Purple Princess Bike

My friend Marty that I work with called before the 4th of July and said he had a purple princess bike for us for Emma if we wanted it.  We had some friends recommend a glider bike that has no pedals and is supposed to help kids learn how to balance so they don't get dependent on training wheels and end up learning to ride a 2-wheel bike faster.  We decided to just go the old training wheel route: 1 - it's cheaper and 2 - it's old school.  What parent doesn't want to run behind a bike holding onto the bike seat while their kid learns to balance?

Emma, you saw the bike in the garage and were really excited, although it didn't last long.  You're a little short yet to be able to pedal efficiently even with the seat all the way down.  It made it hard for you to get going on the rough asphalt that is our street.  (The driveway isn't an option since the grade is so steep.)  You did like when we set it up so the training wheels kept the back wheel off the ground and you could pedal as fast as you could.  It was like watching you in a spinning class.  After a while you'd get off, walk around, and say, "Let me think about this a minute."  You'd tap her finger against your lips while you thought.  After a sufficient amount of time thinking, you'd return to the bike.  You have difficulty turning...and difficulty going straight since you looks around at things rather than where you're going.  (You does the same thing while swimming.)  You also kept pedaling backwards which just stopped the bike.

Notice we were smart and put her in jeans rather than shorts.

Spinning on the curb.

This is what Stella thought of the whole undertaking.

The hard work on the purple bike made you appreciative of the tricycle.  You got on that and motored around a bit.  To dad and I it looked like you had already outgrown it since your knees came up nearly to your chest while riding it.  You enjoyed it all the same though.