Training Wheels
Yesterday, we took the boys to the toy store to get them new bicycle helmets. After we got home, I removed the training wheels from Calum’s bike. According to Dree, most of his friends are already riding without them. The way she figures it, it’s about time we try to teach Calum how to ride without them.
His bike is a little small, that’s supposed to make it easier. Once he masters it, we’ll get him a new, big boy bike. Then we’ll re-attach the training wheels and hand his old bike down to Liam.
Dree took Calum out into the court this morning to try for the first time without his training wheels. She said that when he wasn’t thinking about it, he did great. Otherwise, he cried a little. I asked him about it and when pressed a bit, he admitted he was a little bit scared. I told him that was okay, that being a little scared kept us safe. But I also told him that we wouldn’t let him go until he was ready.
I remember learning to ride on grass, so when Dree was talking about places to take him where learning might be easier, I suggested trying to find a park with short enough grass. It would at least ease the fear of eating pavement.
I remember when we took the training wheels off your bicycle. You were nineteen, and pretty scared. You tried to ride the bike across the pool, because you thought if you fell, you would just get wet – no scrapes or bruises. That’s when you learned about density, liquids, and the like. I’ll never forget wrapping you in layer after layer of bubble pack. After your first ride, you spent three hours popping all the bubbles.
And when you got your first car, and wanted to put training wheels on it, we humored you, until the ribbing from your friends go too much for you and you took them off.
Ah, it brings back memories.
Dad
And if *I* remember correctly, he could have used some bubble-wrap on his first car. Ah, yes, the one that went a little crumbly upon impact. Opps.
Memories and Cobwebs.