I had thought that when AJ learned to ride his tricycle, that Owen would want to keep up with his little brother and decide to learn to ride his bike too. Alas, I was wrong.
Owen does NOT care about keeping up with others.
Owen does NOT care that AJ can ride a bike and he cannot.
Owen is quite content to ride in the wagon when we go for a walk, as AJ charges ahead on his tricycle.
Owen is NOT athletic. At all.
Owen does NOT give in to bribes to ride his bike.
Just last week, I tried to get Owen to ride his bike to the end of the driveway and back to which he promptly replied "no thank you".
I countered with, "What if I took you to the movie store and rented you a movie? THEN would you ride your bike a little?"
"No thank you. We can watch a movie another time"
"Not even if we rented Air Buddies?"
"Air Buddies??" he replied, perking up.
"Yeah! Air Buddies!! You ride your bike a little, and I'll help you, and then we'll go rent Air Buddies!! OK??!"
"No. No Air Buddies today"
Rats. Foiled again.
So Saturday we're out riding around, going for walks in the neighborhood, etc. etc. I was tired of pulling Owen in the wagon (rolling eyes) so I said I was taking a break, but AJ and Steve-o kept riding on up the street. Once again, I tried to get Owen to try to ride his bike.
"Owen, wanna ride your bike a little?"
"No. We'll just sit"
"But I don't want to sit. I want to ride bikes"
"No. You sit here with me mama"
***Lightbulb goes off****
"You know Owen, if you practice riding your bike, pretty soon we could ride bikes down to Jordan's house".
(Jordan is the 6 yr. old son of friends of ours - they live around the corner and Owen absolutely WORSHIPS the ground that Jordan walks on).
Owen says, "To Jordan's house?" a little skeptically.
"Yeah" I said. "If you practice riding your bike for a few days I bet you could learn to ride it well enough that maybe next weekend we could ride to Jordan's house"
"Oh! Okay! Come on! Let's ride the bike mama!"
After he thoroughly checked the stability of his training wheels to make sure he wouldn't tip over, he was game to ride his bike and was just climbing on when Steve and AJ got back. With an inordinate amount of praise from Steve and I both he was glowing at his accomplishment. He's still wobbly, still not very good, falters quite a bit, but he got on the seat. He pedaled. He even went about 4 feet all by himself. And that, for us, is a victory. :)
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6 comments:
Hooray for Owen...and really...Hooray for the non-athletic children everywhere!
I hate that I was not present to witness this feat...I want to see it!
Non-athletic children everywhere--that sound gross :) Just kidding! I don't know what to say so I'm being a smartpants to someone I know only cyber-ly(?).
Casey - You know the Nowacks are in the Witness Protection Program, right? Have they told you yet? You're really only a good friend if they've told you this.
LOL. I should be sorting our filing drawers but this is so much more fun.
Awesome Owen!!
Our Drew was like that-content to ride BigWheels til he was eighteen and we kicked him outta' the house. Yep, pack up the BigWheel and head on out to Cal-E-forn-I-A.
wmzip: not EVEN going there!
Casey - "non-athletic children everywhere" *snort* that made me chuckle. I forgot that you and Owen have that trait in common. :)
Amy - why are you filing your drawers?
Are you smoke'n crayon shavings today or what?
Good for Owen! We each to have our own incentive, and I guess you found his. Soon he and AJ will be riding and you and Stephen won't be able to keep up with them!!!!!!!! Hey not every kid can be athletic - he'll find his nitch!
Tammi-
I should smoke some, Lord knows I pick enough of them up off the floor EVERYDADGUMDAY!
Yes, that IS one word.
Chuckle--that's gross.
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