This spring is not the first time we've tried to achieve this major milestone. Our first attempt was the spring of 2009. No luck. Training wheels went back on. We gave it another shot in the fall. Again, something was holding him back. You could tell he was nervous and apprehensive...and there was something about the dynamic between Jacob and I that just wasn't helping.
Fast forward to this spring. Mid-March, gorgeous weather, and a bike that still didn't have the training wheels on it. I approached the idea with Jacob. He passed. A little later that same day, we discussed it again and made a deal. Mommy promised not to get frustrated (and if I did, I owed him a major treat) and if he gives it a good try, Daddy would put the training wheels back on as soon as he got home from work.
We headed down to the park right near our house. A paved path and lots of grass. Before we did anything else we talked about how scary it is when you think you might fall. We wiggled the bike back and forth while he still had his feet on the ground. "Lean this way when the bike goes that way, lean that way when the bike goes this way." After a little bit of silliness, we were ready to give it a try.
He made me promise not to let go. I promised...no fingers crossed! I held on, he started...and we had some of the same problems we'd had the last two times. So, we stopped and I thought...and held the bike a little differently. Off we went, him peddling away, me holding on just like I'd promised. At first, it didn't seem like we'd get any further than that. But after doing that for a few minutes, I got him to trust me enough to try to ride to me. Yup, I held the front, he got on, I let go, and he rode right at me. It was going okay but he was still pretty nervous. We were getting ready to call it quits for the day when he said he'd try going across the path instead of along it. The path is about three feet wide at best so it didn't seem so scary and I thought, well, if he's willing to go that far, we'll try further next time. He got on, I held the front, he put his feet on the pedals, pushed down, went across the path...and kept on going! The front wheel hit the grass and he just kept on pedaling! In seconds he was across the grass! He'd ridden the bike all by himself!
Riding!
This is how far he could go before he had to stop or fall in a stream!
Taking a break
Zack played on the little play structure while Jacob was riding.
Zack took this one...I love it!
Walking the bike back to start over.
After a little help starting, he is off again. I had to hold the handle bars so that he could get his feet on the pedals and give a little "oomph" his start. The rest he did on his own!
It seems so far away!!!!
How we were starting I thought it would take a while for Jacob to get the hang of starting on his own. I was willing to hold those handle bars at the start as long as it took. The next day was just as beautiful and he was dying to get back to the park after school. This time, Zack decided he'd give his big kid bike (with training wheels) a try. (Last year, he was a tricycle kid all the way!) So the boys suited up and we were on our way!
Jacob was off and running on his own in no time. The need for Mommy to hold the handle bars was gone within minutes. Zack worked his heart out and managed to pedal the bike...slowly. He was frustrated that he couldn't do it easily and that he couldn't keep up with Jacob. But he kept working at it and after a break on the playground he even got back on to try again!
Zack and his bike
Concentrating
Jacob on the path. Just one day and he was so much more confident!
Break time! He wanted Jacob to play with him but the big kid was having too much fun on his bike!
After starting on his own.
Still on his break!
He found this part of the path that had a little hill to it. Riding down it was fast and fun!
Little brother getting in on the action
If you look closely you'll see that his feet aren't on the pedals. He liked the hill because he got the motion without the work!
Riding together. (That's Jacob off there in the distance!)
Zack's working hard! Jacob has turned around and is headed back toward me.
Zack is determined to go as far as his big brother did.
In the end, Zack decided that running along next to Jacob made for a better match!Jacob has become a bike riding champion! His longest ride so far was 1.5 miles, starting on his own and making all the twists and turns without stopping! (Although he did have to pause now and then to wait for me. He rode while I ran.) From scared to try to mastery...in no time at all!
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