I love football. Setting my fantasy football lineup and cheering on my teams are among my favorite fall traditions. As a father, I try to share my love of the game with my kids. Watching football together is becoming a tradition with my boys and, in addition to it being fun entertainment, I am finding great life lessons that can be learned as we watch together. Here are seven of the best that I have found:

1. Even with talent, you need to work hard

Talent is not enough to succeed. You need to practice and condition your body so your talent shines. Every level of the sport has a weeding-out process. Just because you are talented in high school doesn’t mean you’ll shine at college football or even have the chance to play. What separates those who excel is the work and effort players put in to use their talents. Our kids need to know that as they discover their abilities they need hard work and practice to develop them. Talent may get their foot in the door, but their work ethic gets them a seat at the table.

2. Don’t give up

Most of the time, in football someone is trying very hard to knock you down, to make you fail. Many times they will succeed. But you have to get back up, go back to the huddle and try again. The lesson for our kids: you stand a better chance of winning by getting up and trying again.

3. Success comes through setting goals

Football is a game of inches. You are always scrambling for every inch of the field you can get. Trying to come up with one play that will get you the 100 yards you need for a touchdown is tough. So since you get a brand new set of four downs every 10 yards you need to break it down into 10-yard goals. Each play should get you closer to that first-down line. If you keep making that goal you’ll be in position to score before you know it. When our kids are faced with big tasks or problems we need to teach them how to break them down into manageable goals so they can be successful.

4. You win through teamwork

Football is a team sport. Every player needs to do their job and do it well for the team to succeed. The quarterback needs to be able to count on his backs and receivers to move the ball down the field when he gives it to them. The quarterback, running backs and receivers count on the offensive line to make time for a play to develop and make gaps in the other team’s defensive line. Every player on the field has a job that the other players rely on him to do well so that their work is successful. It is a great way to illustrate to kids how teamwork actually works and how everyone’s role affects everyone else.

5. Sometimes you lose

You are going to lose sometimes, it is an unavoidable fact. An undefeated season is a rare feat. The most successful teams usually have at least a few losses. They don’t let those losses set the tone for the rest of the season. They accept them, learn from them and prepare for the next game, intent on winning. Learning to accept defeat and failure and move on with a positive attitude is one of the most valuable lessons kids can learn.

6. Great things happen when you put in great effort

It could be that the effort was put in at practice or at the gym. It could be extra effort they used during a play. Whatever the case, it is the extra effort that they put in that the other players didn’t that allows them to make or receive incredible passes, break off for big runs, stop other players from getting the ball or getting to the ball. Big plays are always the result of someone putting extra effort to do their job well. This translates so very well off the field. Effort is the key to big successes in life. The sooner our kids learn to put effort into what they want to be successful at, the sooner they will realize those successes.

7. Nothing lasts forever …

As soon as a team finishes one play, be it successful or disastrous, it needs to start preparing for the next one. When a game ends, win or lose, the team needs to prepare for the next one. The moment the season ends the team starts preparing for the next one. Not everyone will be back. That play, that game, that season may have been a player’s last one. Planning for the future and remembering the past are important skills to have. You also have to be able to do your best in the moment you are in. In football and in life, it is the moment you are in that matters. Enjoy it, do your best in it—live it fully. Your success is determined in that moment, which will soon be gone.

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This football lessons post, which first appeared on our Chicago Dads Group blog in 2018, is part of the #NoDadAlone campaign. Fathering Together/City Dads Group, the National At-Home Dad Network, and Fathers Eve are joining forces to amplify messages that help dads recognize we are not alone! Follow #NoDadAlone on Instagram, and learn more at NoDadAlone.com.

Editor’s Note: City Dads Groups has a New York Jets ticket for you! Get details for catching any of the remaining 2021-22 home games at the end of this review!

Truth – it’s rough being a New York Jets fan. I try not to focus on the fact that their last winning season was in 2015. Or that this year they’re currently at an abysmal three wins and nine losses.

Instead, we’re focused on the rise of a young new quarterback, Zach Wilson, exciting rookies (Elijah Moore is on my fantasy football squad), and the return of in-person, outdoor sporting events.

My son and I were thrilled to recently attend the New York Jets against the Miami Dolphins football game at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. (aka The Meadowlands) — our first outdoor, sporting event since the pandemic. Dressed in our replica jerseys, we were ready for football, food and entertainment.

Even if you’re not a big football fan, there’s something spectacular about sitting in a massive stadium, immersed with thousands of loyal fans chanting “J-E-T-S, JETS, JETS, JETS.” Snacking on popcorn and hot pretzels, sipping hot chocolate, and jumping out of our seats to do the wave lead by legendary fans, “JETFAN” and “Fireman Ed,” was surreal. Watching a football game on television doesn’t come close to the special bonding experience with your family at a live, in-person game!

Was attending a game at MetLife Stadium safe?

