Lynda Loveland: Biker babe

We’ve officially de-training-wheeled our second kids’ bike.

My five-year-old is now a two wheeler instead of a four wheeler. Carys, my baby, just took off.

She asked me to take off the wheels a few weeks ago. You see, her friends in the neighborhood are older and THEY don’t have training wheels. Can you say incentive???

I did the running beside her, holding onto the seat thing maybe four times. Ripped off a toenail in the process. The biggest problem was she refused to wear shorts or pants, so her dress kept getting hooked on the seat. She’s a fashion first girl. (Lord help me, when she reaches her tweens!)

She was doing really well. Actually better than my older daughter who got so frustrated she gave it up for a few months. The biggest difference was Carys wanted to do it by herself. She tried harder to get started on her own. I was so impressed with her attitude. She didn’t get upset, frustrated or mad.

I was getting ready to make dinner yesterday when Carys came in and said she wanted to go out and practice riding. I told her I couldn’t go with her because of dinner. She said she wanted to go by herself.

At this point, she couldn’t go more than a couple of feet on her own. She was on the cusp. I knew it wouldn’t be long. It kinda just happens.

Not ten minutes later, my husband came in and said, you’re not going to believe it, you gotta see Carys! I stopped mid-chop and rushed outside. Sure enough, my baby was cruising down the street smiling proudly. A big grin spread across my face and I got teary eyed. She’d done it, practically on her own!

What next? Today training wheels, tomorrow the car keys? Wow, it happens so quickly.