After countless practice sessions involving many tears and a few minor injuries, Short Stuff can ride a bike. She cannot steer well and cannot properly apply the brakes, but she's riding. Hallelujah!
For weeks I have been practicing with her off and on. I can handle bending over and I can handle running, but I can't handle running while bent over. There were days when I thought my spine would snap in half, but she would have a coronary event if I let go of the back of her bike. So, I held on and jogged along behind her, offering encouragement as we went. We live on a cul-de-sac so it was easy enough to have her practice in the street. She would get frustrated a lot, though, so the neighbors had a front row seat for several meltdowns. I never got upset with her at all, but the kid has a low frustration tolerance.
Finally, the ability to balance kicked in and my baby was riding.
Her dad and I have been belting out "She's a bike rider" to the tune of "Heartbreaker" by Pat Benatar, but she is not amused.
She's a bike rider
Dream maker, love taker
Don't you mess around with her
She's a bike rider . . .