Bats out of Hell

Reid turned three a few weeks ago and there has been a colossal shift from toddler to little boy, or maybe it's just that I'm more willing to accept that he's a little boy now, and I'm letting go (sniff sniff).  He is completely potty trained, during the day and NIGHT - HALLELUJAH!  The Abramowitz household is diaper and pull-up free!  And he's finally taken to his Strider bike and now he rides it like a 16 year old who just got his license - he's outta my grasp and thrilled.  The challenge of the Strider - and the point really - is that it has no pedals and no breaks.  On flat surfaces he's jamming along and mostly able to control the bike.  On inclines it's not so easy.  He's becoming more comfortable gliding down a decline and naturally slowing as the decline flattens, but the other day he was sailing down a slight decline and instead of veering left and continuing on the path as it flattened, he went right, straight into an enormous birds of paradise bush.  He completely disappeared from sight as he plunged into the bush, almost like it swallowed him.  With fear dripping from my face I ran to him as he was backing out of the bush, still straddling his saddle, and laughing hysterically.  As soon as Parker and I saw that he was unharmed we broke down in hysterics too.  It was a priceless moment  - my fearless three year old.  His bike needed a tune-up after the birds of paradise collision.

Reid fixing his Strider

Parker has been cruising on two wheels for almost a year now and is very conscientious - most of the time.  In the past, prior to the Strider conquest I walked briskly by with Reid in the pram and Bodi trotting next to me while Parker causally biked ahead; smiles plastered on our faces as we walked along the beach.  Now that Reid has found his biking groove they are like bats out of hell!  They have turned into rascally boys, with wild looks in their eyes, without an awareness that others exist; even for me who is running after them pushing an empty pram while dragging Bodi (he's no runner), shouting, "Watch out!  Look forward, not behind!  Slow down!  Stop ramming each other!"  Yes, I'm that mom now.  My conscientious first born has breathed new biking life now that his brother is by his side to raise hell.  And EVERYTHING is a competition, via Parker's rules of course.  Parker is always ahead during the race and constantly looking behind him to gauge his lead.  I'm terrified that he's going to run into some helpless little grandma and send her flying.  There is a fine line between the strangers we encounter that have the soft, sympathetic look in their eyes that says, "Boys will be boys," from those that say, "You crazy mum, control your children, and I really hope you don't have any more!"  I'm no stranger to boys and their level of activity, what has changed however is that I'm now the mom, and responsible for these wildings - how did that happen?!

This increased level of activity doesn't stop at bikes, it involves anything and everything except TV, (which I try not to allow since they look like drugged, comatose mannequins when they watch - it's a bit creepy actually).  If they see an obstacle, they must climb it.  This includes, trees, parking barriers, benches, street lights, hills, fences, garden walls - you name it, they want to climb it.  If they see an opportunity to push each other; they push and then tackle, an occasion to run turns into a game of tip (tag) all while dodging people, bikes, skateboards etc.

I may sound like I'm complaining, but the truth is I wouldn't change it for the world.  I think Bodi is the most shell shocked.  He definitely prefers the old days of sauntering along.  I am nostalgic for the days of pushing my baby in a pram though, Bodi by my side, while strolling and listening to Pandora or chatting on the phone, but I imagine I'll always miss those times.  Their energy is palpable and innocent, their shining smiles contagious and trouble-free.  They fill my body with warmth and make my heart swell.  What a wild ride they are.  Love my boys :-)