An Independent Fourth

We had a really nice 4th of July holiday. The boys and I spent the extended weekend in Kalida visiting with Nana and Pappy Gerdeman and Aunt Jill. The weather was mild and the boys were in good spirits. They behaved well at mass. AMEN. They went fishing with Pappy and Aunt Jill. (Thanks Aunt Jill!) They ate wild raspberries and homemade ice cream.

The highlight of the weekend, however, was definitely Jack’s success on a two wheel bike (with NO training wheels). Road 20, Pappy’s patience, and Nana Gerdeman’s great investment in concrete, all contributed to the big moment. Jack is still spilling over with a sense of accomplishment. As a mother, his success was all the sweeter, because there was no pressure, not expectation, just the idea that he could learn if he wanted. I loved watching him persist — pushing himself, encouraging himself, and really understanding for the first time in his young life the value of committing himself to a goal.

Isn’t learning to ride a bike a wonderful life lesson? Up until this point, his big milestones were developmentally driven like walking and talking. Jack had to choose to learn, choose to get back up, choose to trust himself.

As a mom, I have lots of Mom Wishes for my boys. I want each of them to have self confidence, but maybe more importantly I want them to understand that sometimes in life you fall down, your self confidence can take some hard hits and in the end you have to be prepared to push yourself, encourage yourself, and commit yourself to achieve the hardest (and often the most rewarding) goals of life. Just like riding a bike, if you want to pedal along without training wheels, by your own power — you have to want to learn, you have to choose to get back on . . . so off Jack now rides . . . a truly independent achievement on Independence Day.