I wanted to be that mom. He worked so hard.

One of our boys ran cross country for the 1^st time last year on the middle school team. I have never experienced a sport where the spectators MOVE with the team. It was a treat and on some of the courses we had to move fast!

They start then bam! we book it to the corner across the field to see them zoom by and disappear into the woods. We criss cross the field again to see the leading runners have pulled away. We walk with purpose to stand at spot 3 for a long while cheering for as many kids as we think we can before we are off again to the finish line to get a good spot. 1.8 miles goes quickly. I think the winner was consistently 8-9 minutes.

When the season was over, I asked my son his thoughts on this new sport. “It’s fun,” he said, “but, I don’t like being in the back of the pack.” “I’m going to be in the top and make state next year.”

He tried out for track to keep up his running and keep training. He ran the longer runs for the track team. He ran over the summer with me. He participated in summer training runs with the school. When the season started this year, he was ready.

He finished in the top 6 at every race this year. He did indeed make the state team. The state team had special practices. The coaches prepared them for a new course. My son got a special shirt with all the kids going to state printed on the back. He heard all about the loud and fun bus ride down- bring snacks! Bring a blanket! Be there at 5:30 am!

I ordered a yard sign with his picture and name in really big letters because I want to be that mom. That mom who when the race is over her kid says, “I can always hear mom cheering.” (He told me that once.) Yay! I usually yell his nick-name that pretty much only I call him. He’s never once complained.

Then hurricane Isaias showed up. They prepped for a rainy course. I searched for team color umbrellas. We waited for the state meet to be cancelled or postponed. Events large and small all over the southeast were being cancelled. We wanted him to go. He worked so hard all year.

We also think 60 kids and adults on a bus in early morning darkness driving 2.5 hours south in the rain isn’t a great idea. We hoped they would postpone. But alas, they didn’t. The meet is going forward right now. Our team, however, is home.

The school district made the (correct) decision that no official events would take place on Saturday because of the storm.

My son was mad at first. He’s softened a bit since yesterday. I put his sign on his chair at our kitchen island. He smiled when he saw it. He came to find me. I got to tell him about ordering it and wanting to be that mom yelling for her son who worked so hard to make state. I got to tell him how proud we are of him, his team and his hard work. I got to tell him how I’ll be there crisscrossing the fields cheering for him every time.

It was a much quieter morning but he and his teammates and coaches and all the parents and families are safe.

Do I wish it was postponed until next weekend? Yes. Do I appreciate the coach’s words to the kids yesterday, also yes:

“In moments like this, I try to pull back and remember what this is all about: team, community, and individual improvement through focus and determination. We don’t need a trophy tomorrow to know that we’ve already won this season.”

I’m pretty sure a picture of his sign made his group chat this morning. I got to be that mom.