Sweat. I haven’t sweat in months. But, as gross as it may sound, I much enjoyed getting sweaty today…because it has finally warmed up here in Montana! To the point that in one day I managed to get myself a nice, razorback tan line and some bright red shoulders. And you won’t hear a word of complaint from these lips…though I will try and remember to put some sunscreen on in the future.
Yesterday, Liam woke up with a simple request: to go to the bike park.
This is a place we discovered last year at the Gallatin County Regional Park. This park is great all-around with plenty of trails, a large pond, swimming area, dog park and playground. Pretty much something for everyone in the family.
But, back to what Liam loves: the pump track (or the bike park as he calls it).
Last year we took his balance bike and helmet and headed to the park to check out this place we’d heard about. Standing at the top of the hill, Liam looked at me apprehensively and then looked back at the hill in front of him. I could see the thoughts going through his head: I can’t do this. This looks scary. But I want about to let fear stop my son (if only I could be so bold). So we walked around the track a bit to try and find a good starting point.
As he stood staring down one section, he lost his footing and went flying down. Somehow he managed to stay upright and make it down without a tumble. He looked back up at me and shouted “That was awesome!”. I have no doubt had he fallen and rolled down that dusty hill, that probably would have been the end of his BMX days.
Watching him go down these hills, running that little bike as fast as he could, I had to fight yelling out “Be careful!” or following him like a puppy as he went from hill to hill. I realized, though, that this small park taught my son a few things:
- He learned to overcome fear (even if by accident).
- He learned to pick himself up when he falls (without tears or complaining).
- He learned to watch for others and respect their space (OK, he was being taught that. He’s not quite learned it yet.)
So when he requested yesterday to go to the park, I was excited. I was pleasantly surprised, too, to see that a lot of work had gone into the park since we’d last been there. The dirt was fresh and all sections of the park were open and able to be used.
With a quick reminder to be respectful of the big kids who were riding the track, Liam had no trouble heading down the hills as fast as he could. He hadn’t forgot anything.
Watching him on the track and knowing that all his tires remain on the ground eases my mind. Then I looked over and saw the older boys on their big bikes speeding super fast around the curves and making jumps where they could and I quickly saw what Liam could be doing in a few years. He’ll be okay if I duck tape pillows around him, right?
If you live in Bozeman, you should check out the pump track.
