A Day of Triumph

Aidan hit a milestone this weekend -- the acquisition of his first real "big boy" bike. He mastered the scooter not too long ago and had recently set his sights on conquering a bicycle. He had been given a toddler bike when he was about 3 (a freebie from another older boy), but he was too young at the time to get the hang of it. He never really learned how to ride anything because most of his childhood was spent in a parsonage that only had gravel for as far as the eye could see, which is certainly not conducive to toddler modes of transportation. But now we have a wonderfully long sideyard where many trips back and forth can be had on any vehicle.

A few months ago he dragged out that old toddler bike, trying to get used to the idea of peddling and steering. However, his long and lean frame had completely outgrown the bike, so the difficulty he was encountering came not from a lack of coordination (although that does take time), but from the mere fact that the bike was far too small. After checking out many garage sales for a "new" bigger bike, I finally found one on Craig's List. We made a trip to the home of the seller, handed over a $10 bill, and with happy smiles we loaded the bike into the car and came back home.

Aidan, now all grown up, was compelled to have a hand in the assembly of his new status symbol, so he eagerly helped his dad put the training wheels on, oil the chain, and tighten up various bolts. That's what big boys do, after all! Not to be left out, Grace hovered close by, banging wrenches on the handle bars or pedals, believing that the more noise she made meant the more she was helping. Of course, the imp in her couldn't be contained for long, and after she made the delightful discovery that a little shiny metal washer fit oh-so-perfectly in her little hand, off she ran, squealing with delight, clutching those much-needed bike parts.

At last Aidan was ready to ride, and ride he did. After spending a good half hour slowly moving up and down the side yard, he was ready to tackle the neighborhood. So with Aidan helmeted and padded, Grace on Don's shoulders, and I with Jack's leash in one hand and the other hand planted on Aidan's back (to push him up the hill) or grabbing on to his hood, we made our way around a few blocks with only one stumble.

It was a day of triumph.