My son is fourteen. Although we get along well enough, he has entered that angry adolescent phase. He’s a good kid, but those of you who have been through this may know what I mean.
I taught him how to ride a unicycle about six months ago and he is doing very well. Lately, I've been taking him out with me on my off-road rides. It has turned out to be a great thing for both of us. We have connected in ways that we hadn't in quite some time. It really has brought us closer and provides an opportunity for us to talk about life.
When I look back and see him climbing, or falling and getting right back on, I get those proud feelings that all of us Dads need.
It’s very life affirming all the way around. I just felt like sharing this with some folks who would understand.
Im 14, and if there was one thing i could do it would be to teach my dad how to unicycle so we could muni together, and have time to just talk and have fun.
I’m 14, too, but I’m a girl. I think it’d be cool if my mom rode a unicycle, but she doesn’t. But sometimes she rides a bike and I ride a unicycle and that’s fun, too. And sometimes we both ride bikes because I get tired really fast on a unicycle and can’t go very far. (I need a Coker)
After showing my dad this post, i convinced him that he should try it. He tryed for about 30 mins and i have to say im pretty impressed. Two pedal strokes alone! I actually think he is getting it faster than i did! Im really excited that he tried it, and hope he finds an interest in it, so we can uni together one day.
scott
p.s. do you think that it it easier to learn on a 3 inch wheel?
Hey that is great news. Tell him to stay with it. Now it’s your turn to do the teaching.
Is that right, a three inch wheel, or a three inch wide tire? We are confused, unless your (excuse the comment) training for the circus. Too small if it is really 3".
Frank and Scott,
Keep us posted on how things work out.
My boys are all to young to uni, but time will come, soon.
Again, Frank thanks for sharing that, it might help someone else as well as Scott and Nikki.
Yes, thank you for sharing your experience. It is encouraging for all us parents, I think.
And it seems that it has proven beneficial to Scott as well. I suspect that for most parents there is an assumption that the way to connect with your child is to get them involved in something that INTERESTS YOU. And sometimes that works out. One can hope that Scott and his dad’s experience will work out well by Scott getting his father involved in something that interests him, the child.
I was with my oldest son, Sammy, who is 8 years old tonight and we were at our Monday night watering hole, McDonald’s.
They have a large two story indoor play area with tubes.
There were no kids playing in the tubes, so he says, “Hey Dad,
lets take the trays up and go down the slides.” For the uninitiated, we sat on the trays and slid down the tube slides.
Okay, I say and we are off. GOD, was that fun!! I was spit out of the tube slide at the end and off the edge and landed with my whole body on the ground.
I got a good chuckle and so did he.
Usually, he is up in the tubes with kids that are there, and I grade papers.
My son is almost thirteen but it was the other way around with us, he taught me to ride. We often go for a Muni ride together with his mates (also unicyclists) and they think it’s great that I ride ‘cause they get a lift there (and to the uni meets).
I never wanted to be one of those distant Dads and unicycling has brought me closer to my youngest son when he’s at ‘that stage’ (I remember it well). Why should kids have all the fun? Us parents can too and besides I don’t feel any older than when I was 19 (a couple of years ago ).
My girls, age 6 & 11 both ride, nothing better than spending time practicing out on the driveway with the family. The eldest is already passing me up, a little competition couldn’t hurt to sharpen the old man’s skills (some day I will ride one footed).
In the past two weeks, two riding dads have brought their kids for coaching at our club practice night. We’ve also got at least three parents learning because their kids are riding.
Passing on the uni-genes…parent-kid & kid to parent. Do you think the kids think its cool when the parents get it? I know they do.
Learning to ride with my daughter (13) has been one of the best things that I’ve ever done. And then, not to be out-done by his little sister, my son (16) learned to ride. It really is a family affair now. Unicycling is an amazing activity that allows fathers/mothers to learn from their generally more daring kids. I will forever appreciate what unicycling has brought to my relationships with my kids and our family. Also, we now have begun to build inter-relationships with other famlies that are experiencing the same.
My dad is doing pretty well for the amount of practice time he gets. He is really busy with work and what not, but when we practice its fun. I predict, that with the current amount of practice he gets now i say that he will be riding 50 feet in 2 weeks-month. Hes learning slow, but he will get it, and then he will be hooked.
slowly but surely
scott
But sometimes she rides a bike and I ride a unicycle and that’s fun, too. And sometimes we both ride bikes because I get tired really fast on a unicycle and can’t go very far. (I need a Coker) 
).