My sweet boy is learning to ride a bike. It has been the single most frustrating moments in his little life. At 9 he feels like he should have already known to ride a bike, he thinks that because he is an athlete and 9 years old he should just be able to get on the bike and go. While his five and seven-year-old sisters are whizzing by him in circles he struggles to get the concept of pedaling up hill.
Last summer he completely gave up on trying to learn.
When it came time to bring out the bikes after a very long winter my hubby and I encouraged him to try again. We went to the store, purchased a new helmet, tested and tighten the bike and set out to once again try to teach our sweet boy to ride a bike.
After a couple of weeks of pounding the ground in frustration, falling off his bike, shouting at the bike, and practicing each day after dinner it clicked, it finally clicked! He petaled down the driveway without falling over or slamming on the breaks!
He was soooooo proud of himself and that small accomplishment has kept him going out each night after dinner to practice steering and pedaling up hill! As he gains confidence and momentum he is going further and further. It’s exiting to see! Now three weeks later he is buzzing up and down the driveway with ease and very little bumps!
My hubby and I have told our sweet boy that there are some really great life lessons that can be learned from riding a bike!
Here’s a little of what we shared with him:
1. When You Fall, Get Back Up
There are going to be many times in life that you fall down with situations and circumstances that come your way! Get back up, brush yourself off and keep going! Surround yourself with great people that will be there to help you and encourage you in getting back up!
2. Believe In Yourself
Confidence has always been a struggle. No matter how many people pour into you and spend time building your confidence if you don’t believe in yourself and have the confidence in yourself you will not succeed. You need to believe that you can accomplish great things! When you believe in yourself there is no limit to what great things you will accomplish! You can do it!
3.Keep Going
One foot in front of the other, one pedal at a time! Pedaling downhill is easy, pedaling uphill takes a little more work. Allow your passion to want to do great things propel you to put one foot in front of the other to achieve your goals!
4.Never Give Up
There will be times when you fall, get back up! There will be times when you have no confidence, believe in yourself. One foot in front of the other, keep on going. And never give up, never give up!
5. You’ve Got This
Those first petals forward one, two, three, four, five, six!! Whoo hoo! 6 pedals in a row is all it took to create a little confidence and push forward to wanting to do more and to keep going! Once the wheels are turning continue on the journey, keep your balance, watch for road blocks, you’ve got this!
2 down and 1 to go in learning to ride a two wheeler! All the hard work, encouragement, times up and down the driveway, cheering from the sidelines was worth every minute to see the smile on our sweet boy’s face as he can now join the girls riding around on his bike!
Michelle says
Yeah! Love when they figure things out for themselves and when it clicks, it clicks. You are one proud parent! Great lessons learned – for ALL of us!!
CathyM says
Yes, it's such a wonderful thing to watch! I remember that same feeling when I taught first grade and they discovered they could read! 🙂 Thank you Michelle for your sweet words and encouragement!!
heather gilmour says
Congrats to your son, it's great that he didn't dive up this time.
Carpet cleaning Ealing
CathyM says
Thank you so much Heather! We are so proud of the confidence and determination that he displayed, it was monumental for our sweet boy and we love to see him growing up! 🙂 Have a great weekend!
Susan Langer says
Such great lessons we all learned from your post. Thanks. 🙂
CathyM says
Thank you so much Susan, I truly appreciate it!
Giftie Etcetera says
So timely. TODAY, both of my boys figured out bikes (after a week of trying). They are 6 and 9!
CathyM says
Whoo Hoo! What a great accomplishment! Wow, perfect timing! 🙂
Sherry Nappa says
This is so inspirational:-) Thanks for linking up and sharing with us at Funtastic Friday. Hope you join us again this week.
CathyM says
Thank you so much Sherry!