::this moment::

From soulemama: 

"{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember."

My daughter hopped on a bike this week and rode without training wheels for the 2nd time.  She first rode a bike without training wheels 2 years ago but has refused to do it again ever since.  This week she was motivated by a little friend who was over for a play date who can ride a bicycle.  So she jumped on the bike, had me help her start, and then took off.

We had about 20 seconds of pure joy as she realized what she was doing.  When she tried to start up again on her own, she was having a very hard time, and she didn't want my help.  She couldn't figure out how to get the peddles up and over so that she could just get going from a dead stop.  And she wanted to keep up with her friend who could. So she dropped to the ground in the middle of the street and refused to get up.  And she melted down for about 20 minutes.

I'm trying to hang on to the feeling of excitement and pride she had when she took off riding for the first time.  And trying to remember that these little people are stuck between a place of wanting independence but needing help and balancing excitement with frustration.  This picture reminds me of how complex their lives are but how simple the joys can be.

If you stop by, please feel free to share a link to your moment.  And don't forget about my giveaway going on here.  Today's the last day to enter!