DS(8) friend on holiday

[whosaysthat]

On a caravan holiday. DS(8) brought a friend with us.

At the time of inviting months ago we mentioned if friend wanted to bring his bike and was told he didn’t have one and couldn’t ride. Fine, no problem.

It’s a static and our kids already have bikes there but was planing on not letting ds as his friend couldn’t join in.

Anyway as soon as we got there and we’re unpacking, they had DS’s an his sisters bikes out and ds was teaching his friend. He got it within a an hour and was riding up and down the grass perfectly.

Is it unreasonable to have let ds teach him? Would you be annoyed if it was your son and you’d missed it + weren’t asked?

What a lovely thing for your son and his pal to share. And how patient he is teaching him.

Just to say your DS sounds lovely - supportive and helpful to his mate. I hope they have a blast together!

I think 8 is too old to be precious about missing out on the 'teaching to ride a bike' moment, if they wanted to teach him to ride a bike, then they would have done it by now surely?

I would hazard a guess that they are worried about him going round a caravan site on a bike, how competent he actually is and whether he is being properly supervised, he may be quite absent minded/accident prone and not great with road safety, if they were under the impression that you weren't taking bikes but turns out you are and he's riding around with friends etc, then something that wasn't on their radar is now something to worry about, even if that worry is unfounded.

They probably know it would be unreasonable to say anything though so have chosen to just accept it as out of their control, don't assume their lack of happy reaction is judgement at teaching him though, it could just be worry.

I think you've done a good thing taking him and DS has done a great job teaching him.

I'm guessing if he doesn't have a bike then his parents probably haven't been teaching him. But either way, it's a positive thing and you shouldn't worry.

I wouldn’t expect them to be annoyed, but still maybe it’s better that you emphasise how it was your son who taught him (rather than you or your husband, as that might possibly have made them feel usurped). It’s nice that kids help each other and I don’t think anyone could argue with that.
if you do sense that they are being a bit funny about it, then maybe they are worried about safety - perhaps you should reassure them that it’s a safe place to ride, without cars etc.

I would be happy as long as he was wearing a helmet and he was riding in an area without traffic. Less happy if no helmets involved.

If his parents have an issue with they then they are Dicks

Oh FFS, what is wrong with parents these days? 😱

I think by 8 they’ve had ample chance to do it if they were that bothered about it.

It was lovely seeing DD1(6) ride her bike on her own for the first time last week, but we had been working on it for a while, whereas it sounds like this kid doesn’t even have a bike.

This ^^

If their kid is 8 and not on a bike yet, that's a them problem.

Good on your little boy for teaching him!

Of course it's not unreasonable for one child to teach another child something!!

I could understand their 'a little' if you or Your DH had taught him.

BUT if they haven't taught him to ride by the time he's eight, they have to expect him to pick it up from another child, it could've happened on a visit to any child's house, didn't need to be on holiday.

Given you have been kind enough to take him on holiday with you, they need to win their necks in.

I hope there aren't too many falling out with DD wanting to ride her bike 🙇🏻‍♀️🙇🏻‍♀️

You've taken this kid on holiday, he's learned to ride a bike, he's having a great time. His parents should be nothing but happy and grateful.

I wouldn’t care about missing their “first bike ride” and I’d be grateful he was having a good time. That said I’d be pretty cross if he wasn’t doing it safely - you’ve not said if he was wearing a helmet and that it fit him and was properly adjusted to his head.

I would expect an 8 year old who couldn’t ride a bike to learn it whilst out playing tbh. There was a whole group of us back in the 80s playing out and teaching each other how to ride.

Sooner or later they are going to have to get used to the fact that their son is a separate person from them and may from time to time do things without them.

If they don't like that maybe they shouldn't send him away on holiday with other people!

I would be delighted they had learnt to ride. I wonder if they can't afford a bike/ have nowhere to store and are concerned ds may ask for one

I agree sometimes people can be odd, but surely you have done them favour and taught their son a life skill. Of course make sure he is safe, away from traffic and wears a helmet. Maybe take lots of videos, so they have these to view. I really think it is an amazing achievement for your DS to teach his friend so well and for his friend to pick it up so quickly.

I wonder if they feel a bit embarrassed that their DS doesn't have a bike and has never been taught to ride. Maybe they don't ride themselves?

I would be so grateful if someone taught my child

My dps bought my dc bikes and taught them, I was thrilled they'd learnt, and dps enjoyed it, win win...weird people, 8 is quite old so they've had plenty of time! Maybe they're annoyed they'll be under pressure to buy him a bike now? I wouldn't think anymore of it, you've taken him away and he's coming home with an important skill, they shouldn't be anything but grateful

Can't you take a video of him riding it then at least they can see it? Hats off to your DS for showing him. He can come to ours and help my DS!

A similar thing happened to my then DS2 7 year old, my oldest DS1 had no confidence and took us ages to teach him. My DS2 was cycling about on his bike with stabilisers whilst I was chasing DD. There were a load of kids on bikes around. I remember looking up and seeing DS2 whizz passed me on another kids bike, I initially called out saying her did you ask if you could ride that, then stopped realised he was flying on a bike with no stabilisers and whooped! So I felt a bit guilty that I hadn't realised he could do this but also proud he figured it all out alone and so blooming quickly. So I imagine most parents who be a bit aw I missed that but awesome he can ride!

I would just be glad he's having a good time

If someone hasn't taught their child to ride a bike by the age of 8 my money would be on it not happening.