A Day to Remember

Well, we are getting ready to enter a new era. No, I'm not referring to the New Year, or the upcoming Inauguration. I am talking about the beginning of a new stage of life for the Bryson family: riding a bicycle without training wheels.

Garrett received a "big boy bike" from Santa last Christmas and has never ridden it. We tried a few times, but he was terrified without his training wheels. He refused to even try it. We even tried shaming him into it by showing him how well his cousin Michaela and his friend Alex could ride their bikes without training wheels. (I know, I know, what great parents we are!) But he was proud of his training wheels and stubbornly refused to try without them. It became annoying because the only bike he had with training wheels has gotten way too small for him, and the extra friction caused him to have a hard time pedaling uphill.

I decided enough was enough. For the last few weeks, I've been talking it up: how we would take his bike out to the park and he could ride in the grass where it wouldn't hurt at all if he fell. We talked about it several times a week, and always with glowing pictures of how well it would go.

So yesterday, we walked the "big boy bike" down to the park and Dave showed him how to get started. He walked along with his hand on the seat and tried letting go a few times. Garrett continued to fall each time, and began getting very upset. I was so discouraged because I felt like he'd never try again if this didn't go well. So I prayed that God would help him. Dave finally got him to get on the bike again, and he pushed him off one last time. Garrett wobbled, weaved, and then...took off riding! After a minute, he yelled "Let go, Daddy!" I said "He DID let go!" Garrett looked back and saw Dave standing still and got this great big grin on his face.

He practiced his new-found skill for quite awhile on the grass before attempting to ride on the concrete path around the park. We finally convinced him to try riding on the concrete, and he promptly ran into the only available pole at the entire park. (Where's the video camera when you need it?) It didn't dampen his spirits too much, however, and we were back today to try riding on the concrete again. This time he managed to avoid all dangerous obstacles. So, we will FINALLY be able to go riding as a family without the training wheels constantly being a hassle.

Paige was not to be outdone. She took the little 2-wheeled bike my Grandpa got her and learned how to pedal it around. It will be awhile before she's ready for no training wheels, but she's on the way! What a day!