My dad taught me how to ride a bike in our local park. He gripped the back of my neck with one hand, tightly, and ran alongside me – a method I now realise is kind of questionable, as it means he would probably have strangled me if I’d fallen off. I suppose I must not have. I was not a fast learner. I was also a scaredy-cat. I bet my dad’s back ached as he bent down beside me again and again and again. I’m sure he struggled to keep his patience – he must have longed to go home. The fact that I’m now a competent – although admittedly only just – bike rider proves he kept at it though. And to this day, however many thousands of years later, if anyone touches the back of my neck, I pedal. It’s an automatic reaction. That’s how deeply the experience is ingrained in me – it goes far beyond cycling proficiency. So when I heard that you can now pay someone to teach your kids how to ride a bicycle, I was appalled. My son has asked for a bike for his upcoming birthday, so I’m about to discover the hard way exactly how tricky, frustrating and physically testing teaching someone to ride is, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. These are the moments that maketh the mum, right? I only have just under four years of parenting under my belt, but it seems to me that… [Read full story]
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