Today, even just by Noon, was one of the most emotional days I've had as a mom in a long time. Our boys had a home cross country meet. Of course it is another one of those miserably stifling and oppressive days. Andrew and I had agreed to work the traffic post, as there was a point in the course where the runners have to cross the driveway at about the 1/2 way mark of the race. They had planned to do it such that we would be able to watch our own kids run, but honestly, that isn't really how it was going to work out. I was okay with just seeing Robert only pass us, and to be honest, I was pretty sure Thomas was going to be close enough to the end of the pack that I'd still be able to get to the finish line. When Robert came by, I could tell he was struggling, and I was a little concerned after last week. He was the last high school race, and as we began adjusting to move to our middle school race crossing point, I saw two female runners that know us running out to us. My immediate thought was, "Uh oh." As they came closer I yelled, "Everything okay ladies?" My mom intuition was barking. Heather responded that Robert had gone down and was completely out for a time. The trainer had gotten to him and they were taking him in. I asked if he was conscious, and Heather explained that he had been able to get into the gator on his own. I had Andrew call the trainer, and he said that Robert seemed to be responding well to an ice bath. We explained that we were out working on the course, but would come in if needed. The trainer stated that he thought we'd be okay.
The middle school girls ran next, and then the middle school boys. I'll be honest, part of me was so dreading this. I was completely realistic that Thomas was probably going to walk about 80% of the two miles, and that was fine. Having already had one kid go down, and knowing that Thomas has a history of health problems in the heat, well, that definitely added to my concern. The lead runners came by, the next pack came by, the steady flow of the middle runners came by, and the last pack came by. The stragglers started coming by, and one was a friend of Thomas's. I could tell her was struggling, and kept asking if he needed anything. He crossed our area, and when he got to the grass on the other side he stopped and stooped over. I kept my eye on him and kept asking if he was okay. Finally I had Andrew call the athletic director and tell him that we needed an adult following these runners in a cart (a good move as it turned out he was also unable to finish the race). During none of this was there any sign of Thomas. I finally told Andrew to take off going on the course going towards the beginning to make sure he wasn't down somewhere. Finally I saw someone walking in the far off distance, and as a mom I immediately recognized it as my son's walk. He came by and I gave him an extra bottle of water we had on hand. Not sure if that is allowed, but I didn't really care. We decided it wouldn't be a bad idea of Andrew kind of jogged nearby (there was one other runner behind him at this point) since the golf cart was already up ahead with the others.
I cleaned up a few things at my post that I needed to do, and then I began to walk to the finish line. As I came around the corner of the school, I realized that one of our team's runners had someone running along side him. I began crying and took off running when I realized it was Thomas and Catherine was running right next to her brother.
The emotions of the day were just too much for me at that point. As Thomas came into view of the finish line (he still had a loop to make) the various people gathered around saw Thomas and Catherine come around the corner together, followed by his dad, and then followed by his crying mom. A lady I knew from church gave me a hug and I just couldn't seem to get words out through the tears. They weren't sad tears, although there certainly had been concern about Robert. They were tears of pride as I watched my son keep fighting through the struggle, and watching my daughter, who had struggled the exact same way two years ago, remember that I had run alongside her at the end of her very first race and did the same for her brother.
I was able to get to the finish line well ahead of Thomas who had to finish his loop. My sister, my mother, and my grandmother had come down for this race and we were all standing near the finish. I suddenly noticed Lizzie, one of my favorite high school students. She realized Thomas was still out on the course, and began gathering her high school teammates to cheer him at the finish line. Thomas's middle school teammates had already been cheering him on as he came into view around the corner earlier. I cried again as I watched my son cross the finish line, and in what I consider to be a moment of divine intervention, someone caught Thomas crossing the finish line on video. I was just completely overwhelmed by it all.
I spent some time conversing with my family, and then we all headed our separate ways. When we came into our house, I told each of my kids how proud I was of each of them. I'm proud of Robert for trying, I was so very proud of Thomas for finishing no matter he how felt, and so proud of Catherine for being there for her brother. I began crying again as I told them each this (I'm also pretty hot & tired at this point which might have something to do with my emotions).
Every time I reflect on it, I begin to tear up again. This is exactly where we are supposed to be at this point in our lives. There is no way I could ever begin to question that. I will never forget the moment I realized it was Catherine I was seeing run alongside her brother, or hearing all of those cheers from his teammates as he ran at the end. I'll never forget the moment I saw Lizzie gathering her teammates to be there to cheer for Thomas as crossed the finish line. I know it wasn't just about a teammate, although Lizzie would've done that for everyone. It was also my husband's son. I'm so blessed to get to see everyday how much my husband is liked and respected by his students. It wasn't just a matter of being there for Thomas...these kids wanted to be there for Andrew's son. I am so very grateful to get to be the mother of my amazing kids, and for all of these moments we had today.
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