Off With The Training Wheels!

Sure, she's a little old for this to be really awesome. But Marin is always a little slower than the average kid with physical feats. To Jon and me, this was a special triumph. It was her idea, first of all. After soccer this morning, she announced that she was ready to take the training wheels off. She had been calculating this move all week long and was mentally ready to make it happen. We took the trainers off. We strapped her helmet on, knee pads etc. and talked to her about what it might feel like to fall off her bike (It's ok, Marin, even Papa Lew falls off his bike.) She got on and took off with Jon holding her body just a little and me jogging beside her. Typical of Marin, she screamed. Then she apologized for screaming. Then she screamed some more. "I'm so scared, Mom. I'm so scared." she said when she stopped. But then her little legs kept peddling and Jon let go. A few neighbors came out to cheer her on and she became the poster child for determination. Within the hour, she had lapped the island too many times to count all by herself and was feeling like a pro, tossing her training wheels and fear behind her like it was an old hat.

Marin's occupational therapist told us a while ago that bicycle riding and eating are the two most difficult things for kids with sensory processing disorder to conquer. With a bike there is the proprioceptive (how to lean) the visual (the world around her keeps moving) the auditory (the wwhhhiiirrr of the air around her) and the tactile (hands life gripping, feet working simultaneously on the pedals.)

Today was a big day. With one of the two major hurdles out of the way, perhaps I can even attempt to put something green on her plate tonight?