Update on the boy:
For something different, I took the boy hiking up Kosciuszko on Good Friday to get him a bit of fresh air, and hold up his physical and mental limits in a mirror for him to look at. Read about it here:
http://unleashthepowerwall.com/2016/03/27/a-trip-to-mount-kosciuszko/
While the bike sessions have been intermittent, the boy decided to have a crack without me holding onto the seat. Benefits are I don't have to sprain my wrist trying to hold him upright (he's 55kg).
When you consider his historical threshold for pain and humiliation is quite low, and the 9yo twins across the street can ride their BMX on a dirt track like little dervishes, it is a big step. They're watching him, and he's struggling, but he keeps ploughing on.
We have a gentle slope on our street that allowed him to start at least coasting on the bike, and get his right foot through half a cycle on takeoff. He got a bit frustrated with getting his left foot on the pedal while maintaining balance at the same time. But so close!
Yesterday, I was working from home, and suggested he have a go after I picked them up from after school care. I was in front of the PC and he came in and said I should come see his progress.
He GOT IT. HE FINALLY FUCKING GOT IT!
After a good push off, he got his left foot up and on the pedal, and got a good 20 metres in before he ran out of street. Once he did that, I got his mother out to have a look as well, and she's pretty chuffed.
Shouldn't surprise me really. His whole life, he's only really done something when HE wanted to. All the pushing in the world won't work.
Now he needs to get hold of riding uphill, and turning the bloody thing.