Father of the Year

ejgorman

After a tumble on her balance bike a year ago thanks to her Grandpa, my daughter decided she wanted to give it another go. We quickly discovered that her balance bike was way too small so we jumped in the car to buy her a new bike. Of course she wanted to ride it today. On the way out, my wife hands me a supply of protective gear. We get to the local school parking lot and I take a quick survey. Helmet check. Hello Kitty knee pads, elbow pads and gloves; We don't need no stinkin' knee pads, elbow pads or gloves! She's got training wheels for crying out loud. She cranks the handles 90 degrees on a downhill slope and goes ass over tea kettle, scrapes her knee and all hell breaks loose. I tell my wife it's good for her...builds character. Hell, I didn't even have training wheels, got a running push from my dad, crashed into a tree, I survived, the tree didn't. And I got my ass back on that bike. Daughter will too, but next time it will be in Hello Kitty safety gear and wrapped in bubble wrap. 

avengethis

All 3 of my kids are now training wheels free.  The 2 younger ones looked at me a week ago and said we are too big for these things,  take them off please daddy. 

Bob_Luken

Thanks for sharing this with us. Good luck on your next attempt. 

My son, at exactly four years of age, and on receipt of his first "real" bike, demanded immediately that the training wheels be removed. I took them off and I padded him up fully expecting him to crash and for me to re-install the training wheels. It was a 15" BMX style bike and almost too big for him.  I pushed him across the yard and after a couple of failed attempts, (one of which he assured me I was totally to blame) he soon grasped the concepts of inertia and balance. We rode everywhere together. I say keep 'em padded. and, keep 'em on the grass until they "get it". They will crash but, doing those two things removes the fear of a painful crash and let's them focus on riding instead of falling.  

jarubla

I have one child left still using training wheels. He is a bit of a shrimp, and usually happy to take the razor scooter instead when the kids all want to pedal around the block. Gonna have to get him a big kid bike soon.

I can still remember when my dad helped me on my first bike. Helmets were a foreign concept back then...

Goodonya for helping your lil girl with learning how to ride!

The3Stogies

You're a good dad, daughter may never be a knee model though, lol.  

twistedstem

Sometimes the best thing you can teach your child is to get back up after a fall !!

comes in handy a lot in life