Gracie wants her back wheels off

Two days ago, the kids and I were playing in the front yard on an unusually warm winter day. Gracie approached me and in a soft voice said, "I think I am ready to take my back wheels off." She was refering to training wheels on a tiny 12 inch Disney Princess bike. I was doubtful. She just turned four two weeks ago, and this seems like a big step for such a small person. Honestly, I assumed after a few falls she would miss the sequrity, and the training wheels would be right back on. However, I did not express my concern to her. Gracie actually went and got me a wrench and we took them off. As I thought, she fell dozens of times. Sometimes badly enough to make me gasp. But she never cried. Each time she got back up and asked for a push. She was undetered by the pain and focused on the task at hand. (Sidenote: this is a child who screams bloody murder when I gently wash her hair. I did not know she had this kind of tolerance for pain.) Eventually several of our neighbors came out and started cheering her on. Gracie beamed from the praise and continued to amaze all who watched.

Now, two days later, she rides without training wheels like a big kid. I am reminded this is the same child who walked before she was nine months old. Gracie has a stunning sense of balance and has so far achieved whatever she sets her mind to.