Big Boy, Big Ride

Last summer, Lizzy, Peter, and I enjoyed many bike rides around our neighborhood.  Lizzy would ride her own bike, and Peter would sit in his bike seat on the back of my bike.  It was wonderful.  But a lot has changed in a few months that has made bike riding a little tricky lately.  Lizzy's bike is broken (bummer, but she's getting a new one for her birthday), Peter has gotten way too big to ride on my bike with me (plus, he's got his own big bike now), and Catherine is too little to ride on my bike yet.  Peter has been itching to ride his bike to the little school down the street, but it's been logistically difficult.  Plus, he'd have to ride on some busy roads, and that makes me nervous.  Finally, he came up with a good solution.  He told me girls could drive to the park, and boys could ride their bikes.  It sounded like a pretty good plan, so we gave it a try.  I was so nervous waiting for him to arrive at the park.  Could he really do this?  Would he be safe?  I have never been more relieved then when I saw Pat and Peter riding down the street toward the park.  Peter had a huge smile on his face, and a swagger in his step.  I was reminded again how important it is to give Peter (and all the kids) these chances to spread their wings and feel "big."  It was flashed in my face once again how very big, and capable, Peter has become.  He's not a little guy anymore, and he's ready to do all sorts of big stuff.  The really tricky part will be for me to have the courage to let him give it a try.