Last weekend, I took my four-year old daughter out bike riding and she told me she was ready to take her training wheels off. At first, I was a bit concerned since I really wasn’t sure if she was ready, but her excitement won me over and I did as she asked. We went to my alma mater, Stonehill College, and began riding. At first, she wanted me to hold on to her because she was scared and didn’t want me to let go. A few times, I did let her go to see how balanced she was and she fell. However, she didn’t cry. She just got up, picked up her bike and tried again. At one point, she was able to ride short distances on her own, but still was not satisfied. I still had to prop her up on the bike, balance her, and then give her a slight nudge forward. I thought she would be happy with her progress, but she wanted to figure out how to do it herself.
After about an hour, here is what happened:
It’s time to take off your training wheels, find your balance, and ride free. If you fall off and get hurt, that’s OK. Just dust yourself off, hop on and try again. Keep at it until you get it right.
As the new semester starts, I hope it is filled with childlike excitement, wonder, and possibilities.
What are your training wheels? How do you know when it’s time to take them off? Do you need a little nudge?
Tags: Confidence, leadership development, Personal Development, Student Affairs, training, Training Wheels
