battle of wills

When I saw the image of the bicycle on the used items sales site, it was love at first sight. When imagining what bicycle me and our son would be riding around on, a pink ladie’s bike never came to my mind, but seeing this photo took me to a very happy place, and following some messaging by my wife, there is now a beautiful pink bicycle with a baby chair standing outside our house. Every day the past week when I have walked past the bike I have smiled at the thought of riding around town with my little son behind me.

A few days ago we got helmets for me and our baby, a matte blue one for me and a light blue and purple one for our son – finally we were all set for our maiden voyage together! In hindsight I should have understood already at the store that it would not be smooth sailing, but at that time I did not want it to be a problem at all so I just ignored it and kept my happy image. Of what I am talking? Of the apparently most terrible experience in or son’s life – wearing a helmet.

At the store our baby became very distressed when we were trying on the helmet, and this distress has since turn into what I feel is a determined will to never in his life wear a helmet. We have been playing with the helmets – joyfully. My son is happy to see me in my helmet, is very curious and wants to touch it. He is happy to let his little stuffed animals wear his helmet. He loves to treat his helmet like a big colorful toy. But every time the helmet gets near his head he is determinedly putting up his hands preventing the helmet from reaching his head.

With each passing day, I feel our first bike trip together is getting further and further away. Our son has surely got his unbending will and determination from his mum I believe, but this particular battle is one I will not loose, now matter how long it takes to come out victorious. It is too much of a sin having a beautiful pink bicycle standing outside the entrance of a countryside house with no one riding on it, so I will keep playing with the helmets until one day my baby will let me put it on his head, let me put him on the bicycle and off we will happily ride away.