Remember that Friday last spring when I had hernia surgery, and then two days later Chris decided that Oliver MUST have a bike and bought one just in time to return to work, leaving me to spend my recovery week chasing a new bike rider up and down the block?
I may have mentioned it here.
Well this year we had much better timing for the twins’ new bikes.
I had thought we’d wait until they turned six like we did with their big brother. But several months ahead of schedule, a neighborhood kid decided to give George a hand me down bike. We said it was a little too big for him, it didn’t have training wheels…we’d wait until his birthday in October. But for some reason, the hand me down was pulled out of its basement hiding place on Saturday. Then this happened:
And with this happening simultaneously…
…it was inevitable that Eleanor would start asking when she could have a bike.
So the following morning, Chris took her shopping and THIS happened.
Can anyone tell me why all bikes for little girls look like they were designed by Miss Piggy on crack?
Regardless, Eleanor is thrilled. Her only complaint is that it didn’t come with a bell. Apparently there was a bell they could buy, but she said they didn’t, “because it was Dora and all purple and the bike is Barbie and all pink and it wouldn’t go AT ALL.” Chris clarified that, “it was $20.”
So she’ll just have to settle for glitter streamers and a little plastic bike attached to the handle bars where Barbie, herself can sit. I don’t know about you, but we didn’t have anything like this when I was growing up. My first banana-seat ride had the single embellishment of a white basket with a few plastic daisies. And that was considered FANCY. Times have changed…
Personally, I would have just tossed the bike-shaped Barbie doll holder as I did the scooter-shaped one that came with the Barbie scooter we purchased last year. But Eleanor knew about it and thought it was cool. And as soon as we figured out how to snap it on, she expected me to run inside and get her a Barbie. “One that isn’t naked!” she yelled after me. Which anyone who has Barbie dolls in their house knows, is in fact, a legitimate request.
But that’s only half the story. Nothing is ever simple in my house. We don’t effortlessly slide into each new stage of development and we don’t always follow age order.
Oliver is now riding a bike because I made him go out and do it. Gently of course – but still. You see, months ago when I witnessed him riding a bike without training wheels, we assumed it was time to remove his. And this supremely pissed him off. He liked his training wheels. Even if he didn’t need them, they were familiar. For months afterward – until now, really – he refused to ride his bike.
But seeing his brother zipping around looked like so much fun. So he gave in to my prodding. And he had a great time.
Then for seemingly no reason at all, he dumped his bike on the sidewalk and started to cry. A disconcerting sight, as he rarely cries.
I sat down with him and asked question after question – trying to figure out what could possibly have happened to ruin the afternoon. And finally he said something that made complete sense to me: “I don’t want to be big. I’m still little.”
God – but that boy is just like me. Time moves too fast for him. He’s never quite ready for the next thing. And it breaks my heart, because it isn’t easy to live your life dreading the inevitable.
But just like me, Oliver adapts quickly once resignation sets in. And then the future looks a little brighter – not so scary.
He got on his bike the following day and never looked back.
I look at the rusty tricycle sitting in our next door neighbors’ yard. The colors faded. The streamers long since disintegrated. It once belonged to my toddlers.
My babies are growing up. Trading in three wheels for two. Soon enough, it will be two wheels for four. And as proud as I am, I can’t help but feel the sharp pang of nostalgia – fiercely missing the “little” as I lavishly praise the “big.”
It isn’t easy.
But I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Awww this brought tears to my eyes! Such a lovely, loving post Kate! And those kids of yours sure are CUTE!!! Love them!
christy recently posted..What was I saying?!
Adorbs. <3
A friend told me something at dinner last night that his dad said, and I had never considered. Friend's Dad thinks that autism and folks who are considered on the spectrum are the future. He said he didn't think that the different way they experience life, learn or understand things is a disability, but nature's way of adapting to future needs etc. They are the more advanced people. I had never thought about that, and thought it was actually kind of beautiful and neat. Just wanted to share xo.
Gwen recently posted..Why I Am the Way I Am
I love love love this. I have been trying to get my daughter to give up her training wheels for a while now. (She is also 6, but because her big brother is 8, this is her second summer with a bike.) She likes biking, but she also likes the security of those little wheels. I don’t know what to do with them (if anything) or if she’ll just ask to get rid of them one day. But it really is fun to watch them zipping around, isn’t it? Even if it’s bittersweet to see them growing in independence.
MommyTime recently posted..Urban-Language Barrier
Riding a 2 wheeler was a huge milestone in our house. I’ll be sure to hide the barbie attachment photo from my 5yo, she’ll feel robbed. She had her big sister’s purple and black bike, plain jane.
Denise recently posted..it’s been FIVE YEARS and it’s better with you here
This is a fantastic post – I enjoyed every bit of it! I, too, remember my first bike being from Sears and VERY plain!
Why must the kids grow so fast and move on to the next thing?
I can’t keep up!
Connie Weiss recently posted..On Cloud Nine
That is so heart-breaking that he doesn’t want to grow up. And it’s equally heart-breaking when they do!
We are trying to finish re-doing out studio so we have a place to put the bikes so we can finally get one for everyone in the family and finally go out and ride them. Right now the ones we have lying around are full of rust.
Lady Jennie recently posted..Harvesting Lavender
My eyes, my eyes! There’s something in my eyes! Seriously teared up a little. Tori tells me that exact same thing, sometimes. I worry about her.
No, it isn’t easy at all. It is hard and beautiful and you captured it perfectly.
anymommy recently posted..Fairy party invitations are kicking my ass
I loved the “Miss Piggy on crack” comment and I had one of those banana seat bikes, too. Hope your weekend is enjoyable! xo
annechovie recently posted..NEON CHINOISERIE PAINTING
So true about girl’s bikes! I finally turned to buying a high end bike (used on Craig’s list for the same price as pig crack) for our daughter after I found one with a “Super Flirt” theme!
My oldest is so close to 4-wheels it gives me palpitations. Maybe she will want to stick to her bike? :)
Poppy recently posted..Cosmo 7K Run – I Won!
“I don’t want to be big…”
Sigh. Oh, that boy. I just want to scoop him up!
My oldest has recently worked his way up to four wheels. With our help, of course, but how did this happen so suddenly! *I* don’t want him to be big!
Wish we had a pause button, Kate…
LOVE that last picture of your children!
I have tears in my eyes because this post is for me. It’s about me dreading the inevitable and resisting change and just wanting to plant my feet for a while. Just when I think I know myself, I don’t.
I have taken a much needed blogging break this summer, but coming here is like coming home. Thank you for this, Kate.
My first bike was yellow with a banana seat and definitely didn’t have a barbie attached to it. Times have changed. I adore your kids. And I’m pretty sure Eleanor will have her own blog one day or column…where she gets to express herself in that dazzling way she has.
heidi recently posted..being brave