Some dads probably got really exciting seeing their sons pick up their first lacrosse stick, or throwing their first baseball. My excitement came when finally teaching my four year old twins how to ride a dirt bike.
Teaching is probably a bit of an overstatement. Truthfully, they sat on the front of the seat and just held on as we went across a 2 acre mixture of dirt and concrete. This will probably never make it to Fuel TV, and the X Games will never be held on this particular track, but it was one of the most exhilarating moments of my life.
My last dirt bike was sold two years ago. After years of engaging in the sport of motocross and enduro riding, time spent riding on weekends was substituted by time spent with the boys. This entailed activities such as the bowling alley, the fire museum, play-do, walks, occasional bike rides and general play supervision. Most of these activities will not go away any time soon, but “dirt biking” is now in the mix.
Four is still quite young. Obviously, they are a long way from riding them on their own, and even a longer time from riding on anything that is not flat, but this is a big victory because they are excited about it.
Fathers like to share their activities with their children (why else would something as boring as golf be so popular?), and this particular one is close to my heart.
I spent my youth wanting to have a dirt bike, but did not attain this dream until my thirties. Since then, I have learned the workings of the engine and have realized that mechanics is something I could do. And of course going fast is really fun, and landing a double is pure bliss. This realization gave me a confidence I never knew. I don't want to push the sport on my sons, but there certainly was a euphoria when I saw there smiles when they were riding.
This sport is certainly going to be a negotiation. My wife, the ying to my yang, has the same amount of reservation as I have excitement, and is a constant reminder of the danger of the sport.
While this puts a damper on my enthusiasm, it is a message that needs to be affirmed and supported, if for no other reason than an injury to the boys could bring this all to a halt, as my negotiating power would be undercut by any bodily harm, real or perceived.