This beautiful fall weather that has everyone posting right and left has prompted Lillian and I to enjoy some mother-daughter outings. She's fairly steady on her bike with the training wheels and I walk behind her to give her a good push up the little hills around the subdivision.Last week she decided in her my-way-or-the-highway manner that she didn't want me walking behind her, she wanted me to ride too. I didn't see it as a moral issue so I complied. This made getting her stubby legs uphill more difficult, I'm not terribly coordinated so riding next to her, maintaining my speed and nudging her from behind simultaneously proved difficult.
We made it through the mile-plus circuit and had a great time. On the final stretch, rounding the curve home with the driveway in sight she got tired and started to struggle a bit up the last tiny rise. Coming up behind her I intended to give her a final nudge to bring her on home. Instead, as I pulled up alongside her and reached out for her I bobbled a bit and lost some balance. The result? I pushed her right over. To anyone watching it would have looked like this big ol' monster on a mountain bike pulled up next to a defenseless girl and shoved her onto the pavement.
She toppled over into the gutter, which happened to be full of flowing water and fallen leaves, and her bike came down on top of her. She let out a piercing wail, all the more distinctive in it's sense of betrayal and anger, half because she hates being wet and half because she hates being pushed off her bike by her mother.
I jumped off my own bike, scooped her up, and tried to apologize (while desperately hoping no one saw my little ballet dance on wheels) I brushed the dirt and tears away and eventually she stopped crying and made it home--reminding me every fifteen seconds that she was now "WET!!!" Luckily she's fairly forgiving though I have a feeling the whole thing will come out down the line in therapy.
Technorati tags: motherhood, biking, children, Alaska
12 comments:
Way to tell a story! It's like an idyllic Hallmark card and then suddenly it's one of those Deep Thoughts by Jack Handy twists. Loved it! Sorry to laugh at your daughter's (wet) expense.
This has happened to me several times, although the scenario somewhat different each time.
All involving me trying to help.
TRYING being the key word. Succeeding....not so much.
That's pretty funny. I can see myself doing that...Don't worry, it was an accident, nothing that a few extra years in therapy can't fix!!! tee hee hee
The best part about this story is knowing that you go do fun things like bike rides with your kids. Even if you are trying to shove them in gutters. *snicker* Just kidding!! :)
Oh my, that was funny! Surely it will be one of those family stories she re-tells to all her friends, boyfriends, and of course you to try to make you feel guilty.
I think every Mom (include moi) has been there, done that! This summer, my sister lost her balance and fell onto her 5-year-old son while he was riding his scooter. He broke his femur, which has required one surgery (with one to go in December). She still cries about it over the phone.
So I guess I'm saying...
I feel your pain, but don't feel too bad!
I would have run into my daughter and we both would have gone into the gutter.
Too cute! Although, I sorta agree with Lillian because I had to get dirty/messy. I can only pray my own kid will be like that, but it's not looking likely at this point.
Pictures? Surely, you must have some gorgeous opportunities with the leaves there, no?
Oh, I know the feeling. I have a way of bumping and tripping my daughter when I'm only trying to help her. Sometimes I think I'm the one that needs the help.
oh dear on dear - and wouldn't that just be the time some interfering twit bustles up and tells you what a terrible person you are! you had a lucky escape, by the sound of it ...
When I was six months old my older sister dropped me and broke my leg. Accident, my foot! (no pun intended.)
All these years later, it's a great gem to pull out at family parties. Be prepared for your daughter to do the same.
Hysterical! I'm sure this will be a fond childhood memory some day. Well, maybe not fond, but definitely funny.
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