October Days at Football Games
We usually go to at least the homecoming football game every year, but we hadn't had the opportunity to go to any games this year. With a one- and four-year-old at home it was just too hard to find the chance to get away, especially since our three older girls all wanted to be at the games themselves and actually HAD to go to the games to meet their pep band requirements to get good grades in band. (Both our seventeen- and fifteen-year-olds play percussion so they're a vital part of the pep band.)
And now that our seventeen-year-old has her first boyfriend (BF), who's a starter and plays wide reciever on the team, we were especially eager to get to at least one game. Our high school's football team is undefeated this year and the BF is often in on the action, scoring touchdowns, interceptions, etc.
This is the first time we've had the whole BF scenario to deal with and I must admit we were nervous wrecks about the whole thing. We made sure Cait checked in with us often; we asked who else would be with them, wanting them to be with other friends as much as possible to avoid make out time (MOT). John insisted that Cait bring the BF home for supper to get to know each other. He took the kids canoeing down the Minnesota River so they spent the whole day together. On weekends, John would wait in the dark of the living room for Cait to come home even a minute late for curfew so he could ground her. Like I said, we were a wreck. Finally Cait said, "You're going to have to trust me. I'm going to have to grow up eventually, and maybe I'll even make mistakes. But it's the only way..." How can you argue with that? Well, what we've come to discover is that the BF is a pretty nice guy who loves his mom--a definite good sign!
So, last Tuesday we asked our eleven- and fifteen-year olds to babysit and headed to the game. It was chilly in the outdoor stands. A house in the distance had a sign in lights that read, "Go Giants!" The local radio station was set up in the booth behind where Cait and the BF had taped our blankets to save our seats.
Neighbors gathered, most of them friends and acquaintances I've come to know in the past ten years. Mothers of the players proudly wore buttons bearing their son's photos as well as blue and gold garb. The cheerleaders bounced and shouted from their spot in front of the crowd. A quartet from the high school sang the Star Spangled Banner and the game began. The opening push started with a 78-yard run by our quarterback for a touchdown--I was sitting near his mom who shouted and cheered as tears welled in her eyes. Soon the BF scored his first touchdown and I was yelling my head off. I could hear his mother doing the same beside me! By the end of the game my throat was sore. We won by a huge margin--57 to 7, as I recall.
There's nothing like sitting amidst a crowd of people you know and greet on a daily basis and rooting for the same team. It's downright energizing. Old and young alike gather for the event. Fathers with infants in carriers and grandmothers with teacup poodles tucked in their winter coats--all come to share the experience.
We were so psyched that we decided to take the whole clan including the four- and one-year-old to the game on Saturday! The four-year-old loved every minute. She cheered and shouted alongside me and the one-year-old got passed around amongst the girls' various friends. I saw her all of ten minutes during the game and she was happy, albeit exhausted, by the time we got home. The team won again!
Next Friday is the deciding game--if we win we'll go to State! I'm trying to figure out how I can get away for that one too!
More later,
Traci
And now that our seventeen-year-old has her first boyfriend (BF), who's a starter and plays wide reciever on the team, we were especially eager to get to at least one game. Our high school's football team is undefeated this year and the BF is often in on the action, scoring touchdowns, interceptions, etc.
This is the first time we've had the whole BF scenario to deal with and I must admit we were nervous wrecks about the whole thing. We made sure Cait checked in with us often; we asked who else would be with them, wanting them to be with other friends as much as possible to avoid make out time (MOT). John insisted that Cait bring the BF home for supper to get to know each other. He took the kids canoeing down the Minnesota River so they spent the whole day together. On weekends, John would wait in the dark of the living room for Cait to come home even a minute late for curfew so he could ground her. Like I said, we were a wreck. Finally Cait said, "You're going to have to trust me. I'm going to have to grow up eventually, and maybe I'll even make mistakes. But it's the only way..." How can you argue with that? Well, what we've come to discover is that the BF is a pretty nice guy who loves his mom--a definite good sign!
So, last Tuesday we asked our eleven- and fifteen-year olds to babysit and headed to the game. It was chilly in the outdoor stands. A house in the distance had a sign in lights that read, "Go Giants!" The local radio station was set up in the booth behind where Cait and the BF had taped our blankets to save our seats.
Neighbors gathered, most of them friends and acquaintances I've come to know in the past ten years. Mothers of the players proudly wore buttons bearing their son's photos as well as blue and gold garb. The cheerleaders bounced and shouted from their spot in front of the crowd. A quartet from the high school sang the Star Spangled Banner and the game began. The opening push started with a 78-yard run by our quarterback for a touchdown--I was sitting near his mom who shouted and cheered as tears welled in her eyes. Soon the BF scored his first touchdown and I was yelling my head off. I could hear his mother doing the same beside me! By the end of the game my throat was sore. We won by a huge margin--57 to 7, as I recall.
There's nothing like sitting amidst a crowd of people you know and greet on a daily basis and rooting for the same team. It's downright energizing. Old and young alike gather for the event. Fathers with infants in carriers and grandmothers with teacup poodles tucked in their winter coats--all come to share the experience.
We were so psyched that we decided to take the whole clan including the four- and one-year-old to the game on Saturday! The four-year-old loved every minute. She cheered and shouted alongside me and the one-year-old got passed around amongst the girls' various friends. I saw her all of ten minutes during the game and she was happy, albeit exhausted, by the time we got home. The team won again!
Next Friday is the deciding game--if we win we'll go to State! I'm trying to figure out how I can get away for that one too!
More later,
Traci
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