So we decided to borrow cousin Jackson's smaller-no-training-wheel bike today to try to learn how to ride a bike. I loaded the kids in the car and headed over to Jackson's house to give it a turn, thinking it was a bummer that Matthew wouldn't be there for it, but also knowing that it wasn't that big of a deal because Wyatt would surely need more practice and Matthew would be there for that.
We got Wyatt's helmet on and him on the bike. I did the requisit holding of the handle bars and seat to get him going, all the while cousin Jackson was giving Wyatt all kinds of encouraging words and tips. I felt like my holding was slowing Wyatt down, so I nervously kind of let go. Do I tell him I let go, or let him just kind of go so as to not break his concentration??? After a pedal or two, I let him know that he was on his own...and DOING IT!!! He stopped, of course, and we tried it again. I held on longer this time and Jackson kept telling me to let go!!! I didn't want Wyatt to fall, thinking it was too soon, but then eventually let him go. He was really riding!
He did this another time or two and then it was time for us to go. We took Jackson's bike home with us - both of us sooooo excited! When Matthew got home, we showed him a little of what Wyatt could do in our cul-de-sac. We all decided that maybe that bike was too small for Wyatt (his knees would hit the handle bar when he tried to turn, which would knock him over!), and that we would take the training wheels off of Wyatt's bike and give that a try in the next day or two.
Well, Wyatt couldn't wait for Saturday, so I went ahead and took the training wheels off the next day. I held on to the seat for about a second and he was off! Within 3 or 4 more tries, he was able to get started all on his own, use his breaks, and more or less ride all over the place! Unfortunately, Matthew missed this event, too, but I was able to catch a little bit on video that I will post here.
Watch Wyatt riding his bike...
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