Fun Friday – 5 Signs that football season is near

Do you know what season it is? Yes, it’s back to school season and for some of us sports moms, it’s back to sports. Sports season means everybody gears up. Your child pulls his gear out and you grab yours. Except…your gear may look a little different.

My son has graduated from high school football to college football. The difference now is that I travel a further distance. I pack music for the car ride, money for the toll booth, and a riding companion to keep me company for the four hour drive.

As we head into the world of college football, I want to reflect on the signs of football seasons past. Below is a blog post from a couple seasons ago. There may be information that you find helpful or simply entertaining.

The story….

It’s the second week of two-a-days. For my son this means two football practices a day for two weeks. For me this means adding to the grocery list, organizing drop-off/pick up at practice time and additional loads of laundry.

When my son is a part of a team…I am part of the team. He suits up, so do I.  My son puts on his girdle, I put on my girdle. We both head to the field wearing the school colors. It is officially high school football season.

Do you have a child who plays sports? What are indicators that the season is upon you? Below are 5 signs that high school football is near.

1.      You receive reminders about the deadline for sports physicals.

2.       You have to sell discount coupon cards.

3.      Your son shows you pictures of all the latest (expensive) cleats.

4.      You’re riding around with a stadium chair in the trunk of your car.

5.      You receive emails asking you to volunteer.

Once you have recognized the signs that your season is changing, you prepare accordingly. Just as you dress differently from fall to winter, you must also adjust your schedule from one sport or activity to the next for your child. For our household, this means Friday nights will revolve around football games.

It’s not all bad being a sports parent. It can be a time for socializing with other parents and building relationships. You just have to remember to watch the game too because your child will ask you, “Did you see my play?”

Is your child involved in activities outside of school? What are the indicators that it’s time to begin a new season or session?

Fun Friday - 5 Signs that football season is near

It’s the second week of two-a-days. For my son this means two football practices a day for two weeks. For me this means adding to the grocery list, organizing drop-off/pick up at practice time and additional loads of laundry.

When my son is a part of a team…I am part of the team. He suits up, so do I.  My son puts on his girdle, I put on my girdle. We both head to the field wearing the school colors. It is officially high school football season.

Do you have a child who plays sports? What are indicators that the season is upon you? Below are 5 signs that high school football is near.

1.     You receive reminders about the deadline for sports physicals.

2.      You have to sell discount coupon cards.

3.     Your son show you pictures of all the latest (expensive) cleats.

4.     You’re riding around with a stadium chair in the trunk of your car.

5.     You receive emails asking you to volunteer.

Once you have recognized the signs that your season is changing, you prepare accordingly. Just as you dress differently from fall to winter, you must also adjust your schedule from one sport or activity to the next for your child. For our household, this means Friday nights will revolve around football games.

It’s not all bad being a sports parent. It can be a time for socializing with other parents and building relationships. You just have to remember to watch the game too because your child will ask you, “Did you see my play?”

 

Is your child involved in activities outside of school? What are the indicators that it’s time to begin a new season or session?

Muffins with Mom – Demands of a teenager

 

In my household, Thursdays are reserved for high school football games at this time of year.  Armed with this knowledge, I plan my day accordingly. Little did I know, that this instance would not be a typical Thursday. I knew if I wanted to workout, I would have to fit it in early. So I went to the gym before work and left my capable teen son home to prepare himself for the day.

When I left the gym, I checked my phone as I usually do. There were a couple of missed calls from my son and a text message. My first thought was, he missed the bus…again. Not this time. His frantic test said, “I forgot my cleats, I need u to bring them to school.”

I could handle that request with a small adjustment of my schedule. I would go by the house at lunch time, grab the cleats and deliver them to the school. After I relayed this to my son, the next text came…

“I need u to take me home when u bring the cleats.”

With furrowed eyebrows, I responded with, “???Why?”

“I need to boil my mouthpiece. I lost the old one.”

I didn’t respond right away to that request. I needed to process the information. I refused to go to the school and tell the office staff that I needed to sign my son out so he could go home and boil his mouthpiece.

I knew my son needed to boil the mouthpiece so it would fit properly, but why couldn’t this have been done the night before it was needed? He forgot. Now it was left up to me to creatively find a way to connect my son with his mouthpiece before the game.

Once again, I adjusted my lunch time to coincide with my sons so I could take him home without him missing class. Luckily we only live ten minutes from his school. We arrived home, boiled the mouth piece, grabbed the cleats, and my son made it back to school by the next period.

Operation football gear was complete and I made it back to work in a timely manner. All that was left to do was to make the 30 minute drive to the away game and support the team.

The life of a teenager can be demanding…at least for his parents.

Have you had an experience with a demanding teen?

Fun Friday – How is football related to parenting?

Do you know what season it is? There’s winter, spring, summer, fall…then there’s football season. That’s right football is a season all its own. If you have a child who is playing or has played football, you have an idea of how this season works.

You’re on the line of scrimmage in a squat position, butt in the air and fingertips planted on the turf. You’re eye to eye with the opponent. The quarterback snaps the ball. Game on.

In relationship to parenting, you’re on the kick return team. The ball (open houses, completing forms) has been kicked to you. You don’t have a playbook, but the game must go on. You huddle up with teachers to find out what is needed for a successful school year for your child.

You spend time taking kids back and forth to the field, or you find some willing parent to join your team. A carpool forms. Your team sits on the metal bleachers to discuss the plays you will run (who will pick up and drop off on which days).

Away games, home games, you’re there for them all. Until one day you look at the schedule and realize…it’s the last game of the season. The National Anthem is sung one more time. There’s a different song playing in your head (na na na na, heeeaay…goodbye).

You enjoy the season of football, but just like other seasons (and parenting), it’s ok to experience change. Long after the sports banquet and the final goodbyes, you’re still on the gridiron of parenting. You have been a diehard football fan and survived.

If you’re not sure whether you’re a diehard football parent, here are some ways to help you make the determination:

1.      You own a set of pom poms and you’re not a cheerleader.

2.      You own a stadium chair.

3.      The trunk of your car contains shoulder pads you can’t wear, girdles that aren’t yours and a mouth guard you would never put in your mouth.

4.      You request to leave work early on game days.

What do you experience during football season?