Despite the hours and the frustrations and the tears and the tatrums, it never happened.
Even when I tried to help out by learning myself alongside him so that he had some confidence it never worked.
So, in desperation, signed up with the council for lessons to help.
learn to ride a bike, the pamphlet screamed at me. Well I didn't want to learn how to ride one, afterall I am in my earlyish 40s, and eldest son taught me last year how to ride his. Ok I am not brilliant, not going to set out on the tour de france anytime soon, but I can ride the bike to the bottom of the road and back until the physio told me that it was putting a strain on my back and neck, well seemed like a perfect excuse to stop.
Doesn't help youngest child though does it. Every year he sits and watches his friends go by on their bikes as they play outside. Every year he tries to ride his, really tries, but somehow the confidence isn't there and so his friends leave him behind.
This year though, that pamphlet gave me an idea. As I live in the borough it was only going to cost me £10. £10 for two, two hour lessons where someone else has the privilege of teaching him how to ride. £10 to pay someone else to get frustrated when he does the opposite of what you tell him. £10 to let someone else take the strain, so you don't have to, £10 for reduced blood pressure, and go shopping in peace knowing that your child is being taught properly, is in safe hands.
For that his bike was given a full inspection, an MOT of sorts, they showed him how to look after it and when I got back from the shops to pick him up, he was riding it, yes really riding it! My son can now ride his bike yippee!!
Every penny of that £10 is worth it!
I let him ride round the park, taking the long way round back to the car park, it was great to see his confidence building. There are so many things that he feels a failure at, to see him actually know he has accomplished something, he has achieved something, he has mastered was well worth every penny of that £10.
Tomorrow he masters how to go up and downhill and steer round corners, he can't wait!
