Monday, October 09, 2006


MONDAY MEMORIES

When our oldest daughter was first learning to ride her bike, she tried and tried. She had a hard time with it and was constantly getting mad at it and throwing it. Then walking away crying because it was so hard to master!!!

We lived in the country at the time up a long lane. It was a good place for kids because there was a lot of room for them to play and to learn to ride their bikes. Our oldest son already knew how to ride so he rode up and down the lane a lot. I bet that made our daughter probably a little bit jealous that he could do it and she couldn't.

Back then we did not have as much trouble with "strangers" picking up children like today but we did have that happening. As a mother I was always telling the kids to be CAREFUL and to not talk to anyone that you did not know.

One day our daughter was outside riding on the lane (it was all rocks). I was in the house probably washing dishes (I was always washing dishes then). The window over the sink faced the lane where I could watch the kids to see what they were doing. I looked out and saw a young man on a bike coming up the lane. Our daughter was 'practicing' on her bike. She looked up and saw him also. She remembered what mommy had told her about "strangers" plus she was trying to deal with this BIKE thing. I imagine several things were running through her mind..How do I get this thing turned around and OH here comes one of those mean guys I need to hurry FAST!!!

She hurried so fast that the bike fell over, she went over, her knees got all those rocks in them, she was screaming bloody murder, I was running as fast as I could outside!! To this day I cannot remember what the stranger wanted. I just remember that it was a good lesson for our daughter. She was always on the look out for strangers after that.

DID we "over tell" her about STRANGERS? Well maybe we did!! But she got the POINT!!





10 comments:

Jane said...

What a great story. I remember the days of learning to ride a bike. Falling was part of it!
Thanks for stopping by.

Anonymous said...

I don't think we can ever be too cautious as a parent in teaching our kids to be careful. I learned how to ride from two older brothers who took delight in watching me fall over. No training wheels. But it was fun! Wonderful story and thanks for sharing. Mine is up. Happy Monday!

Lazy Daisy said...

That was the hardest thing for me to have to teach my kids that not everyone is your friend. Poor Julie, you've scared her for life.

Peggy said...

I just love reading memory posts! Thanks for sharing!

Melli said...

Oh goodness! Back then he was probably the Fuller Brush man, or selling encyclopedias! We had those people coming to our house all the time! I remember learning how to ride my bike even alllllll these years later! And teaching the kids to ride too! It's good Julie got the point -- but too bad she had to be sO scared!!!

Ladybug Crossing said...

Gracious!!
Good for you for scaring your kids! I do the same thing now!!
LBC

rena said...

The story is bittersweet...it's good that you taught your daughter to be prudent around strangers....that's the sweet part. And it's sad that we have to be so careful these days..gone are the days that strangers were "welcomed around the fire" and that's the bitter part..this is indeed a fallen world and that is becoming more and more evident. But love casts out fear!!

Susan said...

How interesting...I ALMOST wrote a similar Memory today. We used to walk through people's yards and go to other great lengths to avoid strange cars when I was a kid. I was afraid of getting kidnapped...but times were SO MUCH simpler and really the threat was minimal.

Julie said...

I didn't leave a comment earlier b/c i was quite busy today. Didn't get much time online.The kids were off school friday and today. Cute story.Wonder who that was about:P I remember that guy. Sorry it took so long today to get back to you.

Pear tree cottage! said...

flip flop I just love your memories post and I wish with all my heart I could say I understand but you know I never got a bike and all my life I would have loved to have had one.

Your post on your weight loss is wonderful and I too have lost a lot of weight and gone down two dress sizes and that makes me run faster after the little grandchildren and proud I can too.

have a great day.
Lee-ann