Huffy Puffin’

Posted bycasey coombsPosted inToo lazy to label.

the moosh got a new bike as a very belated birthday gift.

Princess Huffy

But before I tell you the story of the new bike, I must first tell you the story of her umbrella.

Umbrellas are a must in Indiana. In fact, when you move to Indiana they give you a supply list; and the list goes something like this:

1. Umbrella

2. Galoshes

3. Rain Coat

4. Ark

Indiana is also very windy and to make a long story short, a couple of weeks ago the moosh’s pink polka dot umbrella was violently blown from her grasp knocking her to the ground. Through screaming sobs she watched as her umbrella was blown across several soccer fields. I got her indoors with her preschool teacher and set out across the muddy goose terd laden field to get the $3.00 umbrella back.

Oy, the things they don’t tell you about motherhood.

She no longer uses her umbrella. She now hates the wind and with as much conviction as a three year old can have, she believes that the wind is out to get her.

Which brings me back to the bike.

Two wheelin'

For the first few days she had nothing against riding her bike endlessly around our neighborhood. So I was surprised when I told her we were going out to ride bikes on Friday and she broke down into hysterical sobs. As if something traumatic had happened on her bike but I had somehow missed it.

Ah, life with a three year old.

Then I noticed her clinging to her pink and purple handlebar tassels so hard her knuckles were turning white. If she hated riding her bike so much why did she insist on holding on to it? Then it hit me.

“Are you afraid the wind will blow your bike away?”

“YES! AND ME! INTO THE SKY!”

“What if I tied down your tassels so that they couldn’t blow away?”

“OKAY!” (this was not a happy okay, it was a ticked off bawling okay.)

Unfortunately the tassels couldn’t be removed without massive handlebar mutiltion. Rubber bands didn’t hold the tips of the tassels down to her satisfaction and tape would have ripped and stretched them. What was I to do?

And then, in a flash that could only come to someone who has truly been tested in toddler crisis it came to me. Shoved in the back of our first aid kit was a roll of vet wrap that my sissy had given my years ago when our cat had surgery.

A flyaway fix.

And this is how I solved the bike flying away into the sky problem.

36 thoughts on “Huffy Puffin’”

  6. muddy goose terd laden field? Seriously? Ewww!! I don’t think I’ve ever seen a goose turd before. lol

    That vet wrap is awesome! I think everyone household needs some. We could then have happy toddlers everywhere. Good idea.

    Hope your cankle is healing well!

    Rhea’s last blog post..A Non-Easter Post

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  8. “OKAY!” (this was not a happy okay, it was a ticked off bawling okay.)

    I love this! I know that version of “okay.” I know it well…

    And, I’m an hour south of you- I’ve been trying in vain to convince the family that it’s time to build an ark.

    Glad things are better now!

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  12. OOH nice fix! Isn’t it amazing what gets them all riled up? My oldest (age 7 mind you) is totally convinced that even though she’s grown adult teeth, they’re going to get all wiggly and fall out too. Some sort of wacky teeth ritual or something.

    Kristin’s last blog post..Hooked on a feeling

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  17. See? NOW you can be inducted into that elite group of mothers – the ones that actually do have the answers (at least some of the time). Fantastic solution to the moosh’s problem.

    Mary Beth’s last blog post..ODDS AND ENDS

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  20. Genius, I tell you.
    That was some quick thinking!
    Our little ones have very similar bikes, too! 😀 Come over for some princess bike riding sometime!
    Isn’t it so cute how they get some of these ideas about the world in their young minds? I know I shouldn’t laugh, but I had to when I read about her fear. It’s just so eerily familiar. My girls have had several moments like that when they’re convinced that the world is out to get them – one way or another. Sorry, but it’s so cute and so darn relatable.

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  26. Actually, the red tape was for me from when I nearly cut my finger off. Just thought I would point that mistake out since I cringe whenever I see that red tape.

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  29. I’m here all the time. I’m so thankful you came to mooncookie long ago so I could discover the moosh in indy. This crazy internet / blog world is totally unfamiliar to me. You are a rock star. You know this. Thank you for your sweet comments or any comment at all. It gives me kick to know you have been around. No need to knock except when you are in the ‘hood. Just wanted you to know I feel I’m lost in a sea of fans so I rarely leave a comment.

    Moon Cookie’s last blog post..That’s My King!

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  32. It is so much better that you are the mom and not me. I would have still used the vet wrap, but I probably would have taped the child to the bike, or to a wall or something like that. Actually, I would have used duct tape, that will fix anything, and it’s shiny!

    (*Seriously, no toddlers were taped or harmed in the writing of this comment, and I would never actually do it, just think seriously about it for a few minutes.)

    Mandi’s last blog post..Summer is Upon Us

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  36. What a smart smart solution. I loved playing with vet wrap when I was a kid. We had a horse farm so it was everywhere.

    Isn’t it funny how the littlest things can really disturb children? But i’m totally with the Moosh, I can’t stand the wind either. It’s out to get me, or at least my hair.

    Ashley’s last blog post..What’s A Troll?

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