For years Ben and I tried to get Paul to ride a bike, but he just wasn't interested. Skateboards were his vehicle of choice, and his preferred method of riding was on his knees, not on his feet. When his friends started riding scooters, he'd ride along side them on his skateboard. When they started riding bikes, he was happy to stand and watch them, run along side, or keep them company on his skateboard. Occasionally we'd try to teach him how to ride a bike, but, as a friend said, "the kid has to want to ride; you can't make them," and we'd end up putting the bike back in the shed to wait for that day when the desire would strike.
About a year ago, we watched in amazement as Paul suddenly started to teach himself to ride his scooter. We stayed out of the experience, letting go at it with his own pace with just a few "way to go" comments from us, but we were delighted for him and took a lot of pleasure from his pleasure in his new skill.
And then, suddenly, yesterday, when Paul's friend, Evan, said "bring your bike over with you," Paul did. Nice Ben dropped what he was doing and got the bike out of the shed, pumped up the tires, and adjusted the seat to a good height. It turned out that Evan's back dirt drive was the perfect place to try out his wheels and Evan was the perfect teacher: he gave Paul pointers and encouragement and then pedaled back and forth while Paul tried doing it himself. For some reason Paul had caught the desire and before you knew it there he was, pedaling and staying upright while he moved forward, much to his delighted surprise!
Once he knew he could do it at Evan's, he tried it at our house, and Ben and I watched in astonished pleasure throughout the day as he pedaled down our drive, and, later, around our grassy field.
Doesn't he look quite pleased with himself? We're so tickled for him. It sure made for a great Mother's Day!
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