And so it begins…

Here we are, another football season is kicking off. This is my 14th season next to my favorite bearded coach. Today kicks off with a team meeting and practice starts tomorrow. 

This is the part of the season that comes with so much excitement and a little bit of anxiety. You see, every summer the kiddos and I get very comfortable and accustomed to seeing coach much more frequently that when football starts, it kinda slaps us all in the face. In the best way possible though. We know that time with coach will be sacred over the next few months and we will often opt out of other things if it interferes with what little time we do get. 

Often times you will hear coach’s wives refer to themselves as a “football widow” or “single mom.” I’ve been one to do it and it’s all in good fun and joking. The truth is though, that is absolutely not the truth. While we see coach much less during season (well all school year now that he is the AD), we still know that he is coming home every night. The coaching lifestyle isn’t always easy and sometimes it does feel as if I’m doing it all alone. Thankfully though, our coach is a total rockstar and will still pull his weight at home when he can. When he is not available, I will fill in the gaps because that is what marriage is all about. This summer, he cooked 99% of dinners and did the bedtime thing way more than I did. I know this will be changing since he will be less available but I know he will pack the lunches in the mornings and help me get them to school. He will go out of his way to set things up to make my time with him away easier. 

We love Friday nights, o-line dinners and cheering on our BEARS. I am hopeful that we will host at least 2-3 dinners this season. It is what makes me feel like I’m a part of what coach is doing. It gives me a chance to get to see the impact he is having on his boys and it helps our kids also feel involved. This might be the year that Hudson ditches me for practices and team dinners. He is officially old enough to get to spend all that time at the field with Coach and learn all of the football things. Honestly, he’s probably been old enough for a while but I have had a hard time accepting that. 

For the first time in a few years, the kids are playing no fall sports (for now anyway). Em will have her weekly horse riding lessons but no other practices or games to attend. I think we are excited that we can focus on school, family and football this season. 

As always, I’m going to pretend like I will keep this updated more but we shall see. I also think it’s offically time for me to update the blog name since we have been done with paci’s for a hot minute now 🤷🏼‍♀️

Until next time…

When Priorities shift..

If you know me at all, you know that I take great pride in being a coach’s wife. I love Friday nights, fight songs, touchdowns, all of it. This is my 12th football season and all I’ve ever known in my adult life. 

I have mostly embraced every moment. The late nights, team meals, endless phone calls...

Each season I set out to attend as many games as possible. I always miss at least one, but never one at home. Every year I feel like the season comes with new challenges since having kids. We’ve managed all of them so far, still showing up every home game and most away to cheer on our bearded coach and Noble BEARS. 

I have always put more pressure on myself to be at all things than my husband ever has. He has told me to stay home and relax more than once but I can’t because I am flooded with this overwhelming guilt. 

This year though, this year is different. You see, my 6 year old plays soccer and my 4 year old is playing soccer and t-ball (who’s idea was that 🤦🏼‍♀️). We literally have either games or practice M-Th and games on Saturday and some Sundays. We are typically exhausted. So for the first time ever last Friday night, I stayed home with my kids while my husband coached less than 1/2 mile down the road. The guilt started out big. I still sent him with the post game food so that I wouldn’t feel like I completely failed. My kids were so sad when I told them we weren’t going, Saturday was going to be a big day of games and I didn’t need cranky babies. So we stayed home. 

I almost named this blog “I was an awesome coach’s wife, then my kids started sports.” However, after lots of thinking and praying, I decided that wasn’t the best title. 

My kids fell asleep around 8:30...on a “home” night, watching tv by themselves. That means they were exhausted. They always fall asleep with me but we’re so tired they didn’t need to. It was in that moment I knew I made the right choice. 

It was also in that moment that I knew that I am STILL an awesome coach’s wife. I am able to hold down the fort and do exactly what my children need while my husband is where he needs to be. A fellow coach’s wife said “while my husband is off pouring into other people’s kids, it is my job to make sure our kids are still being poured into.” And I loved that perspective. While I definitely do not intend to make a habit out of missing home games, I will give myself grace knowing that I am doing what my children need. It also won’t be so hard for me to miss the away games. My kids need nights off and evenings to veg in front of the TV in their undies. 

We love our life as a coaching family and wouldn’t change it for anything. I truly believe it is a calling and a mission field. 

I must say though, my setup Friday night wasn’t so bad.  It was a rough game and for the first time ever, I could have my 4th quarter wine if I wanted it!