Triumphant Day!
This past Monday was a day of triumph and celebration for Lucas. He learned how to ride his two-wheeled bike without training wheels! It was thrilling to watch his determination, courage (in trying again after falling), and exultation when he figured it out.
We started a couple of weeks ago. Lucas had a friend over and they rode bikes together, but the friend didn’t have training wheels. That day, Lucas decided to take his training wheels off. At the neighbor’s suggestion, Ian took Lucas to the school field at the end of our street and he rode down a grassy hill into the field, to take advantage of the soft landing.
Then on Monday, Lucas, Asher and I went to the field and tried it on the big hill. He rode down that about 15 times. Each time he pedalled halfway across the field before hitting the grass, getting a feel for the needed balance. Each time, he got up and ran back toward me with his arms open wide and exhilaration on his face. I picked him up (as best as I could) and swung him around in the air. Then he ran back to his bike and trudged it up the hill to do it all again. I hollered and cheered myself hoarse. The hill gave him the speed he needed to pedal and feel his balance.
On our short walk home, he must have decided it was lame to walk his bike because he got on it at the street and rode. One crash. Two crashes. Then he RODE the bike. He breaked. He put his foot down. No crash. He did it! And again. Then again. It was fantastic!
Later on, we went out to ride some more. That’s when I took these pictures. Lucas was riding his bike when Ian came home from work, so Ian got to see him in action.
These pictures do not adequately convey how FAST he is! We are so PROUD of him.
September 26, 2007 at 12:15 pm
My hero!!!! Wow. I love the whole story, especially with all the colors and photos. I keep imagining Lucas “helped” you with this post… do you think he might want to show us all how he rides this weekend? Sending love.
September 26, 2007 at 12:38 pm
I wanna ride bikes with Lucas!!!
September 26, 2007 at 1:14 pm
That’s wonderful! I love the Lucas-He-Man picture!
September 26, 2007 at 1:17 pm
This made me a little verklempt. What a milestone! He’s getting so grown up!
September 26, 2007 at 1:22 pm
*WOOT* Thanks for sharing this. I had a flashback. I love his energy in these pictures.
September 26, 2007 at 1:28 pm
Yay Lucas! This is one of my favorite blog posts ever. I love it! I am so proud, and I barely know Lucas! yay!
September 26, 2007 at 1:30 pm
Yeah, Go Lucas!! He will remember this for a long time. Thanks for sharing it with us!
September 26, 2007 at 2:20 pm
Thats is so awesome! At 33 I still fall off my bike for no apparant reason, maybe Lucas can teach ME how to ride a bike wihtout training wheels? YAY! Go Lucas!
September 26, 2007 at 6:18 pm
Wow! That must have been hard for you to let him ride in the street and watch him fall down a couple of times. Yay Lucas!
September 26, 2007 at 6:56 pm
Nice! He looks so happy! Congrats to him. I was probably 8 before I learned how to ride a bike.
September 26, 2007 at 11:52 pm
He was at school when I wrote this. I just channeled my inner child. I can easily remember how wonderful riding my bike felt when I was a girl. I’m sure he would love to show off.
September 26, 2007 at 11:53 pm
Thanks for the lovely compliment. He’s a character, that’s for sure!
September 26, 2007 at 11:56 pm
I just held my breath and didn’t react much each time he fell. But when he got up and dusted himself off, I applauded and hooted like crazy. I told him, “Look how far you rode!” It kind of amazed me that he never once whined or considered packing it in. I want a son who can take his licks and still keep striving.
September 26, 2007 at 11:59 pm
I hope so! Funny thing is, I sent him to school the next day and reminded him to tell his teachers about riding his bike. I found out later that the part he told them was that his pedal fell off the bike at one point (we screwed it back on). For some reason, that made huge impression in his mind, and he forgot to mention to them that it was the FIRST TIME riding the bike.
September 27, 2007 at 2:41 am
Nice camera work mom!!