Lessons Learned

TEACH THEM TO RIDE...

It was a beautiful morning, with a little breeze and low humidity... just enough cloud cover to keep the heat at bay. I had some company coming over and needed some time to finish cleaning up a few things in the house. The kids finished their morning chores, and I sent them outside to play so I could get things ready for the guests. My son who had just turned 3 a few week previous wanted to ride his new bike. The only problem was that he didn't know how to ride a bike with a set of pedals. I told him to keep practicing on his Strider (a bike with no pedals that he was really good at) and that Mommy would come out and help him when I was done with my morning chores. He sat down and cried and begged for me to stay and help him. I tried for a few minutes, and got frustrated from his lack of understanding... I told him I needed to get some things done and that it would have to wait. He continued to cry, I continued inside..

As I stepped into my home, I had the thought that I should go out and teach him how to ride, and the other "stuff" on my to-do list could wait. "But I have laundry to put away and messes to clean up before my guests arrive!" I said to myself. I guess the feeling got the best of me, because I marched back outside to where my son was still a puddle of tears and frustration. I apologized for leaving him and told him to get on the bike and I would teach him.

After about 15 minutes of working with him, he understood the concept and was able to ride on his own! I could see the joy beaming from his face with each pedal stroke. He truly had transformed from defeated to achievement. What a little priceless moment for both of us.

So what lesson did I learn? TEACH THEM TO RIDE-- also known as... stop and take time for your kids. There will always be a never-ending To-Do list and sometimes it will be so overwhelming that the last thing you want to do is take a break and play. But in those moments when your children ask for your help or want you to BE with them, that's exactly what you need to do-- STOP and TAKE TIME for your kids. After my son learned how to ride, he didn't want to stop! He continued riding bikes and we enjoyed celebrating together his big accomplishment. I stopped and just embraced the joy of the moment. All it took was a little humbling reminder that my first and most important job is not "house cleaner" but "MOTHER..."