Strange title, I know, for someone who has been married for more than eight years.  But even today I find there are still remnants of the days before marriage and kids.

As the kids grow and we make transitions, I find that we need to remove one more piece that connected me to my single days.  Late last year, it was my baby grand piano.  As beautiful as it was, I found that I was playing it less and spending more time trying to find room for all the kids toys and crafts.  So the piano is now gone and we have more room for the kids to spread out and play.

For years I loved riding my bike. I used to meet a group every Saturday morning and go for long rides.  It wasn’t a bike that you would use in the Tour de France, but it was a perfect Trek for me.  I tried going on our family rides, clipping in and out, leaning on the brakes often as I tried to slow down to the pace of my husband and five year-old son.

Today was another step in letting go.  I now have my “family” bicycle that is for more casual riding allowing me to keep pace.  I had to get used to riding a normal bike as I found my feet automatically moving to clip in when we started the ride.  After the first 20 minutes, I found that I enjoyed the ride so much more and we even raced a little as Joe pulled the kids in the chariot (aka bike trailor).

I’m sure I will find a few more opportunities to shed the last of my single days but there will be no tears shed. The trade-offs and value of more family time is priceless.