Spencer learns . . .

Last Saturday I was informed that the night before, while I had taken Camie to a birthday party, that Spencer had learned to ride his bike. What!?!?!?! It was several hours into the afternoon and they had JUST decided to tell me. I had to see that cute little 4-year-old on his bike, so we went outside and he took right off.

So impressive!

But that is not all Spencer learned.

I was speaking at a baptism that evening so I had to prepare my talk. I was outside with him for a while, but I really could not stay out all day with him. We live on a busy street so he really can't stay out front by himself. Taneal took him around the neighborhood for a while. Spencer was just so dang excited to be riding a bike without training wheels and wanted to go for the day, not just for an hour. I don't blame him, it was pretty exciting.

He kept begging and begging to go and I told him I really couldn't. I HAD to prepare my talk. I could just see in his eyes how bad he wanted to go. I was worried he would try to go out by himself. So I told him, "you can go out with Taneal, Dad, or me. Nobody else. We will take you when we can." I had him repeat who he could go out with. And then I also told him if he went out by himself or with anybody other then me, Dad, or Taneal, his bike would get thrown in the trash. I had him repeat the consequences. He knew.

A little later I had this feeling to go look for Spencer. He wasn't in the house. He wasn't in the backyard. And he wasn't out front. I was 10 minutes away from having to leave to go speak. In my heals, I ran down the street looking for my little boy and calling out for him. I finally found him down the street in some friend's back yard. He had ridden down there by himself. Guess what had to happen? I picked up that crying kid who refused to get up off the ground, threw him over my shoulder, and walked home in heals. Yep, we threw away his bike. It is actually put away in storage saved for Nathan, but Spencer lost all privileges to it. He also went to bed for the evening. We let him out for supper and then back up to bed. I felt so bad, but I really can't have my little 4-yr-old running around the neighborhood unsupervised. I need to trust him that he won't take off.

He was pretty sad when a few days later we went out as a family for a walk and everyone rode a bike but him and he had to ride in the stroller with the baby. But I think he learned.

Not sure when we are going to get him a another bike, hopefully soon. He needed a bigger one anyways. It was just so sad that he learned to ride his bike and then next day he had to have it taken away. But I love that little guy too much to let anything happen to him. Sometimes I wonder if I am being too protective. But then I remember I do live on a busy street. Cars zip up and down it with little thought to being in a residential neighborhood. Maybe if we lived on a different street, I wouldn't be so protective. I am following my heart and listening to what I feel will help keep that precious little boy safe.

Two lessons learned.