Each step your child takes towards an independent life is both exhilarating and crushing. To see this little kid take a gigantic leap forward is amazing. I mean you knew her when she was squirmy and tiny and could barely hold her head up. And that was just a few short years ago.
We've been working on bike riding. It's going way better than I could have imagined.
Freddie's already coasting for a few seconds at a time on the balance bike. Ainsley is pedaling so fast that I can barely keep up with her.
I hold the bike as she climbs on. She says "Okay, we will go really fast down the hill then when we get to that black mailbox you let go. Or I will tell you to let go."
I hold her shoulders and she begins pedaling, I don't even have to push, just steady every once in awhile, but really she's gotten that down too.
I run beside her and she screams "Let go, let go!"
But I can't, not completely. I still sense her shakiness. I can feel the wobbles in her balance.
She's ready to make the leap and go on her own. I'm afraid to see her fall.