I worked all through my kids' spring break this year - a combination of too many factors kept me at my desk. The kids had a four day weekend, what with Good Friday and Easter Monday, so I decided to take a couple of days to spend with my yahoos to make up for the whole be-quiet-mommy's-on-a-conference-call atmosphere of their break in March.

My husband was off on Friday as well, and when the kids showed absolutely no interest in getting dressed and leaving the house, I made my 6 year old shed her pajamas, and put on some play clothes. We headed out to the garage, snagged her bike and rolled out into the court.

Since Christmas, we've only attempted a few bike rides, and never beyond our court. My daughter is very stubborn, up to Friday, refused to ride at more than 1/200th of a mile per hour. She likes to go sllllloooooooooow. And in theory, that's okay, but in practice, we're looking forward to taking bike rides as a family without having her on the trail-a-bike thing, and we need her to get up to speed.

So, with me walking, and her barely peddling, we inched our way around the court. Part of the problem is that this kid has grown two inches since Christmas, and her knees were bent at awkward, ducklike angles. I encouraged her to peddle faster, and she looked at me like I had sprouted a limb out of my forehead.

Finally, I suggested that she ride her bike all the way to the neighborhood park. She agreed, and we set off at a pace that didn't cause me to breathe heavy or break a sweat. Or really, to move my feet. I could have just napped.

After 15 looooong minutes, we arrived (this is 2 1/2 suburban blocks.) She ditched the bike and immediately leaped up on the play structure. This particular playground has a bridge made of individually tethered buoy-looking things that swing back and forth as the kids try to climb across. My girl has long been terrified of these, but with no audience other than me, she gave it a try, and made it across.

"Mommy! Thank you for helping me conquer my fears!" shouted my 6 year old.

"Sure!" I shouted back.

She played hard while I strolled around the grassy expanse, and after swinging for a bit, we both lay down on the grass and stared up at the clouds.

"I see a bunny!"
"I see a car!"
"I see an elephant!"

I just lay there, listening to her imagination at work and saying "mm-hmm" with every new shape she discovered. The grass tickled my ears, the ground felt warm from below and the sun felt lovely on my mushroom skin. Laying on the grass, under the spring sun rays, it felt like childhood. It was perfectly lovely.

Finally, we made our way back to the bike for the ride home, and something must have clicked for my girl. She started peddling, and soon she was flying down the sidewalk. I jogged alongside her and we made in home in 4 minutes. We beamed at each other, and parked the bike inside the garage.

As I closed the garage door and turned to go inside, she gave me a hug around my hips. I leaned in to kiss her hair, and she beamed. I was beaming too.