New modes of transport...

[senoritafish]

Ol' Deadwood Bob was generous this weekend. He took Gareth off to the grocery store with him and came back with a bicycle, something I'd been thinking it was about time for, but we haven't had the cash for. He put it together on the patio, and after John made a few final adjustments, took it out front and let Gareth try it out. This one came with training wheels, but the way he's been zipping around on it, I have feeling they're not going to be on there very long.



The grandmas dropped Angus off about this time so he had to try it too, but he couldn't find his regular bike helmet, so he grabbed the one he wears for riding to school with Dad on the scooter. The seat was too low for him, so it was pretty awkward.



We had thought the boys were going share this bike until we could get another one, but Dad decided Angus need his own, I guess. When I got home from work on Monday, there was another sightly larger bike of the same style sitting on the patio. This one didn't come with training wheels, so John took off immediately to get a pair, which he spent most of the evening installing with much accompanying cursing (kids would not stop pestering him).

Last night I went with them so Angus could test drive his new bike, and went around the block and up and down the alley. Some of it may be that the bike still needs adjusting, but he's having a much harder time getting his feet coordinated with the pedals. Most of the time, we hardly even think about his differences, but with something like this it shows up more; he gets frustrated easily and we have to be extra patient. Oh well, he's just going to need more practice than Gareth. I did too, for things like this.

This is a worry of mine. Though Gareth is younger, he seems likely to outstrip Angus in physical things, anyway. Although he's not inacapable, I'm afraid Angus is going to see his brother doing better and more quickly than him, and get discouraged. By the same token, I don't want to belittle any of Gareth's efforts just because of Angus's abilities. How to balance it?

Oh well, let's not burn that bridge before we come to it, hey?

Comments

[elktooth-chain.livejournal.com]

apologies for the question i'm sure has been answered before i came to your journal, but what do you mean by angus' differences? i'm pretty unco-ordinated physically too, but the way you phrase it makes me think there's more to it than that. sorry if i'm being too nosy, but hopefully the fact that you mentioned it means it's ok to ask.

they are cutie-pies though... and it's so exciting to learn to ride a bike. i was lucky and we lived on a cul-de-sac that got very little traffic while i was learning.

[senoritafish.livejournal.com]

Not at all. The school district is pretty sure Angus has Asperger's Syndrome/Disorder, which is variously described as a high-functiioning variation of autism, a learning disorder, or just a different way of the brain's functioning. He doesn't have an actual medical diagnosis yet, but is getting some special education at school. He has some problems with interacting with people (hard for him to pick up on social cues) and with motor skills, but it's more that he has to learn things that come to most of us naturally.

This is where we found out. (http://www.livejournal.com/users/senoritafish/196983.html)

[elktooth-chain.livejournal.com]

weirdly enough, that's what i was going to guess. from what i've read, there's a lot of research going on with it right now, so i hope that benefits him. he looks like a sweetheart. :)

[puddinhed.livejournal.com]

i want a bike, now, too!

[senoritafish.livejournal.com]

You know, I don't think we have any working adult bikes either.

[dipster.livejournal.com]

Most "bike people" think the best way to learn to ride is to take off the pedals and training wheels. Let them scoot around so that they can get their balance under control, and then put the pedals on.

It's supposedly a lot faster than training wheels.

[senoritafish.livejournal.com]

I think that's why GAreth is taking to it so quickly - he's already pretty good on a scooter (standing).

[metalmensch.livejournal.com]

My training wheels were on my bike for 6 months. It took me a year to figure out how to pedal up hill. I'm no weakling now, nor am I horribly uncoordinated: but damn was I a kid who wasn't trusted with carrying a fork back then. Hopefully the bike helps Angus with his coordination. It sucks to have problems with that.