When my eldest son entered high school, he voiced a strong desire to join the football team. I had no idea that once he grasped that football, he would become passionately devoted for years to come.
As a novice football mom, I was quite naive about the fervor surrounding high school football. I assumed he would simply stay after school, participate in basic drills while donning a helmet, and forget about it until the next practice. I was terribly mistaken.
While the expenses associated with team sports are well-known, nothing prepared me for my initial trip to purchase gear. I had thought that just a good pair of cleats would suffice, as the school supposedly supplied protective equipment. I was wrong. That first year, we made multiple trips to the sports store for a back plate, socks, ankle braces, a mouthguard, gloves, and a “girdle,” a term I learned from my son. Now, I know that late July is the perfect time to stock my pantry with ramen noodles and macaroni and cheese before I confront the ringing cash register. Ah, Sports Authority, how cute you are asking if I want cash back, when I’ll have none left after this visit!
Once the financial hurdle was overcome, the sheer time commitment became apparent. Early season practices stretched from noon to 8 p.m., requiring me to pack lunch for a boy who eats every 15 minutes during an 8-hour day of intensive practice, conditioning, and weight training. This predicament likely inspired the food truck phenomenon; an exhausted football mom, tired of cramming 50 pounds of food into a lunch sack, decided to make the contents of her fridge mobile. Along with practices, there were fundraisers, rallies, booster meetings, and, of course, the iconic Friday night games. It felt like I was taking on a part-time job, only to pay them for the privilege.
Truthfully, we adapted to this new routine, and once my credit card cooled off, we embraced our new identity as a “football family.” We proudly donned matching shirts emblazoned with our son’s number and created signs every Thursday night. It was enjoyable, but I didn’t fully grasp its significance until a recent incident.
Last week, my son suffered a spinal injury during a crucial game against our school’s biggest rival, a team they hadn’t triumphed over in over a decade. In the fourth quarter, while we were leading, my son stumbled off the field, removed his helmet, and collapsed onto the grass. As trainers attended to him, the game continued, but the atmosphere shifted. The boys knew he was hurt, and suddenly, it became personal. They resolved to finish the game in his honor.
As the final buzzer sounded, my son lay strapped to a gurney, ready for transport to an ambulance waiting on the sidelines. All 45 players rushed to his side, kneeling beside him, holding his hand while proclaiming, “We did it! We won! We finished the game for you!” These towering teenage boys shed tears alongside him. As the ambulance departed, they led the stadium in cheering his name. I heard the paramedic in the back tell my son, “Wow, do you hear that? You’re a rock star, man!” It brought me to tears.
Later that night, when his coaches visited him in the hospital, I had a moment to reflect on what I had just witnessed. As my son finally surrendered the jersey he had clutched throughout his ordeal to his coach, he said, “I kept it safe the whole time!” I recognized the invaluable lessons he was gaining through football: discipline, respect, accountability, and most importantly, loyalty. It’s not merely about cheerleaders and nachos (though those nachos are quite essential).
These are the profound lessons that often go unnoticed during that initial parent meeting. They are lessons that will carry with him throughout life. Thankfully, his injury was temporary, and he’ll be back on the field this weekend. We will be in the stands, rain or shine, proudly holding our signs and wearing our matching shirts, but now with a deeper respect—not just for my son, but for his teammates as well. I’ve grown to appreciate those boys of fall.
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In summary, my journey as a football mom has transformed from ignorance to appreciation. Through the highs and lows, I have witnessed the profound impact of teamwork and camaraderie, not only on my son but on all the young men involved.