Your First Bike!

Dear Dumplin,

Your Dad loves to ride his bicycle.  He can ride around for hours although he doesn’t do it often.  When he does, he has true contentment on his face.  I have a jogging stroller for you (that doesn’t get nearly as much use as it should).  The tire popped and needed to be repaired at the bike shop.  As he went to get the tire fixed, he decided to take you along.  This picture is a result of that trip:

I didn’t go to the bike shop with you and your Dad but I’m told the day went a little like this:

Your Dad went to the bike shop with no intention of buying you bike.  Before he opened the door to the store, what did you see?   A big purple bike in the window.

“My purple bike!  My purple bike!”

But guess what?  That purple bike was a man’s bike.  It was bigger than your Dad’s bike.  You went into the store very upset.  The store clerk went in the back to look for a suitable purple option and the above is what he came back with.  He told your Dad it was the only purple children’s bike they had.  Your Dad said it was as if the bicycle was made for you.  You immediately got on the bike and started singing, “Purple bike!  Purple bike!  My purple bike!  My purple bike!”  You love your little purple and white bike. We are still trying to teach you how to pedal but that doesn’t stop you!  You make us push you all around and you steer yourself.  It’s so cute.

It’s really special for me to watch you on a real bike this early in life.  I never learned how to ride a bike.  I’m 38 years old and I still don’t know how to ride a bike.  When I was young we didn’t live in the safest of neighborhoods and your Grandma was scared that the bike would get stolen or someone would beat me up for it.  So, she never bought me one.  I don’t even like riding exercise bikes now.  I just can’t get comfortable and it doesn’t intrigue me at all.  I imagine that’s ok because your Dad loves it and you two will have lots of fun experiences together.  I’m happy for you.  Enjoy!

Love,

Mama