New Bikes...

Julia had pretty much outgrown her bike... and over the Memorial Day weekend she kept taking off on her cousin's bike which seemed to fit her pretty well. So I promised to look for a bigger bike for her when she got back from Oliver's.

I'm not sure if it's just these kids, or kids in general these days or what - but it's not always easy to convince them to go outside. They're usually willing to go if an adult goes with them - for a bike ride or a game of soccer or frisbee - but to just go outside and play in general... it's frustrating.

When neighborhood kids come and knock to play I send them outside. Sometimes they stay out for awhile. Sometimes they come in complaining of the heat and not sure how to tell their friends they don't want to play anymore.

Lately the neighborhood kids seem to all be in daycare during the day and the kids are listless. They'll play the computer as long as we let them. Or nintendo. When those things aren't an option (like at the lake last week), they all seemed content to play cards - learned solitaire. And of course when that didn't keep their attention we could take them swimming - weather permitting.

I realize that when I was a kid we didn't have the same inside entertainment - and I probably stayed in during the summer if it was really hot. But I still liked to go outside. And I think if I'd had a brother and a sister to go outside with me it would have been even better. I would ride my bike up and down the street - 2 houses each direction maybe - pretending to drive a car. Or if I was really lucky I'd get to go to the pool. They don't usually go out without at least a little prodding.

It makes me a little sad.

I know they have great imaginations. When they're inside they are not in front of the tv or computer all day. They just aren't outside. They're dressing up - yesterday it was princess tea at snacktime and then maids who actually put away laundry, swept the floor, and wiped down the bathroom counters. Playing cars and trains and legos - elaborate houses and vehicles - forts made out of dining chairs and blankets.

I don't understand why some of it can't translate to outside play.

Or why when I do get them outside they're treating the door like it revolves and every 5 minutes it's a complaint about the heat or a request for water or a popsicle or just to ask to come back in.

Last summer we went on daily bike rides. We went to the duck pond and played with the frisbee. Maybe the answer is to go outside with them a little more (although I really like to be able to do the laundry and clean up the kitchen sometimes during the day)... or to turn the A/C off in the house and make it more pleasant to go out than stay in... Hmm...

So today we went to Walmart and looked at the bikes. Julia got a 24" mountain bike with a few gears. She loves it. Everything about it. And she couldn't wait to get on it and she happily rode it around the block a few times and then up to a friend's house (and back) to see if the friend could play. I can't say she's out there now still happily riding... she went up to the friend's house to play... but I think she's going to ride more willingly and just for fun more often.

Holly and Alan have also seemed to be on the edge of too big for their bikes... Holly more than Alan... and so Holly ended up with a new bike today, too. Alan was upset, but we convinced him he could have one of the girls' bikes if it fit and we'd fix it up just for him. He picked the paint. Bright yellow. The bike that fit him best of the girls' was Julia's Hula Girl bike - a BX special from Alaska.

When we got home they rode even more than Julia did. We won't be painting the bike today because he wasn't willing to quit riding.
Now for the kicker.

The new bike I bought Holly is the same size as her old bike.

Yes, it fits her better. Yes, she has some growing room in it even. Yes, her old bike was one that was saved from a trash truck in Tucson. Yes, the size Julia got is the next size up. No, she doesn't fit Julia's new bike. But it's officially the same size bike. Irk and growl. I hope bike riding becomes her new favorite hobby.