The girl who hated sports

I hate sports. There, I said it. I hate them.

I grew up in a family of super athletic people. My dad is an amazing athlete and so are his four siblings. My dad is the type who played varsity football as a freshman and opted out of a farm baseball team and joined the Air Force instead. I grew up spending evenings watching my dad play in his recreational baseball leagues, watching sports in TV and being drug to Angels and Dodgers games. I hated it. I know this is terribly un-American of me but I hate baseball. I do not understand fantasy football leagues and wasting Saturdays golfing. I am a terrible athlete despite my best efforts. I am clumsy and uncoordinated. I ran track...it requires less grace.

I made it my goal to find a man who did not waste time watching football and being a crybaby every time the Cowboys lost a game. I found that guy. He is super intelligent. He knows all things political and has that cute nerdy side too. Plus he loves unsweetened iced tea and The Beatles as much as me. I knew from the beginning he was a keeper. So we set off into the sunset and had babies. I pictured adorable little hipster children running around our home quoting Goethe. Our 13 year old CJ started off that way. He had a love for Weezer, Star Wars and super heros at a young age. We were so very proud. ;)

But one day in the third grade he came from school and asked to play football. What? Football? Where would he get such a crazy idea? Certainly not from us. Turns out his best friend at school played football. I asked around and found out it was a pretty intense committment. He had played soccer in the past but that was a 1 to 2 day a week committment. Football was a 5-6 day a week committment. Plus CJ is a very sweet, very reserved, VERY shy child. I just could not picture him playing football. I put him off for about a year (bad mom, I know). One day my husband came home and told me he signed CJ up for football. WHAT? WHY? He calmed me down and gently reminded me it was about CJ, not us. And if that is what he really wanted we needed to support him.

So we embarked on this crazy path of becoming football parents. And I have to admit...it had been the BEST adventure ever. First of all, it brought my sweet CJ our of his shell. It has been good for him. He is a different kid. He is a great little athlete (well not so little anymore, he is almost as tall as me). But anyway, it was one of the best decisions we (well, my husband) ever made.

I came across THIS article today and it made me think. I love watching him play. Love it. My 11 year old and 8 year old play now too (their decision). I am the proudest football mom. I am proud of their committment and dedication. Sometimes you will see me complain about football but I really do love it. Their football games are often the highlight of my week. But I am not sure I have ever told them that.

I am so proud of them and I tell them that all the time. But I have never told them how much I like love watching them play. That will change. I truly do LOVE watching them play.