License to Trike

I admit to my ridiculousness.  I am overjoyed that Max learned how to ride his tricycle.  I’ve been telling everyone about it, but no one seems too excited about it.  They politely smile, give me a quizzical look and continue talking about something else.

But me?

I spend an hour everyday marveling as he pedals in circles in front of our house.  Andres thinks it’s cute that I think it’s such a big deal, but he doesn’t quite understand it.

First of all, I’ve been waiting almost a year for this moment.  I planned on giving Max a Radio Flyer tricycle for his 2nd birthday, but a month before, our friends gave us a hand-me-down trike in excellent condition.  The only problem was that Max’s legs weren’t long enough to reach the pedals.  The trike had an odd adjustment, so that to move the seat closer to the pedals, you also had to make it higher, so we have been stuck waiting for him to grow.  Eight months later and he’s finally ready to go.

I should mention that Andres is a huge cyclist.  This is Max’s first step in following in Daddy’s footsteps and it touches me.  As much as my husband may annoy me at times, he is the man I love.  He is the man I want my sons to emulate.  I love it when they pull out Daddy’s shoes and walk around the house.  Those are the shoes they are growing to fill one day.

Most of all, the tricycle represents Max’s first taste of freedom.  Those are his wheels, all three of them.  It’s his first vehicle to explore the world.  As a child, I spent almost everyday on my bike.  It was my means of independence.  It’s also a skill, not just something he had to learn like sitting upright.  He took a few hours, concentrated hard and mastered it.  I am so proud!

To honor this moment that only I care about, I made him a License to Trike.  I just used clip art from our computer and a no-heat laminating kit from the office supply store.  Max wears it with such pride every time he trikes.  Because he and I know the truth: IT IS A BIG DEAL!

GO MAX!  GO!