Since then I have struggled with teaching them to ride. Sophie is 6 1/2 and Addie is almost 5. They should be zooming around on their bikes like other kids their age – but I have some sort of mental block when I think about teaching them. I have used the excuse that we live on a busy road to distract them when they want to go practice. I’m not sure why, but it just makes me so sad that Brad isn’t here to teach them. I have to gear up for it emotionally each time and usually I just try to avoid it. It’s also just another one of those milestones – doing something for the first time. I am getting a little better about dealing when we have a milestone, but there is always a bittersweet undertone because I am celebrating it without Brad.
Last spring I decided that I would make myself help them learn by summer’s end. I got them balance bikes and we started going on walks so they could pratice. We have had a very busy (and Fun!) summer so we really have only practiced a few times.
Last week Sophie picked up her cousins bike and just started riding.
It was so great!
(and there were a bunch a people around, so that helped me keep it together.)
She was SO excited and proud of herself.
She just kept riding and riding and it dawned on me that Brad was probably running around that tennis court with her just like he would have been if he were physically here.
Today I took the training wheels off Addie’s little bike and she was riding alone after 30 seconds. (but probably not really alone)
We went for our first Funk family bike ride and I got to feel that beautiful feeling that Brad brings when he comes. And for the first time I didn’t feel sad about a milestone. I snapped pictures and didn’t even think about crying. He was so obviously, tangibly “here” with us.