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November 9, 2008
NabloPoMo 3.9: Breakthrough
Jamie got a two wheel bike for her 5th birthday. Rex and I debated whether we should let her start out with training wheels (can ride from the get-go, less whining/work for us) or suck it up and make her learn to ride right off the bat (more work at the onset, but won't have to overcome the dependence). After talking with a friend (Hi, Becky!), we decided to go big-girl style.
Anyone who knows us or has read this blog for a while can probably figure out why we were a little apprehensive about going this route. Jamie doesn't take direction well. She can be whiney and wussy and just a wee bit argumentative.
And she was.
But she was also motivated. Even though lessons often ended in crying fits (sometimes for both of us), and progress was slower than I expected, she kept on trying. After a minor spill that resulted in frustrated tears, I asked her if the ride was worth the fall, and she surprised me and said that it was. I fully expected her to give up, but she got back on and tried again.
We haven't been very consistent about getting her out to practice. Life is busy and it seems like a lot of things have to happen just so to have the time, temperament and available bodies present at once. First she mastered pedaling in a straight line. Dismounting, braking and finally big sweeping turns followed. Today, out with my dad, she figured out starting off on her own, and can do tighter turns and figure 8's.
She's so proud of herself, and I'm so proud of her. She's falling without crying, trying without fighting, proud of her accomplishment without a single "but." The breakthrough has nothing to do with riding a bike, and everything to do with finding out who she is and what she's capable of.
Posted by me at November 9, 2008 10:19 PM
Comments
Way to go Jamie!
Posted by: Anna at November 10, 2008 10:27 AM
Hooray! Go Jamie!!!!!
Posted by: Bec at November 10, 2008 4:17 PM