C Bikes Home from School (with me, of course!)
Since we live close to C’s elementary school, I thought it would be fun for me and J to ride our bikes to get C after the school day today (Friday). I told C about the possibility of me putting his bike in our bike trailer and bringing it to him to ride home and C was really excited.
Today when J and I left home, J was riding on his razor scooter and I was on my bicycle. I was pulling the bike trailer and in the bike trailer was C’s bike and helmet.
About 4 houses from home, J starts falling way behind me (he was on the sidewalk, I was riding in the street) and calls for me to “slow down and wait!” I stop and ask J if he wants to ride in the trailer. B had already shown some concern about how slow J can be. We knew he had the strength and energy to ride that far, but he can be awfully slow. We left J’s scooter on the sidewalk and J got in the trailer.
Okay - now it is me riding my bike in the street while pulling the trailer. In the trailer is C’s bike, C’s helmet and an almost 40 pound chunk of a boy. Here I am, struggling to get up a hill and wonder, “I’m not THIS bad out of shape! Jill and I just walked this a couple of days ago and I did fine.” I then realize that it is the trailer and its contents that is causing an extreme strain on my legs (and chest as I huff and puff).
Halfway to school and J calls out from the comfort of the bike trailer that has a good breeze as it rolls along the sidewalk, “Mommy, did you bring a water bottle? I’m thirsty.” I answer a simple, “No, I forgot the water bottle.” However I am thinking, “You little kid! I’m pulling you and I’m huffing and puffing and YOU’RE thirsty?! If I had a water bottle, I would be drinking it ALL!!”
Finally we made it to school. Ah! Water fountains are in my future! J and I find C. C said that he had a really fun day. (I later realized that C obviously did have a good day. Talking with friends that is. He received a G in conduct for talking so much. But on the flip side, I am glad he is making friends. We just need to work on when to talk and when not to.)
After finding C, I tell him that we need to get a drink of water and will then take him to him bike. As hot as I am, C has his flannel jacket on. Goodness, C stays cold! C did decide that it was warm outside and asked me to hold his backpack while he took off his jacket. We all got a drink of water and then went to the bikes.
I was so proud of C! As soon as we got to the bikes, C asked me, “Where’s my helmet?” C knows that helmets are required, no exceptions! I did have C’s helmet in the bike trailer and handed it to him whereby he put it on and got on his bike. J gets settled in the trailer where he is much more comfortable now that C’s bike isn’t in it anymore and I also deposit C’s backpack in the trailer as well.
C and I cross the street to the sidewalk on the other side with the assistance of the school crossing guard. The principal is on the other side and coaxes C across. She is so sweet! Once across, she calls C by his name and asked him if he had peanut butter for lunch. C replied in the affirmative and she tells me, “he loves his peanut butter!” I love that the principal is so great. She knows all the kids by name and even knows MY name. I’ve been told by my friends that she knows all the parents’ names including the names of the students’ siblings. Wow - what a memory.
Once on the sidewalk, we are ready to ride. C takes off like a rocket on his bike. It is obvious that he has been sitting still for a long time. My child with the love of the great outdoors needed to work off some energy!
Halfway down the school street, C is ahead of me and calls back, “I love riding my bike home from school!”
On around the corner and going pretty fast, C calls back to me, “I’m an airplane!” Not too far after that, C also calls out, “Did you bring a water bottle?” Where did I hear that before…?
I’m glad C is having a good time. I would like to do this more often, especially since we are heading into fall, with its cooler weather.
Almost home, on the home stretch and C starts lagging behind. J has obviously been watching C and calls for me to slow down and wait for C. I do slow down a bit, and finally stop where J had left his scooter - about 4 houses down from home. I tell J to get his scooter and by the time I got J unbuckled and out of the trailer, C had already passed us. C did beat us all home. I was second with J following on the scooter.
This was a great adventure. I guarantee I won’t forget a water bottle next time! Want to go again next Friday, my boys?