--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Explain to me how he [her son] can ride a…" description: "\"Explain to me how he [her son] can ride a bicycle, run, play ball, set up a camp, swing, fight a war, swim and race for eight hours ... and has to be d..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bb/erma-bombeck-780_balls_explain-to-me-how-he-her-son-can-ride-a_1656693.png" --- # Explain to me how he \[her son\] can ride a bicycle, run… ![“Explain to me how he [her son] can ride a bicycle, run, play ball, set up a camp, swing, fight a war, swim and race for eight hours ... and has to be driven to the garbage can.” quote by Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bb/erma-bombeck-780_balls_explain-to-me-how-he-her-son-can-ride-a_1656693.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bb/erma-bombeck-780_balls_explain-to-me-how-he-her-son-can-ride-a_1656693.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bb/erma-bombeck-780_balls_explain-to-me-how-he-her-son-can-ride-a_1656693.png) > “Explain to me how he \[her son\] can ride a bicycle, run, play ball, set up a camp, swing, fight a war, swim and race for eight hours ... and has to be driven to the garbage can.” [Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Children are expected to excel in many activities, yet their basic needs still require adult assistance. **In simple terms:** Kids do many things, but still need help. Key Takeaway Support balanced expectations. Themes parenting expectations independence Mood lighthearted empathetic Type humorous reflective When to use this quote - school projects - sports - home chores Key Concepts family life child development Questions to Reflect On - How many activities are healthy for a child? - What responsibilities should parents retain? A Different Perspective Overloading kids can cause burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Balls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/balls/) [Bicycle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bicycle/) [Bicycle Run](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bicycle-run-713574/) [Camps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/camps/) [Driven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/driven/) [Eight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eight/) [Explain Son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/explain-son-713573/) [Fighting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting/) [Garbage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/garbage/) [Garbage cans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/garbage-cans/) [Hours](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hours/) [Hours Driven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hours-driven-713575/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Run Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/run-play-327890/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/son/) [Son Ride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/son-ride-713572/) [Swim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/swim/) [Swings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/swings/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [My son and I ride a tandem bike. We turn the music on and just enjoy riding through our neighborhood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-trotz/my-son-and-i-ride-a-tandem-bike-we-turn-the-music-on-and-just-enjoy/) [Barry Trotz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-trotz/) > [“I couldn’t explain to my son what was happening to me—he had no frame of reference for my depression. I hardly understood it myself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lemieux/i-couldn-t-explain-to-my-son-what-was-happening-to-me-he-had-no-frame/) [Richard LeMieux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lemieux/) > [If it's a shot for me, if I can make a play, create for someone else, I'll do that. A lot of times you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-george/if-it-s-a-shot-for-me-if-i-can-make-a-play-create-for-someone-else-i/) [Paul George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-george/) > [Any striker like me that likes to run in behind, they could play with Thierry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/any-striker-like-me-that-likes-to-run-in-behind-they-could-play-with/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [I've got a philosophy I call 'no dancing in the end zone.' You score, get back, and run another play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/no-i-d/i-ve-got-a-philosophy-i-call-no-dancing-in-the-end-zone-you-score-get/) [No I.D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/no-i-d/) > [It doesn't matter what play is called, you have to run that play and you have to be successful on it. It just comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-thielen/it-doesn-t-matter-what-play-is-called-you-have-to-run-that-play-and/) [Adam Thielen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-thielen/) > [Now run along and play, but don't get into trouble. George promised to be good. But it is easy for little monkeys to forget.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-a-rey/now-run-along-and-play-but-don-t-get-into-trouble-george-promised-to/) [H. A. Rey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-a-rey/) > [I seem to play in spurts. Somebody will tell me about a cool game, then I'll run out and play for a bit, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-cain/i-seem-to-play-in-spurts-somebody-will-tell-me-about-a-cool-game-then/) [Matt Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-cain/) > [When I am on a long run in a play, I'm not sure how I would fill the days if I did not paint…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-sher/when-i-am-on-a-long-run-in-a-play-i-m-not-sure-how-i-would-fill-the/) [Antony Sher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-sher/) > [Why don't you run along and play with your chemistry set?