John Mulaney is teaching his son to ride a bike, and his method involves a pair of sweatpants. The comedian explained the trick to E! News at the Nov. 5 premiere of Prime Video’s Madden, where he plays Electronic Arts founder Trip Hawkins.
He was candid about the problem. He can ride a bike. He just could not explain how. “I have no idea how to communicate to him,” he told E! News.
John Mulaney Reveals His Unconventional Bike Riding Method
Mulaney’s description of the problem was close to a stand-up bit. He told E! News he tried telling his son that you just sort of stop moving your arms around. That was the whole lesson. Unsurprisingly, it did not land.
So he borrowed a hack. He was clear that he did not invent it. He puts a pair of sweatpants around his son’s chest, up under the armpits, and holds the legs from behind like reins. His son pedals. Mulaney stays back, ready to catch a wobble to either side. By his account, no training wheels were involved. His son went straight to sweatpants.
Mulaney made one point clear. Malcolm is “actually riding it himself.” The sweatpants are there to catch him if he tips side to side, not to steer.
The Comedian Discusses His Son’s Communication Skills
John Mulaney told E! News that his son has demands but is very good at communicating them. He gave an example. If he points out that the boy seems frustrated, his son can collect himself and explain the real issue. Usually, the issue is TV. According to Mulaney, his son once told him he wanted his dad to leave because Mama would let him watch more of it.
Mulaney’s reply, as he told it: so you don’t hate me, I just won’t let you watch Duggee.
Mulaney cannot put balance into words, so he found a tool that teaches it without words. His son cannot yet do much about bedtime or screen limits, but he has learned to name the actual problem. That leaves the adult reading the subtext. Mulaney names the feeling. His son names the cause. Nobody is hurt, and the TV stays off.
Most parenting fights are not about what they seem to be about. A small child who can say “” has already done the hardest part of an argument.
Upcoming Birthday Celebration for His Son
Mulaney told E! News he is really looking forward to the holiday season. His son’s birthday falls in that stretch too, so the bike lessons are happening right before a big milestone.
Mulaney’s Experience as a Parent
Mulaney shares two children with his wife, Olivia Munn: their son and a younger daughter. He has been a father for nearly five years. The Everybody’s Live with John Mulaney host has never made his parenting sound polished, and this interview was no exception. He admitted the gap between knowing how to do something and knowing how to teach it.
Madden came up as well. Mulaney said the people behind the video game hoped it would make kids want to go outside and play football. He admitted that sounds like wishful thinking for a video game. But he said the designers really did want young players to take the plays outside.
Madden opens in select theaters Nov. 18. Mulaney did not say how many more sweatpants sessions he expects before his son rides alone.
Sources: E! Online
