Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Balancing kids and motorcycling.

Now that I have a son (15 months old) It is more difficult to get out on the bike. Not that its a bad thing. Sometimes I want to go for a ride, but when my son sees me leaving, he starts crying. So how do all of you handle that? There are times when I NEED to get out on the bike. Last year I only put about 3,500 miles on the bike when in previous years I averaged 8,000.

sidecar? Should be easier than trying to balance him on the tank.

I think I am a better father if I take some time for myself once and a while. You need to take a break form the ones you love. As long as you are giving your son quality time, there is nothing bad about taking some for yourself. Now your Mrs. might not agree with me

I rarely ride at weekends. Maybe only two or three saturdays a year. I made a pact with my self a long time ago that the bike would never take time away from the children. I prefer to take a day off during the week and go for a ride. That way i can drop the children off at school, then go for a ride and be back in time to pick them up again at the end of the day.

My wife is very good about this. She knows that even if I go out for a 1/2 hour ride I come back a much happier person. I spend a lot of time with my son. My job allows me to be home very night, so he sees a lot of me. I go on one trip every year with about 10 friends. The trip is only 4 days, but probably seems like a lifetime for my little boy. It is difficult because I love being on the bike.

Since we are expecting our first child this summer, we are going to have the same problem. We both ride, but with work conflicts etc we rarely got to ride together. But we both have friends that ride and most of them have kids. So Cathy might take off on a mothers ride one day and leave the kids with the guys and we will do the same another day. Also the club we ride with there is usually someone who is willing to take the kids for a while. With Cathy being pregnant this summer, she probably won't be out on her bike, so she will be the designated baby sitter for a while.

A friend (with two small children) of mine's solution is to go out after 8PM when the kids are in bed.

I have 3 kids and a 4th on the way. The Mrs and kids understand that daddy needs to spend a few hours on the bike on the weekends. They get my attention for the rest of the time.

Daddy happy = kids happy

You learn, the only time you can relax (kinda anyway) is when they're sleeping. Nothing is quieter than a parent whose little angel has FINALLY fallen asleep. So ghost down the hallway, grab the gear you have already set out, slip outside to put it on, push the bike halfway down the street to start it (you took it out of the garage an hour ago), and go for a ride. Simple, right?

Post deleted by Grump

...or that only started riding until after the young'uns were grown.

The kids are out of the nest.

Just have Mommy keep him busy in another room while you sneak out. Works every time, and they don't realize they missed you until you come back!

I don't see any reason why Dad can't spend some quality time with the Kids so MOM can ride once in a while. Mental Health is important!

Although Brett is completely deaf in his left ear, he has a sixth sense when it comes to Big Poppy, no matter where he is he can hear that kick stand going up and he is there in a flash.

He loves riding on that bike as much as I do and he will never complain about get the (monkey butt), but there are times you just have to take time for yourself, a couple of hours on a Sat. or Sun. will not make you a BAD DAD.

Anyway kids know your hot bottons and if crying when your leaving, stops you from going they will do it everytime.