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sirius-black/why-don-t-you-run-along-and-play-with-your-chemistry-set/) [Sirius Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sirius-black/) > [In practice, I run every play like I'm scoring a touchdown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercury-morris/in-practice-i-run-every-play-like-i-m-scoring-a-touchdown/) [Mercury Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercury-morris/) > [87 more days until I can run again and play basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/87-more-days-until-i-can-run-again-and-play-basketball/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I like physical exercise. I cycle, run, and play tennis and football with my son.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juergen-teller/i-like-physical-exercise-i-cycle-run-and-play-tennis-and-football/) [Juergen Teller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juergen-teller/) > [I want to always be youthful and have the energy to run around and play hide and seek, which is one of my favorite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/i-want-to-always-be-youthful-and-have-the-energy-to-run-around-and/) [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) > [If you could still run and play, there's no reason to go see a doctor, right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/logan-mankins/if-you-could-still-run-and-play-there-s-no-reason-to-go-see-a-doctor/) [Logan Mankins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/logan-mankins/) ## More by Erma Bombeck > [Cats invented self-esteem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/cats-invented-self-esteem/) [Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/) > [To my way of thinking, the American family started to decline when parents began to communicate with their children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/to-my-way-of-thinking-the-american-family-started-to-decline-when/) [Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/) > [The woman who says, 'My kids are all speaking to one another and they love us' is a psychopathic liar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/the-woman-who-says-my-kids-are-all-speaking-to-one-another-and-they/) [Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/) > [The term 'working mother' is redundant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/the-term-working-mother-is-redundant/) [Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/) > [To say, "Well, I write when I really get into it" is a bunch of bull. Put the paper in the typewriter, stare at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/to-say-well-i-write-when-i-really-get-into-it-is-a-bunch-of-bull-put/) [Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/) > [I used everything you gave me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/i-used-everything-you-gave-me/) [Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/) > [Just think of all those women on the Titanic who said, 'No thank you' to desert that night. And for what?!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/just-think-of-all-those-women-on-the-titanic-who-said-no-thank-you-to/) [Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/) > [The mole rat is the only rodent born without a fur coat. With a good lawyer, someone would pay for that little oversight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/the-mole-rat-is-the-only-rodent-born-without-a-fur-coat-with-a-good/) [Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/) > [God created man, but I could do better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/god-created-man-but-i-could-do-better/) [Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/) > [If the nest is truly empty, who owns all this junk?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/if-the-nest-is-truly-empty-who-owns-all-this-junk/) [Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/) > [Housework, if it is done properly, can cause brain damage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/housework-if-it-is-done-properly-can-cause-brain-damage/) [Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/) > [Making coffee has become the great compromise of the decade. It's the only thing "real" men do that doesn't seem to threaten their masculinity.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/making-coffee-has-become-the-great-compromise-of-the-decade-it-s-the/) [Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/) > [I have a friend who lives by a three-word philosophy: Seize the Moment. Just possibly, she may be the wisest woman on this planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/i-have-a-friend-who-lives-by-a-three-word-philosophy-seize-the-moment/) [Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/) > [When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/when-i-stand-before-god-at-the-end-of-my-life-i-would-hope-that-i/) [Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/) > [Before we sent kids to computer camps and told them they were having a good time, there was imagination among the human species.