New Bike = Bike Crash

I picked up Isaac's bike today that was for his birthday (a little late).  He had a hard time finding the perfect one, but we finally did.  The guy at the store gave him a quick lesson on using hand brakes and changing gears and sent us on our way.  Isaac tried the hand brakes on the sidewalk outside the bike store and pulled them hard and it threw him forward and he hurt himself a little on the thigh, but that didn't stop him.  We got the bike loaded in the car and headed home. 

All the way home he kept asking if I could drop him off at the top of the hill with his bike at his friend's house.  I decided we should go home and try the little hill down to the culd-e-sac first and then he could ride up the hill to his friend.  So we get home and he hops on and we talked about the hand brakes and gears and off he went.  Very Fast down the small hill to the culd-e-sac.  Then he started yelling - "I can't stop"   - I yelled - "Use the brakes."  He didn't slow down at all and swerved to go in between the houses and kept on going down the hill between the houses.  I was running after him (in my flip flops)  and couldn't see him or hear him anymore.  I get to the the hill between the houses and he is no where to be seen.  I yell his name and there was no answer.  I keep yelling and trying to follow the faint line of his tire track which looked like it was headed into the woods and bushes.  I get closer and he responds "Over here Mom!"  I go over expecting to see the brand new bike all tangled up and Isaac all bloody. 

He was fine - just a couple scratches on his leg from the bushes.  And, he had protected the bike - making sure that it fell on him so it wouldn't get any scratches - a true boy! 

Isaac asked if he could go back to riding his old bike - I said "No, it's getting too small for you and you'll do great on this bike."  He got back on the bike and practiced using the hand brakes and then he took off again up to see his friend. 

What I learned from my son :-)
Even when things are hard or you fall and get hurt - just get back up and try again and in Isaac's words - "I'm getting the hang of it!"