Play-Learn-Grow-Repeat

From Wednesday Mom – Janelle:
Last weekend marked another milestone for Jack.  He learned to ride his bike without training wheels.  We’ve been practicing for awhile, and his persistence really paid off.  Jack announced he wanted to take his training wheels off his bike because he saw a friend of his riding without them.  We agreed it was time and off those wheels went.  We borrowed a tall handle that attaches to the back wheel which alleviated the back strain when trying to teach a child to ride.  I highly recommend one.

Jack rode further and further each day we practiced without any assistance.  His confidence level went from a one on the first day to a ten in a few days.  It was a good learning experience for him to realize the more you practice the easier things are, just like all of life’s lessons.  From the start, I told him some day it will click and you’ll get the hang of it. He assured me last weekend it “clicked.”  Finally, on Sunday he was able to go the length of our street and around the cul-de-sac. Daddy witnessed it first.  Jack was was so proud of himself and ran to find Tate and I so he could show us his skills.  It was a proud moment for all of us.

Jack is still working on getting the bike going from a stand still.  He knows to put one foot on the pedal and push off with his other foot, but knowing and doing are different.  It’s a hard task, but with time he’ll be zooming all over the place. My husband and I look forward to bike rides with him in the future.  Brother Tate tries to mimic what Jack does on his balance bike including lifting his hands off the handle bars.  Oh, how I remember those days.  Soon it will be Tate’s turn to learn and we can all ride together.

From Monday Mom – Neetika:
My Haley is definitely a handful. I love that she is spunky and independent for her age, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to deal with. Lately Haley has been asserting herself in quite an inconvenient way—by refusing the stroller. She wants to walk. It’s very stressful and cumbersome to get out of the apartment and negotiate the city streets when she won’t sit in the stroller. What’s worse is that she does not want to be carried and does not want to hold my hand.

Out on the street. In New York City. Yeah.

Not so good for a small toddler. I must maintain full focus to keep her on the inside track of the sidewalk. If we approach a busy street or find ourselves surrounded by pedestrians, I pick her up whether she likes it or not. It takes massive strength (for me) to keep her in my arms.

Curiously, she goes out with Dad without a problem! She loves holding his hand or being carried by him. She may resist the stroller with him too, but eventually she’ll acquiesce. She gives Mama a much harder time.

Haley isn’t always ready to break free. Sometimes she needs her mother and cannot be settled down by anything else. After bath time, before bed, during wake-ups, and first thing in the morning, she wants her mother and you better not stand in her way. Those are the only times she wants to cuddle with me. If I go in for a hug when she’s not in the mood for one, there’s a fair chance that I’m risking physical injury.

Being a parent not only takes patience and mental endurance—it’s physically demanding too! Often I’m downright sore from dealing with Haley’s antics by the end of the day. I know that she’s particularly challenging with me because I’m the person she trusts the most. Testing her boundaries is a crucial part of her development. I’m learning to pick my battles. My strategy is to her explore, keep her safe, and wear my good sneakers.