Around 5 years ago, I retired from fantasy football. I wish I could say it was because of some big revelation about being a better husband and father, but I was newly married, and my kids weren’t born yet.
Quite simply I got tired. I was in multiple fantasy football leagues, and I found myself watching games between teams like the Browns and the Jaguars just to see if Maurice Jones-Drew would score the 2 touchdowns I needed to win that week. You’d think that this was some sort of defining moment in my life…one in which I realized my true priorities and gained some much needed time back in my “busy” life.
But it wasn’t.
My entire weekend was still wrapped up in football. I just cared more about the actual teams playing the actual games. But inevitably, Monday would roll around, and I’d complain about how busy I was and how weekends weren’t long enough to do all the great things I wanted to do with my life.
Fast forward to present day. My wife and I now have 2 sons, ages 4 and 1. (So I have a little better understanding as to what “busy’ really is.) And you know what those boys want to do on the weekends with their dad after he’s been at work all week? Play.
And you know what I want to do after a long week at work? Lay on the couch and watch football. And not just 1 game. Every game. College games on Saturday at 9 am, 12:30 pm, and 5:30 pm (AZ time.) And NFL games on Sunday at 10 am, 1 pm, and 5:30 pm (AZ time).
Ahhhh…the tension…
But recently I faced a hard reality. I get 2 days off in a typical week. What would it say to my boys if, for 5 months out of the year, I spent those 2 days watching hours and hours of football?
This past weekend I decided to be intentional about watching less football. I watched my favorite college team (ASU) and my favorite pro team (Arizona Cardinals). And that was it. On Saturday, instead of the afternoon set of college games, I took my 4-year old son Kellen to the park. We played whiffle ball until he lost interest and simply wanted to roll the ball up and down the hill in childlike wonder.
On Sunday, I gave up the NFL’s afternoon game of the week to swim with my boys for 3 hours. We smiled. We laughed. The pool was filled with joy as Kellen tried to save me from “sinking” over and over again.
I used to think it’d be rare to see my teams win a championship. As a lifelong fan of the Phoenix Suns, New York Mets, Arizona Cardinals, and Arizona State University, there is some truth to this. (Thankfully, the New York Giants have given me a few moments to celebrate.)
But you know what’s even more rare? These moments with my boys. One day, they will grow up. They’ll no longer need daddy to hold them in the pool. They’ll no longer need me to teach them how to swim. They’ll no longer need me to show them how to hit a baseball.
But football? Football will still be there. The games will still be played. And the outcomes will still be the same…whether I watch it or not. That doesn’t mean I can never watch. My boys can’t have dad play with them 24/7 either. I just need to be selective and realize that my boys are watching me. They model their behavior after me. And what do I communicate to them if I sacrifice play time to watch the Eagles play the Steelers? (A game that may mean something to you, but means nothing to me.)
I’m not sure where you fall in the football watching spectrum. Perhaps you don’t like football and spend all weekend with your family. If so, keep it up. Perhaps you’re like me and struggle with the tension between watching football all weekend and spending time with your family. Maybe this weekend try giving up one set of games. Or perhaps you don’t have kids, but plan to one day. Now is a great time to start preparing for your future.
We live in a world today where kids need their dad to be attentive. We can’t put it all on mom’s shoulders. So lay down on your couch, enjoy a break, and watch your favorite team. But when it’s over, stand up, turn off the TV, and prepare to play. Your kids need you.
Question: What’s one thing you’ll do this week to spend more time with your kids? (Share your thoughts and inspire others in the comments below.)
