It was December 2012. A few days before Christmas. My husband accepted redundancy from his workplace and was yet to start another job. He had all this time and wanted to spend it teaching his son how to ride a bike without training wheels.
This was a father and son project. I was working at the time.
“It only took an afternoon,” he recollects.
Years later I ask my teenage son if he remembers that summer spent with his dad trying to learn how to ride a bike.
“Yeah,” he responds.
“What do you remember about it?”
“Falling. A lot.”
“Were you scared?”
“No.”
Why would he be when he had his dad with him. I think my husband was slightly disappointed it took so little time to teach our boy. He must have hoped to spend more of the summer helping his son how to ride a bike.
My husband is a “hands on” dad who adores our boy.
We are a good team. On rough days he will step in when I am tired or I will jump in when I can hear his frustration. Years ago, he would spend entire evenings on the floor with his hand through the cot, patting our baby son to sleep when he could not settle.
My mother graded his fathering skills a long time ago.
“You are an A+ father,” she said. Coming from a woman with exacting standards, this was high praise indeed.
I often wonder what we are teaching our boy. Our son once said his dad was the stern and gruff one, and I was the fun and crazy one.
In his Year Six project – a memoir of his young life – our boy wrote:
So far the most influential person in my life has been my dad. He packs my lunch every morning. He gives me pocket money. And he is funny. My mum is influential too. She is annoying and daggy. But she does teach me things and I can talk to her about things.
My weird and wonderful life, T. aged 12
His acknowledgement at the front of the project said:
Thank you mum for helping me out during the tough times and dad for keeping me going all the way.
I’m satisfied with that.
Featured image by Tiffany Nutt on Unsplash
Nomad Online 
13 responses to “No training wheels”
I think while my dad always tried to influence me by being the stern one, it’s my close friendship with my mother that influenced my life.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope I will have a good relationship with my son as he grows older. Thank you for stopping by!
LikeLike
What a great story. My boys wish their father was more of an A+ dad. Oh, they love him very much, but they admit that I have always been the ‘go-to’ parent. At 26 and 24, they still share all things with me. They call me their “first responder”!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s a wonderful gift too. There were times I wished I could be the “first responder”.
LikeLike
You will be the quiet glue that keeps the home running smoothly. Never underestimate your impact, my dear. I also think that boys gravitate to their fathers (for the most part).
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Regina. They do don’t they? 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am told that when they marry, they ‘cling to their wife’s family.’ My boys are both single. I can see that happening with my oldest, but something tells me my youngest will never be far from his mama.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awwww. Great share!
LikeLiked by 1 person
😁🙏
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is so, so lovely and moving.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much Su!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love your son’s take!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha! Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person