As far back as I can remember, I’ve loved football. Some of the earliest pictures of me feature a ball in my hand. And though my slight frame led to my football career ending far sooner than I would have liked, my love for the game never faded. That love has passed on to my son Kingston and even my daughter Ava as well.
Since Kingston was in a highchair, he has been throwing a football. He loves the game (and all sports, really). He loves playing it, but he also loves learning about it. And thankfully for him, he has more size than I ever did, so he’s able to withstand the hits better than I could. I’ve written before about his exploits as quarterback for championship youth football teams. As I write this, he’s preparing for the next season. If you’re a parent reading this, I’d highly recommend signing your child up for the Parks & Recreation youth football league. The lessons they will learn will impact them far beyond the field. I know they did for me.
Ava recently participated in her first football camp and really enjoyed it. She’s an athlete as well, playing baseball and doing competition dance. I’m excited to see what path she takes in the future.
The kids and I also love going to football games together. On a Friday night in the fall, you’ll likely find us at one of the area high schools watching a game. As a kid, I did the same thing with my dad. I can’t tell you how many games and schools we went to over the years. I enjoyed them all those years ago and now I enjoy them with my kids, because it’s more than just football. It’s about creating memories with those you love. Those games with my dad as a kid are snapshots of my life, as they will be for Kingston and Ava.
As much as I enjoy summer, I’m glad fall is on its way. It signals the arrival of many things: pumpkins, costumes, and the changing of the leaves. But without a doubt, it means football season is here. I can’t wait.