Learn to Ride

I bought a "balance bike" for the girls a few months ago. I like the concept: instead of training wheels, start off with a bike with 2 wheels without pedals. The child learns all about balance and later just needs to learn the pedals. In our case, the pedals can be learned separately (we had training wheels on the smaller bike, and the neighborhood children have them), then the two skills can be meshed.

MissA loves the balance bike, but is getting too big for it. She can get going and coast for at least 30 feet. So, with the start of summer upon us, I decided it was time.

Yesterday, Ben had a long afternoon with MissA helping her overcome her fears. They and the bike disappeared for a couple hours -he said he had to remove her from her comfort zone to help her focus- and they came back, panting and sweaty, to announce that she loves me more.

Today, they went out for maybe an hour. And when they came back, she was riding the bike without help. Exuberant and proud of her mighty accomplishment. Thursdays' ride to the library should be a piece of cake (let's make it so by riding a little each day to keep up the new skill).