When Mikey Dreams....

It usually involves a red
bike. A bike with an engine.

This winter has been so hard on
him. All of the snow makes it
so hard to ride.



Notice that I said hard,
not impossible.



He still goes out for very
short periods of time.
Returning very frustrated.



Monday afternoon he got stuck
trying to use a snowbank as a ramp.
I had to chuckle as I looked out to
see him with two neighbors trying to
get the dirt bike free.



It is a passion with him.
I actually admire it.
The skill, the boldness.


I also fear it.
He always pushes it
to the
next level.

This is when I know that I
have to leave Mikey in God's
hands. At the age of seventeen
the time has come for this young
man to make many of his own decisions
when it comes to things like this.
Before we know it he will be
living on his
own and making choices
daily.

I bit my tongue when he chose to
attempt the snow ramp - and he
learned something. He showed me
the bruises yesterday. Wow!
Letting them learn the hard way...
that is tough.
But it is often
necessary at this stage.

Any helpful hints?

Have you been through this as
a parent?

Were you an active teen who had
to learn the hard way?

I acknowledge that we are very
blessed that Mikey's passion is
a dirt bike and not some of the
other vices that so often grab
young people.