Today, friends, we climbed a mountain. Well, not literally. But I am so proud of our little family for what we accomplished today.

It started as a balmy, quiet morning. We ate breakfast, started running laundry, and we began to talk about the day. Then Scott announced that he wanted to go to Dunham’s Sports Store. My ears perked up. I had been (not so subtly) suggesting that we get a new bike for Noah since April.

Now as you’ll recall, Noah has been crazed over wanting a dragon for weeks. I told him then that maybe we could get him a new bike without training wheels because it would feel like riding a dragon when he would “fly” across the driveway and down the road. He was very adamant that he did NOT want a new bike. The bike he had been using was our next door neighbors’ son’s. He outgrew it years ago and they very kindly gave it to us. Noah loves this bike. He has skidded over the driveway to the point that both tires are bald and are about to pop. And now his knees are over the handle bars when he peddles.

“I’m thinking maybe we can go to Dunham’s today.” Scott said looking at me but talking to Noah who was eating a bowl of cereal at the kitchen counter.

“What’s Dunham’s, Dad?” Noah asked.

“It’s a sports store. They have all kinds of sports equipment,” Scott said nonchalantly. I stayed silent for fear that Noah would catch onto us.

“Can we go, Mom?” Noah asked obviously not understanding what Scott’s intention was.

“Yeah, you guys can go to Dunham’s,” I said. “I am going to take Gracie to the grocery store later.”

“Yeah! Luke, we are going to Dunham’s!” Noah yelped into the living room. They ran and got dressed.

When Grace and I got home from the grocery store a while later, Scott was in the garage with his baseball hat on backwards, screwing Noah’s brand new bike together. Noah was helping by holding things in place when Scott asked him to and was very proud of himself for being such a good helper.

“Look, Mom! It’s a fire bike.” He pointed to the flames painted on the bars and showed me how the hand breaks worked. “And I got a new helmet,” he beamed shoving it on his head. Luke showed me his new bike and helmet too.

“Wow, guys! You look awesome! I can’t wait to see how fast you can go!”
“But Mom, it doesn’t have stabilizers. I don’t know how this is going to work,” Noah hung his head. I had to fight back a laugh. He has always called training wheels “stabilizers” although I have no idea why.

I bent down to him setting the grocery bags on the ground. “Noah James. I KNOW you can do this. You are ready.” I hugged him. He pushed me away.

“Mom. Don’t hug me, please. I have to think about this.”

“Okay, okay,” I said picking up my bags. “Call me when you think you’re ready,” I added over my shoulder.

I’m not even exaggerating. Twenty minutes later, there was a rapid knocking at the door. I flung it open hoping there wasn’t a skinned knee or elbow. Noah was drenched in sweat. “Mom! Come watch me! I can do it! Without the stabilizers!”

I ran and got the video camera in one hand and hooked Gracie on my other arm and raced out to the driveway where Noah zipped around the driveway like he’d been riding a two-wheeler forever. I pointed the camera at Scott, “Good job, Daddy!” Scott smiled. We reached another milestone today.

Tonight when I was tucking Noah into bed and asking him what song he wanted me to sing to him, he said, “Wait a minute, Mom.” Then he sat up and wrapped his arms around my neck. “Thanks for telling me I could do it,” he whispered in my ear.

“You’re welcome, angel. I am so proud of you. You did a great job today.” I fought a fierce lump in my throat and blinked back tears. Cool moms don’t cry.

“Can I ride my bike again tomorrow?” I nodded.

I know it’s not anything really newsworthy, but in our little world today, we conquered a mountain on a fire bike.