He's a biker dude

I've got so much to catch up on! I've been such a bad blogger recently - and it's not due to lack of things to post... just a lack of time! So, I have several posts written in my head about our recent events. I'll start with the most recent development and work backward.

BREAKING NEWS:

Bennett learned how to ride a bike yesterday!!

Yes, he is 7 1/2 years old, and is just now learning to ride a bike. That makes me feel guilty as a mom, but really, how can it be all my fault when I just 'learned' how to ride a bike a few years ago. (I loosely say learned, because if you were to ask me to go on a bike ride with you, I would politely decline due to my lack of experience. But, I did circle the parking lot of the Elementary school successfully on one or two occassions. That counts, right? :)

Guilt is a thing that come along with motherhood, doesn't it? For me, at least, it did. I believe that the first guilty feeling that I had regarding my parenting occurred about 12 hours after he was born. Actually, it was probably when I was pregnant...

But that's another post, isn't it? This post is about how my kid is well on his way to being a biker dude!

Anyway, we live on a mountain and there is no where for Bennett to learn to ride unless we pack up the bike and go somewhere. Brad has attempted to teach him a few times, but the dynamic there is tough. Bennett aims to please so much that it is hard to learn from daddy when there's fear of failing and falling involved. 

Our dear friend, Mrs. Sallie, volunteered last Spring to help Bennett learn. I think that I actually begged her to help us, and she said 'Of course!' That's just how she is. So kind and eager all the time. Well, time got away from us, and yesterday was Bennett's first lesson. 

I totally expected her to spend a while holding on to the bike, running behind him, and then tell me that we'd get back together soon to begin letting go. Nope! He rode around in the grass for a little bit, with Mrs. Sallie holding on the seat. Then she let go and he rode for about 5 feet with her encouraging 'Pedal! Pedal!'! Then he fell over. But, they got back up and he rode longer and longer distances until...

Can you see Bennett? Nope! He's gone all the way around the park and Mrs. Sallie is having to sprint behind! It's a good thing that she's a marathon runner.

You should have seen the smile on his face when he came back around! Elation. I couldn't catch it on the camera because he was moving so fast.

He's still got a little work to do on getting started going, but that's our homework for the week. 

Here they are - Bennett and Mrs. Sallie. Don't they both look proud?

I was proud too. As I watched him going on his own, I got tears in my eyes. What a huge milestone! I was thankful for Mrs. Sallie. Thankful that indeed, we didn't wait too long (you know - as long as I waited, I guess :) and that I didn't need to feel guilty anymore. Thankful that my boy is able to move forward through a little fear and gravity.  It reminded me that that's what life is all about. It's all about balance, moving forward without getting distracted by the things on the periphery, keeping the handle bars steady, avoiding the ditches, falling as gently as possible, and then brushing off and going again after the fall.

Now we get to go and pick out a bike! (That one was borrowed - Thanks Meg!)