One of the most inspiring parenting stories I’ve heard is about father and son, Dick and Rick Hoyt. Rick, the son, was born with cerebral palsy in 1962. Doctors said Rick would bring nothing but pain and suggested that he be institutionalized. Instead, his parents, Dick and Judy, devoted their lives to their son for nearly 60 years.
In fact, Dick was so determined to build a relationship with Rick that he ran marathons with him. Many fathers and sons compete together, of course, but Rick was confined to a wheelchair and couldn’t speak. So, Dick built a special wheel chair that allowed him to run while he pushed Rick in front of him. In all, they raced in over 1,000 marathons. They even competed in more than 250 triathlons.
Before Rick died in 2023, he achieved far more than some people thought possible. With a computer to help him communicate, Rick attended public school and graduated from Boston University. He then developed software that enabled other people with disabilities to communicate and pursue their dreams.
The dad, Dick Hoyt, passed away in 2021, but his relationship and belief in his son still inspires many parents. I hope it inspires you. We may not run marathons with our children, but all of us can find ways to enter their world, to connect, and to influence them forward in life.
