My 3.5yo son can now ride a bike without training wheels! He’s been riding a bike with trainer wheels for about a year before now. But now, he can balance it all by himself!

We didn’t really pushed the idea on him. We just waited until he showed some interest, and asked to ride “the wobbly bike” by himself. He did so well on his first go! Yeeps, I’m gushing with pride!

On reflection, as a parent, I actually believe these experiences are better the second time around.

Of course, his big brother did the same thing 2 years earlier. And of course I was gushing with pride then. But I distinctly remember being completely intoxicated and floored by the whole NEW-ness and FIRST-ness of the event. I was bubbling over with excitement and terror.

And after you’ve experience that feeling, I guess, there’s always that little speck of fear that these kind of childhood milestones might lose their charm after you’ve seen it once.

This time, with my second child, my perspective was much different.

This time, I was struck by how this achievement made my son feel. I saw how excited, confident and proud HE was.

The fact that he had done this “big boy thing” made him glow with inner strength. He knew he had conquered something difficult… and man, it made him feel good.

The joy was all over his face and it just made me fall in love with him all over again.