Ride Like the Wind, G-Dawg!

After about a month of trying Garrett finally learned to ride a two-wheeler with no training wheels! Those of you parents who have already experienced this feat with your children know the immense joy that fills your heart when your child works hard at something and finally conquers it.....and also because you can stop running up and down the street holding on to the back of their bike while they practice! Actually, to give credit where credit is due, it was Cassidy who really helped Garrett learn the whole bike thing. Day after day she worked with him until finally yesterday he figured out the whole balance thing and can now do it by himself. Way to go Garrett, and thanks for your help Cass! Here's my little analogy to go along with Garrett's new triumph:

Once there was a mom who loved her children very much and always encouraged them to be their best. One day her young son asked her to put training wheels on a bicycle so he could ride it. The mom agreed, and when the dad came home from work that day she asked her husband if he would put training wheels on the bike for their beloved son, since she didn't really like to have to do anything involving tools or assembling complex Lego structures. The dad also loved his children very much, but he did more than just encouraged them to be their best----he taught them how. "I will not put training wheels on the bike, my darling," he said, to the baffled protests of his wife. "Our son will learn to ride a bike much faster without the training wheels."

The wife protested, because she was, afterall, just looking for anything that would MAKE HER LIFE EASIER. (It was all about her) The mom argued that if the dad would just put the T.W. on it would make it so easy for the young boy to go out and ride his bike and the mom would not have to run up and down the street after the boy helping him balance on the bike. But the dad would not be swayed. After only a short amount of time the young boy learned to ride his bike without T.W. Although he endured much frustration and hard work, he persevered and reached his goal. Sometimes the easy way is not the quickest way, nor the best way. Sometimes we must fight and persevere and grow and change, and it might even be painful, but it is usually short lived and well worth it. And the mom, dad, young son and his siblings lived HAPPILY EVER AFTER, without training wheels.