We had our first parental failure of epic proportions last night and it hurt. Badly.
A few days ago, Parker and I were at the park with friends when a little boy rode up with his father, each on their own bicycle. The boy's was a small bike with training wheels and the boy looked to be about 3-4. Parker stopped playing on the equipment and spent the rest of our time there oogling the bike. She went up and told long stories to the boy's father, all the while pointing at the bike. She jabbered about that bike for a long, long time.
Yesterday at Target I searched until I found the world's tiniest helmet, then purchased this bike. Parker was super excited and again, jabbered about "bike" all the way home.
Last night after dinner, R went to put the bike together. Parker was squealing with excitement when she figured out what he was doing. It was hilarious. She'd go over and give him huge hugs as if that would make him go faster. Eventually we had to leave because her "helping" was not really all that helpful. I had to carry her away screaming so I could distract her long enough for him to finish the assembly. Soon he came to get us and Parker was thrilled. She seemed to understand that the helmet was a requirement and for the first time ever let me put something on her head without fuss. We got the camera ready, we all got into place, she climbed onto her BIKE. Finally.
And it was too big for her.
Our little Peanut is, well, little. Her feet didn't even come close to reaching the pedals. She couldn't even touch the ground enough to push herself along. It became apparent quite quickly that it was unsafe to leave her on the bike. So we had to take it away from her.
The look on her face and her woeful cries of "biiiiiikkke" were horrific to endure. You'd think we'd mutilated a puppy in front of her or something. It was awful. R hid it in the attic so she will not have to look at it and suffer every time we go into the garage. We both felt like complete failures.
First thing this morning we were getting into the car to go to the park. Parker looked around the garage and said "Bike????"
The first of many things for her to discuss at her future therapy sessions.
1 hour ago
12 comments:
Aww! So SAD!
We got one of those big wheelish-type bikes at a garage sale for $5, and I think even new they are only about $20ish. Maybe one of those until she grows into it?
Poor pumpkin. We've had many a moment where Lucy wants to do what Bud is doing and just can't because she is so so tiny. Maybe you could rig it somehow so you can push or pull her on it?
case in point---Power Wheels. We bought them for both kids but Lucy just does not get it--very frustrating.
We have this where the base converts to a handle and there is a spot for their feet and pushed both kids around on it when they were just too little to pedal. A little different than a real bike, but maybe it would work?
Oh NO. Poor Parker! And you set this story up so well!
Can you find a smaller bike? Or was that one already the smallest bike in existence? In which case maybe she'd like a wagon?
If it makes you feel any better, chances are if she could touch, she wouldn't get it. We bought charlotte a trike that she loves (an old-fashioned radio flyer) and she can sit on it and reach the pedals and everything because she's huge for her age, but doesn't undersdtand how to pedal. And when daddy pushes it, she doesn't understand how to steer. She just goes in circles. LOL
Parker's too cute though!
We have the exact same problem, except that we bought that bike when my son turned 1. At 2.5, he STILL is too little for it.
I was going to say what Tessie said. What about one of those big wheels / trike things with the long handle for you to push? That way if she's still too little to use her feet, you can push her.
Poor little thing. I feel so bad for her. It's only a matter of time before I have to see Maddie that upset.
I would suggest getting a little tykes ride on car- the kind they straddle and then push around with their feet. My tiny girl cannot reach the pedals on our tiniest tricycle, but can navigate the little car really well. And she calls it her "bike". If you go throught the whole helmet routine, she may begin to think of it as her "bike" too.
And don't feel so bad. Children are VERY resilient. I promise.
Awww.... poor Parker! I know how that must have broken your heart.
I too wonder if a ride-on toy would be acceptable in the mean time. We bought the Little People Fire Truck ride-on just this past weekend. I would disable the sound though. As Jake likes to say, the song it plays when Bridget pushes the button "is the sound of going crazy." But she loves it so I don't have the heart to turn it off.
Aww, that is so tragic. Sounds just like Zachariah. He cries and screams (like no other time) when he has to come in and stop playing in his new sandbox. Every time so far (except the day my mom was here to distract him with the wagon while I quickly hit the sandbox) he has lost it. It's so sad. I feel bad.
You can go to a bike store (like a true cyclist shop for real athletes) and find some pedal "risers" that strap on with elastic bands and will elevate the pedals. I used those for my twins on their tricycles until they could reach.
Also, tried to comment before but cannot ever get it to work, so I get frustrated and give up.
Try burying a St. Joseph statue in the back yard if you are desperate. Had a friend do it and sold the house two weeks later. Yes, she was desperate!
Ok. Just enlarged the picture with your husband and should have looked before I commented. But, hey it went through so I am excited! Are the pedals way up on the front wheel? I don't know if the risers will work that much. But, if she really wants to ride you can probably find a bike that will work. Mind started on the good old fashioned Radio Flyer tricycles with the risers. My third got the smallest bike with training wheels and has been riding that like a manic since he was 2 and for kicks I thought he would be able to take off the training wheels and handle it, so we took them off two weeks after his 3rd birthday and he took off. He whips around like crazy and I now call him Evel Kenievil (spelling?). 3years, 2months old and he is now attempting "stunts". Cracks me up, but gives me gray hair.
Research the St. Joseph thing and give it a shot to tell me if it works. Forget the wacky realtors!
Awww, maybe she could just push it around...
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