Pushing Limits One Set of Training Wheels at a Time

Caiden has never had an extremely keen interest in biking or other sports.  But after seeing a classmate ride her bike without training wheels, she started kicking her training wheels and saying, "Psh! Take these things off!  I don't need these!" which...she totally does.  There was no way she was ready.  She was just feeling competitive and embarrassed.  I'm starting to discern this whole other side of Caiden that comes out around her peers.  She totally cares about her image.  But, after that incident, she continued to ask us about taking off her training wheels off and on for a few months (like maybe 6 or more); and mainly because there was never a "good" time, we kept saying no.  Finally, though, the other day as I was talking to Dave about bringing Elliott to the skate park, we spontaneously decided to take off her training wheels and let her try.  Dave took Elliott in to skate, while I took Caiden around the block for a spin.

It took a bit of time for her to get her sea legs.  I'm telling you, she's not overly apt.  But eventually the little magic switch went off (it was more of a fade on light, than a contrasted off/on) and somehow she did it.  She is still super wobbly on two wheels, but she has officially graduated.  We were all so proud of her: Mom, Dad, and Brother.  Congratulations, Caiden.  You did it.  5 years old and no more training wheels!  Woot!

Meanwhile, Elliott tried a new drop in at the skate park and took on the super scary (in my opinion) 8 foot drop.  He's a brave little guy sometimes.  Just not with dogs...or cats...or any animals really.

I'm really proud of both of the kids for pushing their limits that day.  Although we did save a few limits in front of us for another time.  And I can't say I'm disappointed, either, that Elliott decided to wait on trying to drop into the quarter pipe/pool for the first time.  I am SO GLAD I didn't have to watch him hurtling down an almost completely vertical drop to the bottom of a cement pool.  Which, according to the warnings of his dad, has to be done just right to avoid eating the pavement.  I don't think I can be there to watch that one.  So scary!

This one was scary enough for a mom to watch, thank you very much!

To Fave or not to Fave

Favorites have never been my strong suit.  After watching Runaway Bride once, I really had myself freaked out.  I became really worried that I couldn't be in a relationship with my boyfriend (who is now my husband) because I thought that having no favorites meant that I didn't "know who I was."  But since then, I have come to grips with simply being someone who doesn't really have any "favorites."  Caiden is a little bit like me in this way.  She doesn't like to commit herself to a specific favorite.

But unlike me, Caiden is clever.  She already embraces her failure to commit.  Once, when asked what her favorite color was, she started naming almost all of the colors in the spectrum.  It wasn't long until she was interrupted with, "Caiden, you can only have one favorite."  She thought about that for a second and then boldly announced, "Then my favorite color is rainbow."

Now, why didn't I think of that!

Her cleverness, however, didn't help her much when she had to make a decision between four different pairs of dress shoes recently.  After finally making up her mind to go with a purple pair that only made it in the running toward the latter half of our search, she got home and cried about them because she later decided she wanted the gold ones.  Later still, she was not consoled, but now it was the hello kitty pair she longed for.  Make up your mind, girl.  You can only pick one!  In the end, she decided to be happy with the pair she had.  But now that she is satisfied I am unsettled.  I should have made her get a different pair.  Yada, yada, yada.  And the inner turmoil continues.

So what about you?  Do you have favorites or are you indecisive like us?