Admitting defeat, or rather a need for help, I Googled “How to not fail as a parent,” which led to the page “7 Ways to Enjoy Parenting More.” The second tip is as obvious as the dentist’s reminder to floss and is one I easily miss: “Put down your phone.” So Dave and I both did, with the rules of use being to text/call someone or look up/learn something.
Within the first hour, I’d prepared Swedish pancakes aka crepes, played hockey, colored, and counted on the abacus, and that was just the start. My conversation with Dave felt different, and better, too. Without either one of our noses pointed down at a tiny screen, we made eye contact, and our bodies faced one another. Even as we walked in and out of the room, we stayed engaged and connected conversationally, which felt good.
We ordered a couple of new books for Evelyn, one that is more advanced and is 77 chapters long. It’s the first book in the Magic Treehouse series, and since the main characters get transported to see live dinosaurs, I’m pretty sure Evelyn will be enthralled.
I was certainly taken aback by Evelyn’s request for her training wheels to be taken off. Every time the bigger bike’s been underneath her, I’ve had to hold the seat to steady her, and after one wobbly fall she’s given up And yet, having only used a pedal-less balance bike, understanding the physics of pedaling to keep forward motion is hard to wrap her head around. So when she told me she was going to ride without pedals, not only was I scared she’d fall, but I also knew it’d be over quick.
Try one had me setting my hands on her shoulders as she pressed down on a pedal. She was up, wobbled, and then both feet hit the ground. I stepped forward, waiting for her to give me the bike. But she didn’t. She defied all the laws in my head and started again. Without me. When the inevitable tip came, she caught herself. And then started again. Each time she pedaled further. With Dave watching too, I caught his gaze and shook my head, “I can’t believe this,” I told him. And after a few tries, round and round she went, even doing sharp turns to avoid the lawn and keep herself from going downhill.
I’m still amazed, hours later, that my little 4-year-old is pedaling like a grown-up.
And one more house update to do is checked off the list. Although my hand felt arthritic after the two hours of angling my hand with a paintbrush to cut in the edges, both interior and exterior door, are now a bluish-gray color to match the cute house number sign I bought off Etsy.
Still to do is painting the overhang on the back deck (will I be able to get an extended roller up that high?) and continuing to paint the millions of square footage of decking.
Uh-oh, I’m at 3% battery life on this bad boy. I better charge ‘er up and post this.
I’ll see you tomorrow. Love, Jaclynn
PS A little dancing during Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour for you too.
Going On 40 