Around our house the boys in the neighborhood ride bikes at least 98% of their sunny free time hours of which a good percentage of that time is spent racing. The bike is an important piece of equipment in Kidworld. (Not unlike the prestige of your vacuum cleaner in Momworld.)
Last year Ethan had the fastest 16" bike among the 5 to 6 year old set. He would come through the door with his head held high laughing about all the poor schmucks still trying to make it around the block. "Ha! Ha! Ha!" he would laugh holding his puffed-up chest, "Those guys just aren't as fast as me!"
Yes, he was ripe for the fall.
So, along comes the sunny weather of 2008 and out come all these brand new 20" bikes and even one 24" 7-gear jobber on which his bestest buddy, Jackson, spent $350 of his own hard earned cash. (ahem) It didn't take long for Ethan's delusions of superior bike-riding strength, grit, and, skill to come crashing down around his itty bitty 16" tires.
He came in very upset day after day because he couldn't even keep up with the other boys and his knees were hitting the handle bars and the pedals are locking up when he goes too fast! He thought he needed a new bike. I told him that he should be happy with the bike he does have and that thousands of starving children all over the world would be so grateful if they had a bike like that.
After some deliberation I told Ethan that Dad and I had decided that we could go out and take a look at some bikes and see how much they cost. "What do you think about that?" He thought it was a great idea. "Mom, maybe you should bring a few dollars just in case we see one that we should buy." I told him that we needed some time to get the money allocated for this expense. "Alright," he resigned. Then after a moment, "I think I need a bike with a motor! Can I get one with a motor?"
Last year Ethan had the fastest 16" bike among the 5 to 6 year old set. He would come through the door with his head held high laughing about all the poor schmucks still trying to make it around the block. "Ha! Ha! Ha!" he would laugh holding his puffed-up chest, "Those guys just aren't as fast as me!"
Yes, he was ripe for the fall.
So, along comes the sunny weather of 2008 and out come all these brand new 20" bikes and even one 24" 7-gear jobber on which his bestest buddy, Jackson, spent $350 of his own hard earned cash. (ahem) It didn't take long for Ethan's delusions of superior bike-riding strength, grit, and, skill to come crashing down around his itty bitty 16" tires.
He came in very upset day after day because he couldn't even keep up with the other boys and his knees were hitting the handle bars and the pedals are locking up when he goes too fast! He thought he needed a new bike. I told him that he should be happy with the bike he does have and that thousands of starving children all over the world would be so grateful if they had a bike like that.
After some deliberation I told Ethan that Dad and I had decided that we could go out and take a look at some bikes and see how much they cost. "What do you think about that?" He thought it was a great idea. "Mom, maybe you should bring a few dollars just in case we see one that we should buy." I told him that we needed some time to get the money allocated for this expense. "Alright," he resigned. Then after a moment, "I think I need a bike with a motor! Can I get one with a motor?"
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