First Bike Ride

“It is one thing to show your child the way, and a harder 
thing to then stand out of it.” - Robert Brault

Today my little girl rode her two wheel bike all by herself.  She had been riding it back and forth in our small patio and today she showed me that she could ride it and not fall off.  I felt so proud and at the same time so guilty for not having been there to teach her.  It also reminded me that she learned to ride her 4 wheel bike when she was 2 all by herself also.  She first started trying in our small living room and one day she just took off. I had been really busy then, surviving in my new teaching job.

The pain of the guilt for not showing her, holding her and making sure she wouldn't fall hurts, but at the same time I realize that maybe stepping back and giving her room to try on her own is what she needs.  I've never felt very secure on a bike and I wanted to wait until I had enough time, the perfect place and safest to show her how to do it.  But she did it on her own and I am glad because I didn't want to pass my fears on to her.

Parenting is a balance between helping, guiding and stepping back.