A Little Push From Behind

Aubree has four main things to learn/accomplish this summer:

1. Learn to ride a bike

2. Learn to swim

3. Learn to type

4. Master her multiplication/division facts

Before summer officially started, she managed to cross item #1 off her list.  That's right folks, we've got a bike rider!

I've been nagging Aubree to practice riding for months (years?), but she always put me off.  What changed?  Well, last week we got a bike for Bryce.
I'm not sure which was a bigger impetus - the availability of a slightly smaller bike on which to learn, or the idea that Bryce might learn before her - but as soon as she had a chance, she hopped on Bryce's bike and promptly figured out how to ride.  It took a few more days before she was comfortable on her own bike, but now she insists that she, "loves it," and spends every afternoon riding around the cul-de-sac with her friends.

The bike we got for Bryce is the perfect size for him to ride, but a little too big for him to learn to ride (he can only reach the ground with the tips of his toes).  Mark took the pedals off our old toddler-sized bike (effectively turning it into a balance bike) and I figured Bryce could start his practice on that bike.  But we ran into a few hiccups with that plan.  The first being that Thane promptly claimed it as his own  and refused to get off for more than a few moments at a time.

 The second being that Bryce wasn't interested in riding the little bike.  Instead, he put his tiptoes on the ground and set about learning to ride his own bike.  By the end of the first day, he was trying to put his feet on the pedals... and falling and falling and falling.

But more importantly, he kept getting up and getting back on.  By the end of the second day, he could get in a few pedal rotations before crashing.  By the next day (hours upon persistent hours, and countless bruises and scrapes later), he could legitimately ride a 2-wheeler!

I am so proud of his courage and determination that it sometimes leaves me in tears.  The end result of knowing how to ride is well and good, but it's the character he demonstrated during the learning process that I most admire.

Bryce spent today learning to use the brakes (an important skill, for sure!).  Now, he and Aubree are zooming around the neighborhood.  It makes me want to get a bike for myself so I can join them!

Thane following the "course" (chalk line) that Bryce makes for him

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Last week at swimming class Bryce showed similar impressive determination.  He was supposed to jump off the edge of the pool, but at the last moment he got scared, and instead of jumping out he turned around mid-jump to try to grab onto the edge.  I expected him to say, "oops," and continue on with his swim across the pool.  Instead, he immediately got out to try again.  Obviously, it was scary for him.  No one asked or insisted that he try over.  But on his own, he decided that he wanted to do better and overcome his mistake.  I was more impressed with that than I would have been if he had jumped off perfectly the first time.

Let's just pretend that his knee pads are red, okay?

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A couple weeks ago we were driving and I was trying to get Aubree to practice her multiplication facts (see learning goal #4).  That day we were working on the 3's.  I would ask a question and if she didn't answer within 3-5 seconds, I would tell her the answer.  She was not interested in participating.  

Me: "What's 3x3?"

Aubree: silence

Me: "9!"

Me: "What's 3x4?"

Aubree: "I don't want to practice now."

Me: "12!"

Me: "What's 3x6?"

Bryce (from the backseat): "18!"

Me & Aubree: ?????????!!!!!!!!!

Me: "What's 3x5?"

Bryce: "15!"

Aubree: "15!"

It was sooo hilarious to us that Bryce, just by listening for a few moments, had memorized the three multiplication facts.  And guess what?  Suddenly Aubree was extremely motivated to learn/answer quickly!

See, Aubree is 2 1/2 years older than Bryce, and because of the way their birthdays fall, she is three years ahead of him in school.  As a result of that gap, there's never been much of a push from behind, but with the way Bryce has progressed in the last few months, that's all changing.

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And because it's just not a complete post without a picture of Graham, I ask you: Would you consider this cannibalism?