We've been talking to Hayden for a while about learning to ride a two-wheeler. He wasn't too keen on that idea. He'd say "It's too hard" or "I'll learn when I'm 5" or "Only if you put training wheels on it." We didn't want to put the training wheels on and have him become too dependent on them, since that's what happened with Bryson, and he struggled to graduate from those training wheels! Hayds just needed to believe that he could to it...
We went outside early on Saturday. I was turning sprinklers on in the backyard, and Hayds followed me out. I asked him if he wanted to practice a little on the bike. He wasn't too sure about it. I told him "We'll just go to the corner and back. I won't let go." So we went to the corner, and he kept leaning to one side. I told him that he needed to keep the bike straight, like when he rides the scooters. He straightened out, and I could feel him balancing. I told him he was doing great, and we turned around and headed back the other way. I had him go out into the street (just on the side by the curb) and we got going a little faster. I said "You know you I'm barely hanging on!" He tried to look back at me, which of course threw off his balance, but I had a pretty good hold on him. I told him to just look straight ahead. I could feel that balance coming back, so I let go. I ran along with him, with my arms around him but not touching him (just in case he needed a quick catch) and he was off! We went 3/4 of the way down the block! He was so excited. I got him started when we turned around, and he went the whole way back without me touching him. (I could barely keep up... but I needed to be there, since we hadn't really talked about how to stop!) He quickly learned to start and stop perfectly, and only had one teeny little crash. In fact, I had to tell him to slow down, because it was his first day and it was making me nervous. He practiced off and on all day, and it about killed him that the next day was Sunday and I wouldn't let him ride. Monday couldn't come fast enough!
This is the proud face of a newly labeled "two-wheeler-rider!"
He was so cute. He rode back and forth for HOURS! (Well, there were a few breaks for meals and rests).
The hardest part for him was figuring out how to get started all by himself, but it didn't take long before he was a pro.
He had to tell everyone he saw "I can ride a two-wheeler!!" He couldn't wait for daddy to come home and see him.
We went outside early on Saturday. I was turning sprinklers on in the backyard, and Hayds followed me out. I asked him if he wanted to practice a little on the bike. He wasn't too sure about it. I told him "We'll just go to the corner and back. I won't let go." So we went to the corner, and he kept leaning to one side. I told him that he needed to keep the bike straight, like when he rides the scooters. He straightened out, and I could feel him balancing. I told him he was doing great, and we turned around and headed back the other way. I had him go out into the street (just on the side by the curb) and we got going a little faster. I said "You know you I'm barely hanging on!" He tried to look back at me, which of course threw off his balance, but I had a pretty good hold on him. I told him to just look straight ahead. I could feel that balance coming back, so I let go. I ran along with him, with my arms around him but not touching him (just in case he needed a quick catch) and he was off! We went 3/4 of the way down the block! He was so excited. I got him started when we turned around, and he went the whole way back without me touching him. (I could barely keep up... but I needed to be there, since we hadn't really talked about how to stop!) He quickly learned to start and stop perfectly, and only had one teeny little crash. In fact, I had to tell him to slow down, because it was his first day and it was making me nervous. He practiced off and on all day, and it about killed him that the next day was Sunday and I wouldn't let him ride. Monday couldn't come fast enough!
This is the proud face of a newly labeled "two-wheeler-rider!"
He was so cute. He rode back and forth for HOURS! (Well, there were a few breaks for meals and rests).
The hardest part for him was figuring out how to get started all by himself, but it didn't take long before he was a pro.
He had to tell everyone he saw "I can ride a two-wheeler!!" He couldn't wait for daddy to come home and see him.
2 comments:
He is so cute! I remember how scary it was to learn how to ride a bike. He looks like a pro now. Love the pictures.
YEEAAHH! Too cute!!! Good job Hayden!!!
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