Tour de Turtle and Other Firsts Part 1

Just so you know, I've been riding with a good friend of mine at a neighborhood park. What has become a morning ritual for us both has created a number of firsts of sorts for my son.

My little guy is learning to ride the bicycle. He's a late bloomer for that particular skill as many of his friends already know how to ride. But that's OK. I explained to my son that in the mornings after a long bike ride, my friend and I took a break on a bridge overlooking a reservoir. And for some reason, the turtles flocked to an an area just beneath our long shadows cast by the morning sun. So we just stared for a while, and then I had the brilliant idea to feed them. It worked. They came in droves. And I shared with my son that Daddy and his friend were feeding the turtles.

He would have no such thing. He HAD to feed the turtles. But he couldn't ride his bike. So I made a deal with him, being the compassionate and merciful specimen of fatherhood that I am. If he could ride his bike to the reservoir from our home, he could feed the turtles. So off we went. At times he whined, cried and threw tantrums along the way, saying he couldn't go on anymore and bike riding was just too hard. I knew better. As I pushed and he pedaled for what seemed like miles in the warm sun, he gradually began to depend less on my guiding hand, and more on his ability to ride. When we got to the park, he rode triumphantly by himself through the gates.

After much hi-fiving, we went to the bridge, threw down some food...but no turtles. What seemed like a letdown paled in comparison to the tremendous accomplishment just had. So no big deal. My son then proceeded to ride back much of the way on his own, towards home, and as he pulled into the driveway by himself in his glorious moment of victory, his mom also pulled in from work, eyes wide open, and so proud of what her son had just done! Very cool moment indeed in the Davis household. More firsts coming up. Check back for what happened next!