Last Saturday I was trying to get stuff done as I usually do on Saturdays. My wife was out on a much needed break/shopping trip with my sister. My 3-year-old was really excited for me to put the pedals back on her bike. I attempted to get her pedaling a few months ago and it didn’t take long before Samantha wanted to put the pedals back on. This time she was really ready.
I got the pedals on and I started helping her ride down the road while I held her up on the bike by her arm pits. After a slow 30 ft ride, I started using a lighter and lighter touch. Finally she called “Let go daddy!” and off she went towards the cul-de-sac half a block away. She hadn’t got the hang of stopping or turning while pedaling and I was afraid she’d crash into the curb, but she managed to stop without too much trouble. I caught up to her and coaxed her to try again and get to the end of the street, but she realized her sisters were gone to play with some neighbors and FOMO took over. She wanted to get off the bike and join her sisters, so we turned around.
Her heart wasn’t in it. She wasn’t keeping her balance while pedaling and I was back to holding her up by the arm pits when a woman came jogging around the corner. Sam wanted to show off and yelled “Let go daddy!”. I let her go and she pedaled and giggled back up the street to the applause and cheers of the jogger. I think the jogger and I were both a bit caught up in the magic of seeing a child ride a bike for the first time and we were both cheering. Sam was so proud of her accomplishment, that she forgot about joining her sisters to play and within a few minutes she was riding circles and weaving all over our drive way. Moments like this make fatherhood so incredible and I’m always amazed at what kids can learn and do when they are ready.