“I want to bring THIS bike.”
We were heading out for our morning dog walk, and because I was letting his little brother ride on a cheap plastic pedal bike, my four year old wanted to ride HIS cheap plastic pedal bike instead of his regular big boy bike.

THIS is the dreaded bike, ridden by E in a photo from another day,
“It doesn’t work outside very well. E’s is small enough that when he tires of it I can hang it on the stroller. Yours is too big and I can’t carry it when you want to stop riding.”
“I won’t stop riding. I’ll ride it the whole way. ALL the way.”
“No, love, you won’t.”
“Yes. I will. I promise. Pleeeease!”
I had a choice. I could put my foot down, or I could let him learn the hard way. (Knowing full well him learning the hard way meant I’d be dragged down with him.) I took a breath. Continue reading