Learning To Ride
We've been taking the slow route in helping Simon learn to ride his bike.
Slow and deliberate with lots and lots of confidence-building praise and support.
While visiting my brother and his family we took him to a track to get in some more practice.
He was doing so awesome...better than ever with his balance.
I had the video camera rolling so he could see that he really was doing it. He loved seeing those videos and it was such a good reminder to me that he's a visual kid and seeing himself in action is a great teaching tool. My favorite parts of the video (which are much to shaky to share) are hearing my brother and sister-in-law cheering in the background as Chris takes his hand off the bike or Simon's back. There's so much love in their voices.
And then he got going a bit too fast around a corner.
There was a crash.
And lots of tears.
And lots of comfort.
And maybe even a bit of chocolate cake with the sentiment "way to go Simon" written in blue icing on top after dinner to celebrate all the awesome riding he'd been doing before the crash and maybe, just maybe encourage him to get on his bike again.
We were a bit worried he'd resist getting back on his bike after the crash but he was totally ready to try again.
Even a rainbow and a bunch of crows showed up to give him some support.
That willingness to try again after falling off...it's so huge.
He got right back on and was totally excited all over again.
Keep practicing buddy - we know you can do it!
wonderful story - thank you for sharing. our almost 7 year old son mastered riding his bike without training wheels earlier this summer, and the pride and joy I felt for him while watching him was so incredible I thought my heart was going to burst. I only wish I had taken some pictures to document the moment so that he could look back on it with pride.
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My favorite aspect of parenthood is how you get to re-live childhood, if a little less carefree. You forget how amazing learning to ride a bike really is, or how carefree summer days spent swimming can be, or even something as simple as staying up a little past bedtime playing outside can be the best part of a day. You forget the magic of life until you see it through your child's eyes...and that's what I love about what you share Ali. You have that fresh new perspective on everyday life, and enjoying it to the full for what it is; the little and the big. Thank you for sharing your story...
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OK...this made me cry. Your patience as a family is remarkable to me. Your support for Simon is ramarkable to me.
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Ali,
I can so share your sentiment about the bike riding.... I also have a "special" kid whose motor skills are an issue. Finally at about 10 he decided that he wanted to go on a bike ride with his friends but couldn't go because he didn't know how to ride. We got home that night and he put onhis helmet, pads etc..... I was hanging on for dear life to his seat, when I could see he had his balance, I let go...... Amazingly off he went 1 small crash and back on.... He hasn't looked back since..... Congratulations to Simon "riding a Bike is a BIG ACCOMPLISHMENT....
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I'm cheering for you, Simon! You can do it!
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Yeah for Simon way to go! Beautiful pictures Ali, life is truly a blessing.
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Go Simon Go!!!! You can do it!!!!
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WAY TO GO Simon!! There are several adults, including myself, that could serve to be reminded of the beauty in trying again even after we fall. This post touched me so...
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Way to go Simon! Ali- you continue to remind me of the power of stories. Thank you for this gift- very heart warming.
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Way to go Simon! So proud of you! My daughters are 10 and 8 and we are still practicing to ride 2-wheel bikes. The photos are gorgeous, Ali, showing the real emotions of father and son! What an inspiration- thank you!
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This post made me cry! Of course you know this, but each of you in your family is so blessed to have each other. Just wanted to say thanks for sharing with us!
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Don't forget that Harry Potter eats chocolate when injured or upset. Just saying . . . and we enjoyed the last movie SO MUCH!! Best one of the lot.
Simon and I just went to see it this morning - so awesome.
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Just beautiful!! Way to go Simon!
I love the photo with the rainbow. All I could think was God was sending him down a little extra love for the bike ride!
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My daughter is just learning this summer too! AND, we also took her to the high school track since it's a bit squishier. Just last weekend she went around the
entire track without falling and was super proud of herself. Now, we just need to build her confidence that she can do the same thing off the track and on the sidewalk.
Great job, Simon!
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way to go Simon! you can do it buddy. keep practicing!!
the rainbow and crows, the cake, trying again after the crash totally gave me goose bumps. so sweet.
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Yay, Simon! And, yay for Ali for video taping. My brother video taped my niece on her first solo bike ride sans training wheels, and he caught her yelling, "Woohoo, I'm awesome!" as she rode by him. It's a priceless memory and extra special to have the video to share.
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Ali, I love all of your blog posts, but this one brought tears to my eyes. There is so much love and support in the photos and she story of Simon's bike adventures. I can almost feel the pride in the words you write. Simon is so blessed to have you and your husband for parents. :). I have a 2 1/2 year old daughter and another baby girl due next week. I can only hope I am able to capture their challenging milestones with as much grace and love as you fo for your children. Best wishes!! :)
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Beautiful story Ali and one we all need a reminder of. Go Simon! Don't give up!
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Thanks for that reminder....Loved your words today...Needed your words today...GO SIMON!!!!
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This is such a sweet post---I'm so glad Simon is enjoying the bike riding. Also glad he got back on the bike after a spill. That's a huge deal. Major determination!
I just happened to write a blog post about bike riding last week. It looks like you've got a great system down. But if you ever need an additional thing to try: we did a bit of riding on a gentle slope (grassy) when our kids were learning to ride. Built a lot of confidence that way. More details about that in my blog post:
http://ellieandabbie.typepad.com/bright_eyes_blue_eyes/2011/07/learning-to-ride-a-bike.html
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Way to go Simon!!!! Love the photos. Love this story. Perfect encouragement years from now if he ever has his own littles...
Heidi
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ahh..Ali this so reminds me of my Tim...the Taz as his cousins and brother use to call him because of his "fits". Don't know if you remember or not, but I've commented before on how he also had some learning disabilities when he was growing up...mainly OCD behaviors (you know over the long sleeves ;) and some ADD without the hyper activity. Anyhow, he also had a hard time learning how to ride a two wheeler...large muscle coordination is very prevelant in LD kids. He could not STAND up and ride his bikes...regardless of how many wheels they had on them! It was also an issue when it came to walking down stairs...he had to step with both feet on one stair before proceeding down to the next step...it drove my hubby nuts until we learned that it was part of his LD issues. After one big crash he took to wearing his helment and shin/elbow guards ALL THE TIME! Cause you just never knew when he might hop on his bike while he was out playing...lol When he was 8/9 he was still wearing them alot...not all the time but enough and with living in the South...he was always ringing wet with sweat wearing all that protective gear. Eventually he left them off and now he's flying planes so tell Simon that he has a very bright future. Hope this helps, fondly, Roberta
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Yay, Simon!!! You'll get it, buddy!!! Keep trying and pretty soon it'll be, "like riding a bike"!!! :)
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How exciting! It's a big, big step. Congrats, Simon!
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Go daddy! Boys need their dads to do those guy things soooo bad. And go Simon. Try a small grassy hill. Hill helps with the gravity thing, grass helps with the crashes.
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