Papa's bike with me?".

Faster than you can imagine I was helmeted up and on the road with both my kids riding down the street.  Next stop.....time will tell.  I do know I'll let them lead the way.