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/before-we-sent-kids-to-computer-camps-and-told-them-they-were-having/) [Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/) [Explore all 372 Erma Bombeck quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/) ## More Balls quotes > [It's a lot harder to play football when you haven't got the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gray/it-s-a-lot-harder-to-play-football-when-you-haven-t-got-the-ball/) [Andy Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gray/) > [Once you pull the trigger, you've got to throw balls aggressively and with conviction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-smith/once-you-pull-the-trigger-you-ve-got-to-throw-balls-aggressively-and/) [Alex Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-smith/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [Play small ball. Get back to basics. I would say that you need to be a conservative, but you need to maintain your independent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-tantaros/play-small-ball-get-back-to-basics-i-would-say-that-you-need-to-be-a/) [Andrea Tantaros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-tantaros/) > [Donald Trump is a different ball of wax. I've been trying to say for I don't know how many months now that the traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/donald-trump-is-a-different-ball-of-wax-i-ve-been-trying-to-say-for-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Well, you can certainly teach free-throwing. And you can teach the boys to pass at angles and run in curves. - University of Kansas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-dawkins/well-you-can-certainly-teach-free-throwing-and-you-can-teach-the-boys/) [Darryl Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-dawkins/) > [Maybe bring in sponge balls to learn the technique and gain that experience of actually challenging for a header.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-mason/maybe-bring-in-sponge-balls-to-learn-the-technique-and-gain-that/) [Ryan Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-mason/) > [I like René Descartes' theory about a ball of wax. You can change its form from solid to liquid, but it's still the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmy-rossum/i-like-ren-descartes-theory-about-a-ball-of-wax-you-can-change-its/) [Emmy Rossum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmy-rossum/) > [It wasn't really touching to be young; it was touching not to be young, because you had less of life left. Touching to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-macaulay/it-wasn-t-really-touching-to-be-young-it-was-touching-not-to-be-young/) [Rose Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-macaulay/) > [This ball was so crowded that it took me - a trained professional journalist with vast experience in this area - forty five minutes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/this-ball-was-so-crowded-that-it-took-me-a-trained-professional/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [Common sense is the guy who tells you that you ought to have had your brakes relined last week before you smashed a front…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-chandler/common-sense-is-the-guy-who-tells-you-that-you-ought-to-have-had-your/) [Raymond Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-chandler/) > [Throwing a ball is not natural, whether it's overhand or underhand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennie-finch/throwing-a-ball-is-not-natural-whether-it-s-overhand-or-underhand/) [Jennie Finch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennie-finch/) > [I don't feel like I have to live up to anything because I've proven that I can play. Give me the ball and let's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clinton-portis/i-don-t-feel-like-i-have-to-live-up-to-anything-because-i-ve-proven/) [Clinton Portis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clinton-portis/) > [And if we seem nutty to you and if we seem like an odd ball to you, just remember one thing. The mighty oak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-turner/and-if-we-seem-nutty-to-you-and-if-we-seem-like-an-odd-ball-to-you/) [Glenn Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-turner/) > [You run the football for toughness. You run the ball to tell your opponent that you're as tough as they are. But you throw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-glanville/you-run-the-football-for-toughness-you-run-the-ball-to-tell-your/) [Jerry Glanville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-glanville/) [Browse all 3,005 Balls quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/balls/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Explain to me how he [her son] can ride a bicycle, run, play ball, set up a camp, swing, fight a war, swim and race for eight hours ... and has to be driven to the garbage can.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Erma Bombeck" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/explain-to-me-how-he-her-son-can-ride-a-bicycle-run-play-ball-set-up/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Balls" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/explain-to-me-how-he-her-son-can-ride-a-bicycle-run-play-ball-set-up/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bb/erma-bombeck-780_balls_explain-to-me-how-he-her-son-can-ride-a_1656693.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bb/erma-bombeck-780_balls_explain-to-me-how-he-her-son-can-ride-a_1656693.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bb/erma-bombeck-780_balls_explain-to-me-how-he-her-son-can-ride-a_1656693.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Explain to me how he [her son] can ride a bicycle, run, play ball, set up a camp, swing, fight a war, swim…” — Erma Bombeck", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Erma Bombeck", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Explain to me how he [her...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/explain-to-me-how-he-her-son-can-ride-a-bicycle-run-play-ball-set-up/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/explain-to-me-how-he-her-son-can-ride-a-bicycle-run-play-ball-set-up/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```