Rachel’s Big Kid Blogging- Bike Wreck 101
| July 14th, 2007My 7 year-old stepson Branden is here for part of his summer vacation, and we decided to take this time to teach him how to ride his bike without the training wheels. We took him out to the park in front of our building and put him on the bike in an area with a downward slope and after about 25 tries he finally got it. This was last Sunday, and by Wednesday he was able to ride around the perimeter of the park in a full circle.
Surprisingly he didn’t crash until Wednesday. It was ironic because his Daddy was saying how he wished that Branden had a wreck so he would watch where he’s going, and so he could “get it over with.” His Dad and I were talking, and agreeing that bicycle wrecks are a rite of passage, and literally 3 minutes later he took a hard fall on the pavement. He stayed on the ground and Daddy rushed over to help him up. He scratched his knee and his finger, but not too bad. Well in our view it wasn’t bad, but as soon as he realized his cut was bleeding and we were giving him attention, he started bawling and limping. We took him inside, and took a picture of his first bicycle injury. He was crying even harder at that point because he thought I was going to pour alcohol on the cut. I couldn’t convince him that I was going to put neosporin on it and it wouldn’t burn.
Even though he fell, he was happy about two things. He got to wear bandages, and he got to show off his cut to other kids.
Here’s a picture of the scraped knee, it’s hard not to feel sorry for him with that sad face.
Then, we have a close-up because he wanted everybody to see the blood, and the cut on his finger.
Branden, Daddy, and I are happy to report that his cut is healing, and he wasn’t the least bit scared about getting back on the bike a few days later.
Now we’re working on tying shoes.
July 15th, 2007 at 9:52 am
Just wait until he hits a parked car and flies over the top *L*
Happened to my little brother. I swear I had nothing to do with it. That time.
This comment was written by pheeno.Report this comment to the moderators
July 15th, 2007 at 1:51 pm
I never had any bad crashes, just ran into my cousin head-on. We were fine. (Or maybe not, I don’t remember… )
AHHH THE BIG PUPPY EYES!! THEY BLIND ME!!
This comment was written by Meep.Report this comment to the moderators
July 15th, 2007 at 1:51 pm
Ouch! Poor kid! Hope you got some cool band-aids, like Spiderman or Spongebob or such. My seven-year-old dramatizes every little bump and scratch just so she can get the cool band-aids.
Bunny-ears, or as my daughter says it, “the hard way”?
This comment was written by La Lubu.Report this comment to the moderators
July 16th, 2007 at 5:43 am
If Branden is like my second you’ll still be working on tying shoes when he’s in middle school. Maybe Branden will get the knack or at least have a lot more desire for cool REAL athletic shoes than mine does. I’m glad he’s okay. Branden, look where you’re going!
This comment was written by Barbara.Report this comment to the moderators
July 16th, 2007 at 7:40 am
The problem with shoe tying these days is that they make a lot of slip on shoes. His mom loves to put him in sandals, and the condition that I had when he and I went and got shoes was that they have to have laces.
So we got three pairs all with laces; I’m hoping that will help the cause.
This comment was written by Rachel S..Report this comment to the moderators
July 16th, 2007 at 8:03 am
In the category of “activities not recommended on bikes”, my wife and her little brother once tried jousting (using long wooden lances cut from saplings, in authentic fashion) on their bicycles.
It didn’t go real well.
This comment was written by SamChevre.Report this comment to the moderators
July 16th, 2007 at 8:16 am
That’s a great scraped knee, Rachel. Tell Branden that he’s earned the right to wear it as a mark of pride. He’s a real cyclist now!
This comment was written by Myca.Report this comment to the moderators
July 16th, 2007 at 10:36 am
A not-really-related comment but wanted to let all your blog-stresses and co that the last date for submissions of your fine work to the next carnival of the feminists is tomorrow. You can submit here: http://cruellablog.blogspot.com/2007/07/last-call-for-carnival.html
This comment was written by Cruella.Report this comment to the moderators
July 16th, 2007 at 11:13 am
Well, by God, good for you! I run into way too many moms that would take the “let’s keep the kid from getting a skinned knee at all costs” route. Helmets, knee pads, elbow pads, gloves, the whole bit. Now the kid wears the mark of a hero. Good for him, too. The “get back on the bike after you fall” lesson is way, way more valuable than the actual learning how to ride a bike.
La Lubu: I had someone come to me at work with a cut they’d gotten, looking for a Band-Aid. I solemnly put a yellow Mickey Mouse one on them. Much jovial commentary the rest of the day. Let’s say that my reputation is such that absolutely no one was surprised that I would HAVE a Mickey Mouse band-aid at work.
This comment was written by RonF.Report this comment to the moderators