I learned to ride a bike when I was seven. I don't remember much from my childhood, but I do remember the day I found my balance and my freedom all in a single, albeit shaky, moment. What an amazing feeling. Excited, proud and just a little scared, I took off down the street away from home, knowing home was right behind me.
This summer we made a deal with Juliette: if she learned to swim, we would buy her a bike and teach her to ride. She reluctantly started swimming lessons last week, but she is not past the put-your-head-under-water-wihtout-totally-freaking-out stage. Far from real swimming.
Not a girl noted for following the rules, yesterday when we were in rural Sonoma she picked up a bike that belonged to a 10 year-old boy. She sat on the seat and walked the bike down the trail until she found her balance. After a short time she put her feet on the pedals and it was all over. With almost no help from anyone, she taught herself to ride. All she wanted from me was to run behind her and say occasional words of encouragement.
Really, all she needed was for me not to stop her.
So I didn't.
Today, acting under the premise of striking while the iron is hot, even though it technically broke the swim-bike deal, I bought her a bike. The bike shop didn't have a ton of choices but it did have the one perfect bike for her. Purple - not pink.
He added a bell and a rockin' helmut and she was off.
[this is good] Go Juju go!
Posted by: Patty | 07/06/2010 at 12:06 AM
OMG, ringing the bell and everything - on her second day!! That's awesome.
Posted by: Little Odd Me | 07/06/2010 at 04:07 AM
[this is good] Excellent :)
Posted by: Laurel | 07/06/2010 at 06:44 AM
Next stop, motorcycle!
Posted by: Cathy | 07/06/2010 at 09:54 AM
[this is good] Your daughters are incredibly cool young ladies.
Posted by: electric firefly | 07/06/2010 at 12:37 PM
[this is good]
Posted by: Alaina | 07/06/2010 at 03:30 PM
[this is good] Yeah, kids are smart. Mine learned to ride in a heartbeat as well.
Posted by: Lakshmi | 07/07/2010 at 07:59 PM
[this is good] go JuJu! :)
Kids are funny when they are determined. I remember before my niece was potty trained, she wanted go to ski school with her brother. My sister told her she could go next season but only if she was potty trained with no accidents. Long story short, my niece basically potty trained herself because she was so determined to go to ski school and have a pink ski helmet. And now she's a great skiier and she is not even 5.
Posted by: foxsydee | 07/10/2010 at 03:09 PM
[this is good] I am a bit late in commenting, but I have to say that I really enjoyed reading your post! It is amazing that your daughter Juliette learnt to ride a bike on her own! That is really amazing! I was a late starter on this - I learnt to ride a bike when I was around 12. I still remember the amazing feeling I had when I could balance the bike and ride on my own.
Hope Juliette gets into swimming too and it comes naturally to her too.
Posted by: Vishy | 07/19/2010 at 12:42 PM
Yaaaahhhhh!
Posted by: fi | 08/05/2010 at 11:45 AM