Just Like Riding A Bike

Teaching Izzy to ride a bike may be one of the most challenging things Greg and I have done thus far as parents! Back when Izzy turned five, we got her a bike with training wheels. She was great with those training wheels and even proceeded to ride her bike into the big pond down the street! (That's a now-hilarious story for another day!) Once we took the training wheels off, we were faced with so many frustrations; Izzy struggled with balance, and we struggled with patience.

People of Wal-Mart

A few years later, I read about a bike camp in Katy for children with disabilities, immediately signed up, and was placed on a waiting list. For three years, we remained on that waiting list. This year, I started reading through their website. I found the protocol used for teaching children this skill, and I thought, 'hey... let's give it a try!' As I read through the instructions, it made so much sense. (Directions here if you want them!) We made a beeline for Wal-Mart and bought new bikes for Izz and Greg. For a week straight, we took Izzy outside to practice balancing. She gained balance and confidence quickly. Before we knew it, we were running alongside her, holding onto her seat as she pedaled away! It was hard... but we started letting go for a few seconds at a time. She wobbled, tumbled to the ground, and even scratched up her knee a few times. There were many tears and lots of frustrated pleading to just get off the bike and go home. Of course, this made it harder to let go the next time - both for us and for Izzy.

One evening, I was following behind as Greg held onto the back of Izzy's seat.

As he started to let go, Izzy shouted, "Dad! Don't let go!"

Greg replied, "I have to..."

The second Greg uttered those words, my heart stopped for a beat. This wasn't about riding a bike anymore. All of my concerns about Izzy heading to junior high flooded my mind. Next thing I knew, Izzy rode the bike independently the rest of the way home! We were, and still are, so proud of her progress!

While I don't want to let go and let Izzy go off to junior high, I have to. Of course, we're going to be right there beside her to catch her when she falls, help her up when she stumbles, and dry the tears. For a few months, I seriously considered going off to junior high with Izzy. I thought of all of the reasons why she and I needed to be together for three more years... and then, on this warm summer evening, I realized that I need to let go and let her do this on her own. She will be fine. She will be more than fine. She will achieve a new level of independence. This is what Greg and I truly want for Izzy, for her to be as independent as she can possibly be. It needs to start now with this baby step that feels like a big, gigantic step for this helicopter mom! It's not going to be easy, but it's what's best for her. What a privilege it was to have her with me for six years at Exley Elementary! Six years! I treasure each and every special memory that we made together at Exley. She will be just one short mile down the road from me, and while that mile feels forever long right now, I am grateful that's where she'll be.

Last Day of 5th Grade - Six Beautiful Years Together!

One of the big conversations we continually have with Izzy is that bike riding isn't easy, and it's OK to fall. The important thing is that you get up and try again. A few days after one of Izzy's falls, Greg fell off of his bike. He said that he tried to hop the curb and that it was totally worthy of America's Funniest Videos! A few days later, Uncle Jimmy was visiting... he took Greg's bike for a spin, and he fell off! While we all laughed about their falls, it was a humbling reminder... we all fall. No one has a perfect ride every time. Sometimes, it's not 'just like riding a bike'. Life is hard. Even things that are seemingly easy and "normal" can be challenging at times. Sometimes, quitting seems like the best choice. Often, staying in your comfort zone, with a strong hand holding your bicycle seat seems like the best option. Sometimes, it's super hard, but letting go, gaining independence, and reaching for the next goal is the next best step.

5th Grade Celebration of Learning

There will be tears on Izzy's first day of 6th grade... from me, not from her! She is so very excited to join her friends at McMeans Junior High. I mentioned to Izzy that mommy could be a teacher at McMeans and be with her for another few years. Her response, "No way! Mom, I'm going to be with my friends at junior high. You stay at Exley!" I had to laugh. Maybe I'm still trying to hold on a little bit longer... and maybe everything in the universe is telling me to let go.

I'm sure you're wondering where my bicycle is. Well, I had a horrible bike wreck when I was about Izzy's age. I scraped up my elbows and knees pretty badly and even had to visit the ER. I have to confess that I can count on one hand the number of times I've been on a bike since then. I know, I know. Practice what you preach, Lora! Get back on the bike. Here's the deal: I've gotten on the metaphorical bike oh so many times and really taken off. However, there are many times that I feel it's time for the next ride, to get out of my comfort zone once again, and do something new and exciting. So maybe you'll see me on an actual bike soon... riding down the road and to peek in Izzy's classroom window at McMeans... yeah, whatever!