It is NOT just like riding a bike.

In a quest to get ready for our summer project, we pulled all of our bikes out and spent some time getting them tuned up and road ready. It has been a lot of talking it through to convince one of us (the youngest) that biking will be fun and good for us and it won't be that bad. A new bell and some spiffing up started to get him excited, but the real encouragement for him didn't come until I got on my bike. Now, before you judge me, when was the last time YOU were on a bike? And NOT a stationary bike, because those don't count! I was gravely mislead in my thoughts that my spinning classes would have me ready for my real bike. Anyways, I got up on my bike and started to peddle out of the driveway and I FREAKED OUT! Bikes are VERY wobbly! And our road is all bumpy and uneven! When I got up on that bike and tried to ride down the road, my boys bonded in a way that I have never seen before. They were delerious with laughter and tears. They made fun of me like I have never experienced in all my days of being a mom. I don't think my kids have actually watched me be so completely inept at something before. My weakness became their strength (I think there's a lesson in that.). Suddenly there were no more complaints about how hard it is to bike somewhere, they were just so excited to be so much better than me at something that it spurred them on to ride circles (literally) around me. I, however, made it about 30 feet and declared our project OVER. There was going to be no Pearson's Unplugged. We were finding a car and we were going to be driving it - EVERYWHERE! Stupid project.
The boys convinced me to keep at it because, after all, it was just like riding a bike! That is a dumb saying. The next time someone says that, I think you should ask them when the last time was that they actually rode a bike. Eventually my competitive nature kicked in and I persevered and made it all the way down the road. I'm still not comfortable and I'm scared of the cars, but I guess practice will get me rolling along.
So, when you see me riding along this summer, you WILL NOT honk at me or laugh at me. You can give me lots of room when you pass me and you can wave in a kind and encouraging way. While you are out driving your car, killing the environment, you can thank me for my contribution to keeping the planet alive and well. I may end up dead myself, but the planet will be a bit healthier.