5 LESSONS I LEARNED AS A FOOTBALL MOM

Yes, I admit it, I am a football mom. And while football has taught my three sons several life lessons over the years, I realize I have been learning just as much from the game. Lessons I hope to take, remember, and apply to other areas of my life. Who knew that football could teach this mom so much?

FOOTBALL: A FAMILY AFFAIR

I approach this week with bittersweet nostalgia. My third and last son plays his final regular-season game this week as a senior in high school, so the term “football mom” will become a former designation for me.

When my husband and I were first married, we talked a little about having kids. Not too much because we were ridiculously young, starting our careers, and going back to school to further our education. We had very little time to think about starting a family…although we knew we wanted to someday.

However, I distinctly remember my husband making one simple request (or I least I thought so at the time!). He said that if we had boys, they were all going to play football. “Ok,” I thought, “that’s not a problem.” He played youth and high school football, and so did my brother. I liked football. I even thought I knew something about it.

We went on to have four children. The first three were boys. Over 12 years ago, I stayed true to my promise, and my oldest son started playing youth football in our community. My second son began two years later. My third son followed in their footsteps. My fourth child, a daughter, started cheering for her brothers as soon as she was old enough at age five. My husband was a volunteer coach for several years. I helped out as a team mom. Yes, this football thing became a family affair!

FOOTBALL THROUGH THE YEARS

Fast forward to 2017. My last boy will turn in his helmet and hang up his shoulder pads in a few weeks.

In the last twelve years, I have been to more games than I can count and have…

• Worn the school colors and game day gear with pride.
• Washed the jerseys and pants hundreds of times (and line dried them!). 
• Brought my camera and taken endless photos (although the professionals do a much better job!).
• Bundled up in the cold, rain and snow to sit on hard bleachers and cheered until I lost my voice.
• Picked up and dropped off my sons and their friends at what seems like a million practices (and impatiently waited when practice went late!).
• Filled up water bottles and packed power bars.
• Searched for lost pads, belts, and gloves (where do they all go?).
• Brought the team drinks and snacks to hydrate and refuel.
• Helped raise money for the booster club.
• Made several trips to the ER for broken bones.
• Used Febreeze liberally on everything to get out “that smell”.
• Been to Dick’s Sporting Goods one too many times and spent more money than I care to remember.
• Watched and re-watched every football movie ever made (and learned to quote the lines!).
• Tried hard to understand all the football talk around the dinner table (or did a good job faking it).
• Served several pounds of pasta and dozens of meatballs at pasta dinners.
• Showed up to games early to sell tickets and programs.
• And prayed with each boy before he stepped on the field.

LESSONS FOOTBALL TAUGHT THIS MOM

Yes, I have been a football mom for a long time. Many of you have, too.

Football has taught my three sons countless things. Mostly good lessons about teamwork, respect, and discipline.

About perseverance, humility, and persistence.

About being a part of something bigger than themselves.

But football has taught me some things too. Lessons learned on the sidelines and in the bleachers, in the laundry room, around the dinner table, and in the car driving to and from all those games and practices.

Lessons learned from talking to my boys late at night…or just listening to them.

I don’t know your particular feelings about football (I know there are a lot of opinions out there!), but when I look a little deeper, I find simple wisdom in lessons that can be applied to my own everyday life as a mom, wife, sister, friend, worker, writer, teacher and fellow traveler.

TOP 5 LESSONS I LEARNED AS A FOOTBALL MOM

1) SHOW UP EVERY DAY.

Football is not just about Friday night lights. It begins with waking up early for weightlifting sessions, giving up your summer for two-a-days, and staying hours after school to practice. You need to put in the work every single day if you want to be successful. Just like anything else in life. Show up, be persistent, and work hard, so that when your time comes, you are ready.

2) BE A TEAM PLAYER.

If my boys learned anything about the game, they learned that it is not what is good for you as an individual, but what is good for the team. I watched many players over the years make significant sacrifices to help the team succeed. Often this goes against everything we want for ourselves, but being a team player at work, with our families, or in any organization often requires us to set aside our desires for the good of everyone else.

3) CHEER LOUD & PROUD.

When you are part of something bigger than yourself and cheer with others for a common goal, something extraordinary happens. Football has the unique ability to bring people together like this. Some of my fondest memories will be cheering in the stands, high-fiving those around me, and offering hugs of encouragement when times got tough. We need to do more of this off the field too. Wouldn’t the world be a better place if we came together more often to cheer loud and proud for each other?

4) APPRECIATE THE POWER OF MUSIC.

I know I may be a bit biased, but our high school has the “best band in the land.” You will never find me taking a bathroom break or visiting the concession stand during halftime. I would not miss the halftime show for anything! Why? It doesn’t matter if we are winning or losing; when the band takes the field and performs our spirits lift and we are transported to another place. Music has the power to speak to the human heart on a universal level.

5) REALIZE THAT WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.

No, I will never wear a helmet (I think I tried it on once and could barely hold up my head!) or shoulder pads, but I am a part of the team. And so are the cheerleaders, the water boys, the photographers, the announcers, the band dancers, the fans (and super fans!), the trainers and coaches, the policemen and EMTs, the ticket takers and concession workers, and every person who volunteers to make the game happen. Even the opposing team. We need each other. We rely on each other. Together we are stronger. More invaluable life lessons that I hope all who love this game will try to promote in every area of their lives.

FARWELL, FOOTBALL, & THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES

So, am I ready to let go of a status that has defined me for so many years? Yes and no. I won’t miss the late nights, the smelly laundry, and the sick feeling in my stomach every time I see a player down on the field, but I will miss being part of my football family, cheering as one unified voice, and watching young boys turn into men.

Thank you, football, for the memories, but more importantly for teaching me about persistence, teamwork, unity, and character.

This post is dedicated to all the moms (and dads!) whom I have had the privilege of cheering alongside for the past several years. I have learned from you and your children that this is so much more than just a game…and this is what I hope to always remember.

#ROLLHUD

Special thanks go out to Jennifer Villa, John Slater, and KM Klemencic who have selflessly given their time and talent to take these amazing photos at the Hudson High School football games.

How about you?

Are you football/soccer/dance/lacrosse/drama/band/cheer/debate/choir mom?

What have you learned? Please share it in the comments below!

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