I have my Son for a visit tomorrow 🙂 I seem like forever since I last got to see him. If it does not rain we will get his bike out and try to learn to ride it. Once again I will take off those ugly training wheels. I have to pick up some new pads & helmet because his are getting a bit worn. I have a camera that works better so I should get some nice photos to share. I am hoping this will be the time he figures out that it’s not as hard as it seems. He will be so proud of himself for doing it. We’ll be able to share at least this memory of something he accomplished. Perhaps my niece who is 11, will see it’s not too hard and try to finally give it a shot too. She is afraid of falling, really, really afraid. I’ve tried to teach her to ride her bike for along time. Maybe she’ll try again this time, I hope to make my day twice as special. I’ll write about what happens…tom g
Thanks for dropping by for a visit! When I get home from work, I intend to put up pictures of my cat, Lilac (a.k.a. the Nuclear Hamster, the Fat Cat, and Big Bertha). I finished most of the other tweaking on the site.I hope your upcoming visit wtih your son goes well! I remember when I first learned how to ride a bike. My parents took me to a park with lots of trees, and I remember that I had more problems with the tree roots than finding my balance! My father started pushing me along so the bike was going really fast, and then let me go. That seemed to work, though I think if you would like to try it, I’d find a place that’s relatively smoothe and treeless! I think I came home with only one skinned knee, so it can’t be too bad a method (trees and all).Come back again soon for a visit! ^_^
Tom-I just taught Boston (my 6 year old Daughter) how to ride. She was so freaked out before! I took the training wheels off of her hand me down bike and told her if she did her best, when she finally got it we’d pick out a new bike. Then we found a driveway with just a small slope. To teach her balance, I’d start at the top of the driveway, have her put her legs dangling down instead of on the pedals, and let her go so she was just coastin and steering was all she had to focus on. IT WORKED! Also, teach him that he has to keep the bike moving at a decent speed for it to stay up! It seems that if Boston could keep her fear down, she did best. Now she rides everywhere! When Dave was home on block leave last week he couldn’t help but watch her and stare in amazement! Good luck!Valerie (md is member directory on the my profile page, stuff like what you are interested in can be added)
Tom,Have a great time with your son tomorrow, take a lot of pictures! Boys that age don’t have a lot of fear, children learn fear from adults. One thing I have learned is to let them be kids and keep them innocent as long as possible. Don’t quit the fight and have a great time!Sincerely,Larry
I’m glad to hear your getting to visit with him, since the last time you weren’t able to. I remember trying to teach my daughter to ride, (she still can’t) I just don’t have the paitence to do it. I yell way to much and stress her out. So I told my husband he’s going to have to be the one, cause I just can’t do it. Hope you have a great day.I’m sure your son will be so Happy to see his dadd and spend some time with him. Take care tom.Have a good one,PattyPS. You can always leave comments on my page if you want, but if not thats cool too. 🙂
when i was little, i had the same kind of fear about riding my bike (or rollerblading) – i was afraid that i wouldnt be able to stop!mandy
We just took our 4 year olds training wheels off.. She did great and was riding like a champ. Now a week later she is begging us to put them back on . She says she doesn’t want to crack her head open. Kids are funny..
Have an amazing Saturday!
I hope you have a wonderful day with your son. So many children do not ride bikes today. Too many inside activities. It is wonderful you encourage him to be out. I will never forget learning to ride a bike. Unfortunately that is because when we would fall my mom would hit us with a rolled up newspaper, or maybe it was the neighbor Miss Virginia. We taught my daughter to ride in a wide open feild in the grass so falling wouldn’t be so traumatic and there wouldn’t be too many obstacles. Of course it means a lot of excercise for the teacher. When they can go straight with a wide berth sometimes they can go forever. Thanks for visiting and good luck with the bike riding.
Heh. I remember my bike-riding experiences. I used training wheels till I was nine. *blush* All the neighbor kids laughed at me and teased me. I guess that got too embarrasing, so I learned to ride it.
Oh! I remember my first time to learn to ride a bike- it was a fire engine red bike and my brother Mike taught me to ride :)Enjoy the time with your son 🙂
It is nice to read about you and your son. I know you love him very much and that is a blessing to many and I’m sure every parent reading your blog at this moment. I can’t wait till my girls come home. I miss them so much that is why I enjoy reading about you and your son. i pray the both of you have a blessed day.With Love,Paula
Thanks for putting yourself out there! As a divorced father of 3, I know the pain and loss of having your children taken fromyou on a daily basis. The courts do not see the importance of having fathers in the daily lives of the children, and see dads asa paycheck. I’m sick and tired of fighting the ex over how she spends my money, and to get to see my children. Hopefully your space will open some eyes to a growing problem! Stick with it, I’m counting on us getting our fair shake!
Thanks for putting yourself out there! As a divorced father of 3, I know the pain and loss of having your children taken fromyou on a daily basis. The courts do not see the importance of having fathers in the daily lives of the children, and see dads asa paycheck. I’m sick and tired of fighting the ex over how she spends my money, and to get to see my children. Hopefully your space will open some eyes to a growing problem! Stick with it, I’m counting on us getting our fair shake!
So how did it go? Did he learn to ride? Any bumps or bruises? I am sure the two of you had a great time and I am truly grateful for it. I think it is great to see a father actually want to spend time with his children. Too many men out there give us a bad name, we need to stick together and show women that not all men are the same! lol! I don’t think I gave you this web address but I found it extremely useful when going through our custody case. Visit http://www.deltabravo.net when you get a chance, it is full of information and resources. Hope you had a great day and rest of the weekend Tom.Larry
Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you. Seeing your son on his new bike pics reminded me. I kept training wheels on Boston’s new bike and left them off of her old one while she figured out how to ride. I also kept her old bike around so that if she gets a flat I can "get around" to it. With Dave in Iraq it is going to be hard to get to something like that right away with 2 babies under foot etc.