Last summer Ev learned how to ride her bike, training wheels off and all. There was a small crash late in the season last year and that resulted in a very minor skinned knee.
Fast forward to this summer, with us being so busy and Ev obviously harboring some reluctance in her heart- no bike riding. Until I said something about it and we all said "Oh yeah we should do that"
Two days ago, in the evening, Ev asked Les to help her practice her bike, he agreed and they went out to do just that. And that's where things went sour.
Despite the calm attitude of her Papa and many reassuring words, Ev just did that Ev thing and turned into a complete stinker. She whined, she moaned, she made declarations about hatred (the bike), incompetence (her parents), she flat out refused to out her feet on the pedals, she screamed. Les ended the session.
Then I got wind of the entire story and I intervened. And then things went beyond sour.
I had the gall to attempt to question Her Royal Highness and well, she hates that. The information that I gleaned from this unwanted interview was that she :
1) hated her bike
2) hated riding her bike
3) was uncertain as to why we would purchase such a thing for her
4) that she was NEVER going to ride it again
5) the bike was stupid
Well, I thought to myself, we shall see if you want this bike Miss Mouthy Mouth Stubborn Face.
I had her put her shoes on and go to the garage. I had her walk her bike to the curb and then I told her that if she hated it so much and it was so awful that she could leave it there for the trash.
Cue the drama.
Red faced, snotting, tight shouldered drama.
Imagine the tragedy of this moment and you will just laugh. I know! I am mean, but really it was so heartbreakingly tragic it was funny (though I never laughed). I mean the only person in the world who didn't know I was bluffing was The Bike Hater.
Picture this: Tiny diminutive girl in a silk night gown, standing on the curb, screaming. SCREAMING " BUT I WANT IT BUT I WANT IT BUT I WANT IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tears rolling, face beet red, death grip on the bike, scowling face, just shaking with rage at the complete unfairness of what was happening.
I said , "ok then show me you want it, ride it".
She straddled that bike and she moved it, and she whined and moaned and whimpered and complained. It was the worst that I have ever seen her behave. She was a force of nature- whiney, petulant, hateful nature.
Back to the curb with the bike.
Mama leaves to come in house and see what Screaming Bike hater will do now.
It seems that she will stand, shoulders hunched, pink bike helmet askew on her head, staring angrily at the house and emanating pure rage. Then it thundered. I swear, for a moment, I though she called that thunder to her aid. I know it's weird, but we will always treasure that moment of her braving the forces of nature to protect what is hers- that's Ev. That's how strong she is. This is what I am up against every single day. Not in a bad way, just Strength, just this immovable little rock of a person. My God how I love her!
Kid pried away and brought inside.
Kid up to her room where she stood in her bed and watched her bike laying on the curb from her window and screamed her displeasure out to the world.
I thought someone would call the cops.
After a terrible amount of time (no longer than 5 minutes I swear). She was permitted to go and get her bike and bring it to the garage. She told us, all on her own accord, that she would practice every day.
And for two days she has geared up and went out and muttered and complained and practiced. It was the take off that was the issue, and today she got it.
I am sitting here now listening to the happy "ting!" of her bike bell and proclamations of "I am a bike rider from way back!" I can hear her saying, nay shouting with joy, "I am riding in the grass now!"" I am going all of the way down the driveway now!". It seems the accomplishments are stacking up at an exponential rate.
Now....
Before you go away thinking we are evil and cruel let me explain some things.
Ev had been bordering on emotional breakdown for days, what with the new brother coming and the harried parents swirling in chaos around her. Ev had partially convinced herself that she did not want her bike, but I knew that she did and I knew I had to prove that to her. I also know that she is 6 and you can not reason with words sometimes. I knew that she had this perfect storm of life changes, bike frustrations and independence with a bit of those old trust issues rearing their heads. I know that sometimes I want and desperately need an excuse to completely and utterly loose my grip and get down and dirty with the fit throwing. So I planned it all. Yes I did. I knew that she would get that mad and I knew she needed it. We never shouted at her, we never lost our cool, we were actually as kind as we could have been, firm and unyielding but kind.
So this war is at an end. My heart is light as I hear her out there shouting out her bike comings and goings. I can hear her pride, her joy and it is wonderful. Because it was more than the bike. It was all of it and she needed a release and she got that and some new mad biking skills at the same time.
I can not wait to hear her version of this when she is grown.
oh! And the cops never came.
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