Biker Babe

Caley continues to surprise me. She is a feisty little Sprite with the energy and vigor of a chipmunk on Red Bull. I have also noticed her determination, if she wants to know how something works, she will find a way. Do not challenge her, unless you are certain, without a doubt, that you are up for that challenge; my little Madam Fluff will take any one and anything on. Head on. Including me, but that's not the point right now, I'll babble about that another time. Today her determination and will to succeed has amazed me.

Caley has a lovely pink "Barbie" (no doubt) bicycle, with all the frills (that she ripped off) and the little training wheels. She spends most of her time on this bike, she loves it . My little Madam Fluff has developed such a need for speed and a confidence in her ability to ride that she duly announced to my husband that it was time for the "baby" wheels to come off. The training wheel on the left side has practically bent itself upward due to the strain of her taking the corners so hard and fast.

Hubby is not too keen on the idea but she persists and naturally he relents and the baby wheels come off. He prepares himself for the big lesson on how to ride a "two wheel" bike, he readies himself to go out and hold on to the back of the seat and lead her steadily in the right direction and cautiously on her way. As we walk out of the front door we hear "Look Dad, I'm riding!". Well, I'll be a monkeys bottom; zooming past us was Madam Fluff on her bike minus the baby wheels and at quite a pace I might add. She rockets around the corners and each time she passes us we are greeted with a grin a Cheshire cat would kill for and her proud little nose stuck up in the air . "See Dad" she adds with a whiney " I told you so-na-na-na-na-na!" tone in her voice, well, that would be because the next thing she said was "I told you, I could ride a bike without baby wheels."

We soon realised that the reason she kept going around and around was because she had no idea how to stop the bike. Dad tries to explain very quickly, in speed talk, each time she whizzes past, but to no avail. "Don't worry Dad, I can do it." (yeah we know and that is sometimes what worries us!) the bike comes flying past us ripping up a lovely piece of turf and without Fluff on it, thank goodness. Caley's method of stopping....jump off, finding the softest spot of turf to land on and make sure the bike continues in a direction opposite to where you landed. It worked this time but Dad is not sure this should become a habit. He leads her off by the hand and begins to teach her about the brakes and how they work. Personally, I think he was a little chuffed that he was able to participate, some how, in little Miss Independent's first riding lesson.