Six Months back I bought Navya a BSA Dora Bicycle. I saved Rs. 1000 on the MRP by buying it from the Sadar Bazar and was fairly proud of that fact. The cycle lay around in the ground floor storage for a little while till I decided to teach Navya how to ride it. Now riding is simple but cycling isn't. She did ride it instantly. Priding herself with her prized Dora bike but she didn't believe in pedaling the cycle into movement. On the few occasions that I cajoled her into pedaling the vehicle, she managed a semi-circle of leg movement which led to the cycle moving a few feet and then stopping.
For a week, I took her out on the road in front of my house trying to teach her how to pedal a full circle and thus create motion for the bike. Navya just didn't get it! She would do a semi circle with her legs, then rotate them back and do another semi-circle and so on. The cycle continued to move but definitely in the wrong way. Soon like the weather, I also started losing my cool. After umpteen lectures, some shouting and threats and an occasional smack; I thought something was seriously wrong with either the bike or with Navya's reflexes. I threatened her with the obvious- The cycle goes back! Voila, she was riding it in a flash. and it had taken 14 or more frustrating days full of anger and disgust for me. So much for being a good mother.
Flash Forward down two months and the neighbours also buy their son(Navya's classmate and friend) a similar cycle with one of those boyish idols. Pokemon or Ben 10 or something, not sure! Anyhow, the father took the responsibility of teaching the son how to cycle. Every evening he got him out on the same road, moved the cycle's pedals in 360 degrees umpteen times and showed him how motion is created. But still the child rode like Navya did in the beginning. Semi circles and then back rotation. He also refused to move the pedals in a complete circle. I understood then that this is how human body works. A child will take his own sweet time understanding this type of new motion.
For days, my neighbour patiently and quietly went with his son on the road riding to and fro many times. Not losing his cool when the kid didn't complete the cyclic motion and kept making semi-circles. Day after day, the father-son could be seen repeating this activity. The father event moved the pedals in circles and ran with the child as motion was created. He did this for days together, running, moving the pedals and teaching. Today, after more than 3 weeks, the boy finally cycled a complete circle. The whole street rejoiced and clapped. The father jumped up in joy. He clapped, he sighed, he held his hands up in relief, he kissed his son. But he made no noise just like he hadn't done in these past weeks while patiently teaching him to cycle.
My neighbour has a hearing and speaking disorder and he cannot talk to his son. But he still taught his son patiently all this while. I, who can talk, hear and do much more resorted to everything but patience to teach Navya. Sometimes the simplest lessons in life are learnt in silence. Sometimes the simplest things in life are taken for granted. Note to Self: Count your blessings! Kudos to the patient father who understands the child better than us mere mortals!
For a week, I took her out on the road in front of my house trying to teach her how to pedal a full circle and thus create motion for the bike. Navya just didn't get it! She would do a semi circle with her legs, then rotate them back and do another semi-circle and so on. The cycle continued to move but definitely in the wrong way. Soon like the weather, I also started losing my cool. After umpteen lectures, some shouting and threats and an occasional smack; I thought something was seriously wrong with either the bike or with Navya's reflexes. I threatened her with the obvious- The cycle goes back! Voila, she was riding it in a flash. and it had taken 14 or more frustrating days full of anger and disgust for me. So much for being a good mother.
Flash Forward down two months and the neighbours also buy their son(Navya's classmate and friend) a similar cycle with one of those boyish idols. Pokemon or Ben 10 or something, not sure! Anyhow, the father took the responsibility of teaching the son how to cycle. Every evening he got him out on the same road, moved the cycle's pedals in 360 degrees umpteen times and showed him how motion is created. But still the child rode like Navya did in the beginning. Semi circles and then back rotation. He also refused to move the pedals in a complete circle. I understood then that this is how human body works. A child will take his own sweet time understanding this type of new motion.
For days, my neighbour patiently and quietly went with his son on the road riding to and fro many times. Not losing his cool when the kid didn't complete the cyclic motion and kept making semi-circles. Day after day, the father-son could be seen repeating this activity. The father event moved the pedals in circles and ran with the child as motion was created. He did this for days together, running, moving the pedals and teaching. Today, after more than 3 weeks, the boy finally cycled a complete circle. The whole street rejoiced and clapped. The father jumped up in joy. He clapped, he sighed, he held his hands up in relief, he kissed his son. But he made no noise just like he hadn't done in these past weeks while patiently teaching him to cycle.
My neighbour has a hearing and speaking disorder and he cannot talk to his son. But he still taught his son patiently all this while. I, who can talk, hear and do much more resorted to everything but patience to teach Navya. Sometimes the simplest lessons in life are learnt in silence. Sometimes the simplest things in life are taken for granted. Note to Self: Count your blessings! Kudos to the patient father who understands the child better than us mere mortals!
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