To the wives who don’t love football,
It happens every August. My husband starts thinking and talking a lot about football. He preps for the fantasy drafts. He texts friends NFL memes and jokes. He collects cash for the annual and always-expanding football pool.
And there I sit, Googling the date of the Super Bowl, ready to count down the days until it’s over.
I know a lot of women really get into the game. They have a team to root for and sport the gear. I (sort of) want to be one of those women. But isn’t it just grown men running around risking injury for no good reason?
I don’t love football. I don’t even like it as a friend. So, for the past decade, I’ve complained about my husband’s fall hobby. I’ve made snarky remarks when one of “his” players misses a catch. I’ve insisted he spend less time tweaking make-believe leagues.
But not this year.
This football season I plan to honor my husband by not complaining about football.
Why? Because it makes him happy. Because he works hard for our family and doesn’t need me dissing the way he chooses to unwind. Because if he picked on me about anything the way I do him about football, I’d cry.
This football season I am going to support my husband. I am really going to listen when he talks about field goals and bad plays. I am even going to do a little research before placing my weekly picks. I don’t need to pretend, I just need to be nice.
Wives, I know some of you are like me. I know you think football season takes up too much time. I know you want your Sundays back (also Monday and Thursday nights). But let’s try to love our husband’s through this season.
I have a feeling we will win a lot more battles, if we call game on this one.