Milestones

Holy moly! Sylvie can ride a bike!

This awesome afternoon felt like a lesson in parenthood, in letting go. Sylvie got a balance bike from her grandparents for her second birthday, and has ridden it a lot in the last 1.5 years. She glides comfortably on the little bike, balancing with her feet up going down hills, over curbs, and through the grass. She would watch kids on pedal bikes and ask questions about them -- we knew that she was ready for her own pedal bike.

So, a day before her birthday, we gave her a pedal bike. And we put it out in our street, and helped her ride it around, holding the back of her seat as she pedaled. Then after ten minutes of assisted riding, Kyle let go of her seat, and she was riding a bike on her own. I was stunned. When it was my turn to spot her, I had a really hard time letting go of her seat, and pulled her off the road a couple times as I was trying to help her. Obviously, I'm not quite ready to "let her go." So, Kyle did most of the spotting.

After we mastered the street in front of our house, we headed to the park, which has a large path loop, with very gradual hills and a basketball court that is perfect for riding. She rode them all! I couldn't believe it.

She fell twice, but both times got back on the bike. She had a blast. It was so, so fun. I was proud of her and loved watching her have fun on a bike. What an stellar girl she is.