Coaching football is my father’s life, which means football was OUR life as a family. For me, it started before I was born: I was considerate enough to wait until the Monday AFTER the last game of his 1978 season–a week past my due date (sorry, Mom!). As a kid, I didn’t see my dad very much between July and November; he never got to see me play tennis in high school or walk me out on the field with my mom on senior band night, and although he was disappointed to miss those things, I made sure he knew it was ok and I was extremely proud of him. My own kids even ended up with birthdays like bookends to football season: July 18, two weeks before two-a-days start, and November 3, shortly after the season ends.

However, the season might not end quite as soon this year.

Andrew’s first birthday is less than two weeks away, but his party is now officially on hold because my dad’s football team is 7-0 so far, and there is a high likelihood that he will make the regional playoffs (YAY!). And the first round of playoff games for his division (Division I, which are the biggest schools by student population) is scheduled for Saturday, November 6–the day we were planning to have the party. Whether he wins or not (and obviously we hope he’ll keep winning!) this means he will not be home on Saturday OR Sunday, and I know my dad does not want to miss his grandson’s first birthday party, so we’re postponing it until… well, I don’t know when, but knock on wood!

The cake can wait. I know someday Andrew will understand.

The four of us will still have our own little celebration on November 3, though. And I’ll say, “I’m SO glad I had you,” and my singing voice will break at the beginning of the Happy Birthday song and I’ll cry into his hair, just like it’s happened every year for his four-year old brother. If there’s anything I love more than football, it’s my little boys. They’re the best luck this family has ever had.

GO FALCONS!