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?

Assuming he was wearing a bike helmet? That would be the only reason I would be upset.

If they wanted to be the ones who saw him ride a bike first then perhaps they should have taught him themselves? Can’t have been too difficult if your son managed it in an hour!

Jesus! Please take ds on holiday, I will PAY your ds to teach him how to ride his bike and will also not cry that missed his ‘first ride’. I will also send all food for everyone and plenty of money for the shops and tat!
They are being nuts. You’ve done a lovely thing taking their kid away at all let alone the fact that he’ll be leaving with an excellent life skill!
Ds is 13 and just never got the hang of it 😭

My friend was annoyed her 5yo learnt to ride a bike with me but he literally just jumped on it and went, I could kind of see her point but by 8 I wouldn’t be annoyed clearly cycling isn’t big in their lives.

@whosaysthat very surprised that he doesnt already have a bike and can cycle at 8 years old!! his parents will be glad and it might be an incentive for his next birthday or christmas!

It's not like you taught a 4 year old to ride a bike. The kid is 8. If they wanted the joy of the first bike ride they should have started a few years ago. I learned to ride a bike aged 8 visiting my cousins. They taught me.

I'd have been thrilled. DH and I tried really hard with DS, balance bike at 18 months etc., but he really struggled to transition to pedals. I was on the grass behind our house with him - he was trying his best but I was getting nowhere. There was a rabble of kids on bikes a few houses further up and he wanted to play with them. I left them to it for a few minutes and just hovered in the distance. Within ten minutes, his little bike was cast aside and he was going over a little jump on ''Joe's old bike that he never uses because the brakes don't work' - after I'd calmed down from that aspect, I was absolutely over the moon. Peer pressure makes all the difference - as long as the friend has a helmet on!

Most kids learn at about 4 or 5, some younger. They can't be that bothered - they've had a good few years - did they think he was going to magically wake up one day and be able to cycle?

If they were bothered about having that special 'teaching my child to rideva bike' moment, they'd have done it long ago.

If they claim to feel hurt by your son teaching him, I'd say it was performative rather than genuine, as 8 is late to learn how to ride a bike.

I can't remember how old my DS was when i taught him - 4 or 5 - but it was a slog, my back is aching remembering it!.

Even if they're annoyed don't worry about the parents. I was never allowed to learn to ride a bike (long story but it was part of a pattern with my family) and I still can't. I wish someone had taught me when I was eight. Your DS did his friend a big favour.

What a silly thing to be annoyed about at his age. If it was that important they would have taught him or been trying at least.

I think your neighbour is stirring - she's trying to create a bit of drama.

I think it's wonderful that your son taught him! They'll both remember this holiday! We taught all 3 of our kids and I haven't a clue WHEN it was - just some Saturday when they were, what, 3, 4, 18???

This, and so delighted that it would add to the excitement of the holiday.
We are normal people though.

My eldest and his brother were the ones to final get a friends son over the line Easter about 15 years ago. His father had been years trying.

Parents were delirious that my boys had persevered during a spell of great Easter weather.

Pizzas all round. Great memory.

You’ve raised a good young man there. It’s brilliant he helped his friend and if I was the friends parent I’d be thrilled he took the time to do it too

I‘d have been delighted! I taught DS at 4, even though I don’t cycle myself. It’s an important skill for the kids here, and 4 is on the late side. I was getting fed up of DH - an excellent cyclist - not getting round to it. It would have been much easier for me if someone else had done it.

They haven't taught their 8 year old kid to ride a bike and theyve let him go on holdiay with a friends family? At 8 years old? Let them be upset. You can't stop your own child riding his bike because they're odd.

My son shows signs of being dyspraxic , we've struggled to get him to be co ordinated enough to use a 3 wheel scooter. If you could teach him to ride a bike I'd be over the moon. But there's nowt more odd than folk as the saying goes

I’d be really chuffed if someone did this!

Maybe they are embarrassed or think you are judging them (of course you aren't).

Sounds like the kids are having a lovely holiday. Caravan parks are all about the bikes!

You’re right actually, I’m going much more off her response than his parents actual message.

She’s lovely but retired + here full time and loves any drama or gossip.

Honestly, if someone had taught my DD to ride a bike, I’d have been absolutely delighted.

Having taught five kids, along with my husband, I'd be absolutely thrilled that he'd learnt without me

Well done you and your son!

My eldest struggled to learn to ride a bike and didn’t learn until he was 8 and I sent him to lessons in despair. I’d have been delighted if someone had been able to teach him!