Sibling Teamwork: The Ultimate Mother's Day Gift

by Marybeth Crane⁽¹⁾
Foot & Ankle Associates of North Texas

The Ultimate Mother's Day gift? How about proof your children were actually listening to those lessons of integrity, determination and family values? What is the ultimate testimony of pure sibling teamwork mixed with Yankee grit and no quit? What type of gift could confirm years of effective childrearing to your mother?

Let's think about it.How often do grown children actually do anything together? Let's face itmost of us fight as children and then try to out match each other as adults. That's the sibling law. In 2002 for a Mother's day present, my little brother and I came together to give my mother what we felt was the ultimate mother's day giftand a personal lifelong goal for both of usa Boston marathon finish togetherholding hands! Boston was akin to Mecca in our household. The Boston marathon, the ultimate dream achievement for a family of runners. We actually started scheming in March 2001. My brother Rob was a much faster runner than I was, but felt I had the ability to qualify for Boston . I wasn't so sureI had to run a 3:40 marathon and prior to this, my fastest was 4:20!!! (Of course, I was pregnant at the time) I had run in high school and college, so my brother was confident that if I trained I could do it. I wasn't so confident. My mother was our cheering squad. Every race, she was at the finish to congratulate or tell us it was OK! Mom was always there! For mom, I could try and train harder than I ever had.

My mother had grown up in poverty and had taught all of us that you had to work hard and even suffer to get ahead. Quit was never an option! Die trying was more likely. We grew up in Rhode Island in the 70's and 80's where the economy was as harsh as the winter weather. Above all, we were instilled with a sense of family and loyalty to those that were with you thick or thingood times or bad. And there were lots of bad times back then. I remember at one point my mother working three jobs while my father was laid off or on strike, but never complaining. She brought us home day old doughnuts from the doughnut shop that she worked at third shift, after coming home from her day job, just to pay the bills. I still to this day do not know when she slept.

To say that my mother instilled a work ethic in her children was an understatement. In order to go to college, we were hammered with the need for a scholarship by the age of about ten. Failure was not an option. My mother made sure that we understood the need for continued education. My brother and I complied. I'm a doctor and my brother is a high school science teacher. And we ran.Running was our escape from the grind of everyday and the one place where it didn't matter, poor or rich. Everyone was equal on the track.

We spent six grueling months training together, many painful track sessions trying to get me faster, long runs in the cold and the extreme heat; but it paid off, I did qualify for Boston at the 2001 White Rock Marathon, in Dallas .

My mother was so proud when we gave her our Boston medals, but you should have seen her face when, on that Mother's Day, we gave her a huge blown up picture of the two of us crossing the finish line holding hands. It still sits in a place of honor on her mantle as a testimony that she taught us to be tough, persevere and above all that we could do anything when we were together! Happy Mother's Day to my inspiration! The race is not always to the swift, but to those who keep on running!

Article submitted Saturday, April 26, 2008 & read 169 times.

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» left by Mark Fleagle (4 years 21 days ago.)

I love this article i can sure tell it came from the heart.
thanks for sharing it with us
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» left by Susan Thom (4 years 20 days ago.)

hi marybeth,
this was an interesting, well written story that had a few different angles-your mom, your relationship with your brother, and the mother's day gift. it was very touching. thanks for sharing with us,
best regards,
sue thom
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