Encouraging Your Little Girl
PEDALS TO THE METAL
4 Tips for a Better Bike Ride
Bicycles are a practical way to get around, whether you’re going for a ride around the neighborhood or commuting to work. On the road, you must be constantly aware of your surroundings, from cars to other hazards along the road. It’s also important to be aware of the bike itself. Here are four things to check on a regular basis. The Tires Always check tire pressure before heading out. Correct tire pressure (which should be on the tire sidewall) ensures a safer and more efficient ride. Underinflation can damage rims and spokes, and overinflation can destroy the tire, especially if you hit a bump. Both can damage the tire and inner tube as well. The Spokes Correctly tensioned spokes keep the wheel perfectly round. Poorly tensioned spokes can give your ride a wobble. This can damage the wheel, brakes, and the bike itself. Adjust spoke tension with a spoke wrench or take your bike to a bike mechanic for a checkup. (It’s always good to take your bike in at least one a year for a professional tuneup.)
Tips for Raising Strong, Confident Women
In a time when it’s so easy to let technology and school run your child’s life, what’s your role as a parent or guardian? We often hear motivational quotes talking about the importance of risk- taking and resilience, but it can be tough for little girls to learn from just YouTube videos and school alone. Here’s how you can encourage your daughter to spark her own confidence during her toughest moments. Encourage bravery and a growth mindset. Even children can feel pressured to perform to high standards yet stay within their comfort zone. They might think, “I’m not strong enough to climb this tree.” But whether it’s climbing trees or building things with others, small feelings of bravery can grow larger as they grow older. Self-empowerment will be a crucial skill in their lives, so encourage a mindset focused on growth through the process of learning. Teach them how the brain grows and adapts rapidly whenever we encounter failure and that failure and mistakes are a part of life. Once they understand that failure isn’t permanent, they’ll be inspired to take risks and solve their problems. Trust your daughter while teaching grit. Psychologist Angela Lee Duckworth studies successful people in a wide variety of fields, from business to the military, and has found that the quality most successful people share is grit. The ability to stay engaged with tough tasks for a long period of time is a skill that takes a long time to build, but it’s not impossible for your girl to begin developing grit right now. Duckworth believes the growth mindset can start young girls on a path to embracing failure and moving forward from it. However, a lack of trust in your daughter can suffocate her growth. Despite all the adult-directed activities we give our kids, we need to step back and let them make some of their own decisions. We can give them encouragement and help along the way, but for the most part, we need to trust they can solve problems on their own.
The Brakes With regular use, brake levers and cables can become slackened, which means weaker braking. That’s the last thing you want if you need to stop in a pinch. On top of this, brakes and brake pads wear out, just like on motor vehicles, and need to be adjusted or replaced on occasion. The Chain Give your chain, shifters, and derailleurs a regular once-over. The chain should be well-tensioned and clean, with only a light coat of lubrication to keep it running smooth and quiet. When you lift the chain up on the bottom run, there should be little give (no more than half an inch or so) before the rear derailleur cage begins to move forward. Any more and one bump on the road can knock the chain off the drivetrain. Or, if the chain is too tight, it can damage the gears. Bicycle accidents are serious business. If you’ve been injured in an accident while on your bike, don’t hesitate to call us at 817.775.5364 for a free consultation to learn about your legal options.
When you put faith and trust in your little girl to handle her most difficult problems, she’ll learn to do the same for herself.
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