Bikin' Bubba

Oh Bubba.  Last summer we were hoping it would be the summer he'd learn to ride his bike.  Not so much.  Then we worked on it here and there.  Again...no.  After much heel digging and stubbornness from both child and parental units we took drastic measures and banned video games until he learned to ride his bike.  Why?  Due to a lack of motivation mostly.  The hope was that if he had a carrot he'd actually try.  Again...not so much.  Not once did he ask and even started planning a new birthday party since he couldn't do his original video game idea because he couldn't ride his bike.  Yeah, not kidding.

Friday I had a new "idea".  "Bubba.  For every two minutes you practice your bike you can have one minute of video game time."  Instantly his eyes lit up and he said, "So how much will I get if I practice thirty minutes?"  I said, "I don't know, you tell me.  How much is half of that?"  He was able to figure out 15 minutes.  Well now we were getting some where!

That evening he practiced for thirty minutes, with determination.  I had him go up and down the sidewalk with his feet out to the sides just to practice his balance on the bike.  He'd start at the corner and go down to the mailbox, then turn around and come back to the corner.  Not once did he whine.  Not once did he complain.  Not once did he give me any of the drama we've seen in the past.  

Saturday morning he woke up and was ready to go at it again.  This time he was able to get his feet on the pedals for a few seconds.  His eyes lit up and you could hear the squeals down the sidewalk.  After about thirty minutes we took a break.  Later that day he was begging to go at it again and after the drama we used to have I couldn't follow him outside fast enough!  Again, up and down the sidewalk he went, but this time he got his feet on the pedals for longer and longer and longer until he was pedaling down the sidewalk.  He was thrilled and I was jumping up and down clapping my hands!  Since he was having trouble staying on the sidewalk we went out to the cul-de-sac and after that he was OFF!  

Sunday there was more bike riding and more requests to go ride his bike.  Even today after school he was ready to go at it.  His confidence has gone way up the past few weeks but more so just the past few days.  I am so proud of him for finally figuring it out.