Marky has been a little slow to learn to ride his bike. He rode it a little bit while it had training wheels, but I thought that at 7 years old, he should not need training wheels. So I took them off. Marky asked me to put them back on, but I told him he needed to learn to ride his bike without them.

So the bike sat in the garage and gathered dust. This was Marky's way of telling me it was either his way or the highway.

I tried several times to get him to learn, really I did! I spent many afternoons (okay, 2) in the street in front of our house pushing him along. He just would not get it.

One day I mentally gave up and bought Marky a half-bike. This is sort of a bike like trailer that rides behind an adult bike. It's supposed to help the child learn to ride a bike. Marky rode the half bike but it didn't really help him learn to ride a bike on his own. Plus, it was getting to be a pain to hook up.

So today I told Marky (with certain determination) "Your going to learn to ride your bike today." I had to convince him but after his soccer game, Marky was in his play clothes at the top of our (fairly steep) drive way. I told him to coast along until he got his balance, then put his feel on the pedals and give it a go. The first run was a total wash. The second run did better but then he hit a mailbox. The third run found Marky veering off into the neighbor's front yard. But the forth run...ah the forth run..that was the ticket! Marky started to coast, swayed from side to side, then put his feet on the pedals and turned left up the street. Before we knew it he was riding!

We are all very proud of Marky! Check out the pictures on the right and you will be proud of Marky also!

HJ