For a few weeks now The Boy has been asking us to take the stabilisers from his bike. At first I almost ignored him and distracted him with something else to hand. Knowing how tentative he was with the metal balance bike that he used to have, I thought there would be no way he's cope with the weight of a bike. Combine that with his inability to stop looking at everything else around him, apart from the direction in which he should be cycling, I thought there would be no way he'd be able to cycle without stabilisers.
How wrong I was.
It's not that I didn't have faith in him to succeed, I knew that if he had set his mind to it then he would succeed, it was just that inner voice wanting to protect him. It's a big old step to freedom and growing up isn't it? Not needing the stabilisers, both figuratively and literally, is not something I'd anticipated from my baby yet.
But who are we stand in his way?
I asked him why he wanted to take them off, and it transpires that when has his turn on the 'bikes and trikes' in school at lunchtimes that there are some balance bikes. The Boy said that he was getting quite good at scooting along and lifting his feet up on the footrests, he did mention standing up which I chose to ignore.
With all that in mind, we took The Boy down to Cardiff Bay Barrage on Saturday. We walked 100 yards and turned back to the car as it was blowing a 'hoolie'; not the best conditions to develop a sense of balance for the first time without the safety buffers. A short drive over to a park in Cardiff with lots of flat paths and he was champing at the bit!
Isn't he clever?
Guess what we've bought him for his 5th birthday next month?
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Linking up to Let Kids Be Kids
Aww well done him! Impressive he can get himself going aswell. My two still struggle with the getting going but once they are going they are off. I did laugh hearing you shouting keep looking where you are going! That's what I do LOL.
Yay, I am so glad he managed it first time. The power of supportive parents, he will go far in life with all that confidence you are both instilling in him xxx
Camel trail here we come in August! Well done indeed, it only seems like yesterday I was doing this with all of mine too.
Awww this is lovely! Well done to The Boy 🙂 Love Daddy running along behind him. I'm sure he'll love his birthday pressie x
Aw, he's doing so well. I especially love the wiggly route he takes to keep his balance – because wiggly routes are better than putting your feet down 🙂
I'm sure he will love his birthday present.
How exciting!
Lovely to watch and how good is that bike with the handle at the back! #letkidsbekids
Aww yay well done him! I can completely understand your reticence – must be scary to see him taking such a big step towards growing up! Love the video – especially the "look where you're going" reminders lol. Fab post 🙂 #letkidsbekids xx
Ah fantastic! Well done to the boy.
Thanks for linking #Letkidsbekids