Monday, January 29, 2007

Red Letter Day

I was sitting here, checking my email, when Brother, who was playing outside, comes up and knocks on the storm door.

"Come here," he shouts, to be sure I hear him through the door.

"What?" I ask, somewhat annoyed.

"Come here," he says, now more insistent.

"What do you need?" I am finally back up and running with my computer and am perfectly happy to have my face buried in it for the moment, thank you very much.

"Just come here! I want to show you something."

I get up and go to the door. Brother bounces down the steps and grabs his bike. I am intrigued and step out onto the porch in my socks, wondering if he is going to do what I think he's going to do.

He walks it to the end of the driveway, hops on and then takes off.

What's the big deal?

Last March we bought him a new bike for his birthday and took the training wheels off his old one. For almost a year we've been trying to coax him into giving it a shot. A couple of times we even did the whole hold-on-to-the-back-of-the-seat-take-off-running-then-let-go thing. But he was too afraid. He just wasn't ready.

But today, he did it...all by himself.

I started jumping up and down in the driveway, screaming and cheering, almost crying, acting like a complete and total lunatic. I grab the camera, I text message my husband, I call friends. The next door neighbor sees and cheers for him, too.

Next thing I know he is down the driveway, out the gate, and halfway down the street before he hits the brakes with just the right amount of pressure, slowing and stopping perfectly, just like a pro, and turns to give me a huge grin.

That's my boy.

11 comments:

Rocks In My Dryer said...

Oh, YES! One of the supreme parenting moments, surely.

the lizness said...

Hey! That is great! I remember very clearly the day Dad took off my training wheels. good for him!

MamaTeeThree said...

Oh, I know how you feel! My Kindergartner has been struggling with learning to tie his shoes and yesterday, he did it all by himself. I cheered, too, and he looked at me like I was crazy.

LiteratureLover said...

Way to go, Brother! That is quite a feat to do on your own. I applaud his determination!!

Kyle said...

Show off.

;~)

He's quite an amazing little guy, isn't he? These young guys really are starting show more and more of who they are, aren't they? You have every reason to be proud!

Pattie said...

I totally know that feeling. My 3rd grader (yes 3rd) just learned a few months ago. I should have taken the training wheels off a long time ago! It took my friend to get her to at least try and she figured it out after a few trys.

yerdoingitwrong said...

awwww. Very cool day!!

thebarefootpoet said...

AWESOME! I'll tell you what's funny, is his first "solo" ride very much mirrors my own. My folks had taken off the training wheels and I just couldn't get it. Then one day, outside by myself, I got on my sister's bike and just started riding. I'm proud of him.

Anonymous said...

Congrats! That's a big deal!

janiners said...

I can totally picture you "cheering...like a complete lunatic." How wonderful and awesome! And, isn't it great that the first person he thinks of to share it with is Mommy? Oh, I'm looking forward to those sweet moments and enjoying all the ones I have until then.

Sarah said...

That's great! Aren't you glad you got off the computer?