All about Mom!!

It's mother's day!! The day when I get to sleep in, enjoy breakfast in bed, handicrafts made by my children and soak up all of the "best mom in the world" attention! Yay!
Unfortunately my boys didn't really remember any of that this morning, and with Papa at work, there wasn't anyone here to supervise the toast-making and breakfast tray-carrying. No worries, though. I am having a lovely day filled with quality time with my boys. I even got to help my oldest craft a "bug house" for all of the disgusting insects he finds around the yard. They're his pets, you see.

 More than a decade ago, when I ran my very first marathon, it was mother's day. My brother and I ran the Ottawa marathon, and back then it was held during the tulip festival on Mother's day. (you can read a bit more about that race and my 21 year-old self HERE) My parents volunteered to make the long trek to Ottawa to see if we could finish us run the race. I don't think any of us really had real idea about how we would be feeling after the race! We had never even been spectators at a race before.

The morning of the race, we headed to the starting line, and mom was there to take our photos, and grab all of our extra gear before the gun went off. She was there with dad, smiling and waving along the route (probably questioning our sanity a little bit, but never out loud). She was there at the halfway point, cheering and telling us that we looked great. It was so great to have her and my dad there, as loving, familiar faces, making us feel proud of ourselves.

 When we finally finished the race (and man, I thought it would never end!) I will never forget the look on my mom's face as we came around the bend to the finish line. Huge relief mixed with pride. I know she was proud of us. She was proud of both Scott and I for running such a great distance. She was proud that we had perserverence. She was proud of my brother, for not leaving his little sister out on the course when the going got a bit tough.

 They had brought some warm clothes for us. They managed to get our tired bodies back to the hotel. Once there, my brother and I flopped down on our beds. My mom helped us untie our shoes, and tucked us in to bed. I remember both of us saying "Happy Mother's Day, Mom!!" but feeling a tad guilty that she spent her day essentially taking care of two of her children instead of us showering her with love and gifts and pampering.

 Obviously, we didn't feel too guilty about the whole thing, as we headed back to Ottawa to do it all again 2 years later on Mother's day (again) for our second marathon. Mom was there again, cheering for us, waiting with Gatorade and being her general-all-around-loving-her-children self.

 Every Mother's day, I always do reflect on those 2 selfless Mother's days. Thank you, mom, for knowing how to encourage us in everything we do. I have felt nothing but love and support from you, every day of my 33 years. Thank you for being the best Grandma my boys could dream of, and the best friend a girl could ask for. I love that we can spend time together, or chat on the phone and the minutes (and hours!) pass in a flash because I am having such a good time. I love how cute you are, and your strength and caring personality. I love you, Mom, so very much!!

Grandma and our boys

Happy Running, especially those Mommies out there!!