If you haven’t been to a game in a while, new safety protocols have been added because of the pandemic:

1. Mobile ticketing — Tickets are now paperless only. Entrance is contactless because your ticket is your cell phone, downloaded through the upgraded Jets app. You’ll zip right into the stadium.
2. Vaccination — Proof of vaccination and face coverings are not required. Regardless of vaccination status, the New York Jets “strongly encouraged face coverings for indoor public spaces.” We still felt safe because it was a lovely November afternoon where we spent 99% of our time outdoors. We wore our masks any time we went to pick up food or hit the restrooms.
3. Contactless, cash-free transactions – All transactions in the stadium for food, concessions and retail merch are completely cash-free. The ultimate highlight for us was their mobile ordering for food and beverage available via the Jets app! This awesome new “go to the head of the class” process was a difference maker. It saved a ton of time waiting in annoying lines. It also enabled us to spend more quality time bonding in our seats enjoying the football game. Let me share this secret: We downloaded the app and placed our mobile order a few minutes before the halftime rush. During halftime, we sauntered over to the “mobile order pick-up area” by the concessions and our order was ready and waiting for us. No crowds, no wait! Plus, this new service is available to everyone; however, we found that because most fans didn’t know about it, it was rarely used.

Is a New York Jets home game kid-friendly?

1. Before you head into the game, be sure to stop by “JETS Island” located between the Verizon and MetLife gates. The island opens a few hours before kickoff, is free for all fans, and features a GenJets Kids Zone with special activities, inflatables, football toss, photo opportunities and more. We hung out to capture pics with the Transformer JET, enormous JETS sign and even enjoyed some free Butterfinger Candy during their giveaway.
2. Once inside the MetLife Stadium gates, there’s another “Turf” section (also free) that provides the opportunity for you to kick a field goal right through the uprights. There are additional skills and drills experiences like an obstacle course and place to throw passes. This area was loads of fun, but we recommend getting there on the earlier side as it gets more crowded closer to kickoff.
3. Other entertaining options:
   • During game breaks, volunteers on the field launch T-shirts into the crowd.
   • You can post pics on social media using appropriate hashtags so it can be displayed on the stadium scoreboards (it was awesome to see our photo on the jumbo scoreboard)
   • Opportunities before the game to meet former New York Jets players
   • Lots of food and treat options — we loved the cookie dough!
   • Lastly, little ones up to 34” inches in height may enter MetLife Stadium free of charge but must share a seat with an accompanying ticketed adult (this includes all New York Jets football games).

The football game was a nail-biter until the fourth quarter, but the New York Jets couldn’t notch the victory. The outcome didn’t matter because we had an unforgettable experience. Next time, we’re arriving earlier so we can take advantage of tailgating in the parking lot before the game!

New York Jets ticket offer for rest of 2021-22 season!

Thinking about catching a New York Jets game before the season is over?

Here’s a sweet ticket offer for the remaining home games. 

Disclosure: NYC Dads Group received complimentary passes to the New York Jets game. Opinions provided in this post have not been influenced by the free tickets.

A few weeks ago, my 14-year-old son, Yosef, had a decision to make. Would his fall sport of choice be football or cross country?

While insignificant compared to the major world issues engulfing the news each night, this choice was important to him. Yosef was entering a new high school where roster spots on any other athletic team would be nearly impossible to come by.

As the season drew nearer, my wife and I detected Yosef’s self-induced pressure to make a fall sports pick was mounting. My son understood his mother and I would support any decision. I’m sure my son also understood his parents approached the choice from different perspectives.

My wife is a highly competitive type who wants to win – at everything. If she senses an ability to excel, she’s in. If not, she would choose not to go through the motions. If she were faced with the same choice as Yosef, cross country would win out.

That point of view is completely defensible here. After all, Yosef weighs less than 100 pounds, and sat the bench in his one stint as a football player in a Pop Warner team several years ago. Cross country was the hands-down choice from the perspective of playing to succeed athletically.

I am less athletic and less competitive than my wife. I like to win but would not forgo participating on a team even if I’d be relegated to a full-time role on the bench. I have never been great at any sports and was more of a “social” player — more apt to focus on having fun and playing with friends versus wins and losses.

Crunch-time call

Yosef and I spent some time driving to conditioning practices over the fleeting days of summer break before he finally asked for my perspective on how for him to make his choice.

I wrestled with how to advise him, understanding my wife and I represented two divergent paths:

• Play what you’d be decent at (cross country), or,
• Play where you’d have more fun (football)

The crushing responsibility of raising a teenager into a capable, independent person weighed on me. My response could make this choice obvious or leave him to choose for himself.

“You know, the choice is yours – not mine,” I said. “I’ll support you either way and so will your mom. If I were faced with the same decisions, I’d figure out where I’d be happiest.”

As Yosef nodded his head and gazed out of the passenger window, I knew that we’d be spending the fall season on the gridiron. I have regretted giving that advice ever since.

I do not regret allowing Yosef to make the choice himself. He’s old enough to control his social calendar.

I do not feel regret knowing that my son would spend the football season buried deep on the team’s depth chart – probably never to see the field after pregame warmups.

I do not regret not trying to more directly steer him to cross country. There is always next year.

I do regret, though, punting on the opportunity to teach Yosef about making choices in life – those that have consequences beyond the equipment needed for participation.

Telling a teenager to base a decision solely on happiness might be fine for minor things — like football and cross country — and terrible for life. The truth is, very few of the decisions Yosef will make should begin with the evaluation of his assumed, resulting joy and happiness.

Happiness not always an option

Most adult choices involve boring stuff like needs and utility. Often, I make choices based on whether the means are truly worth the end. My decisions are pragmatic, logical and done after serious opining of potential consequences.

While I’m content with Yosef sitting on the sideline this football season, I am not OK with him taking such an approach to college admissions, his studies or his future career pursuits. Will Yosef, though, understand the difference?

Have I traded the short-term path of least resistance by signing my son up for a treacherous, long-term climb?

That day, I think, I was indoctrinated into the world of parenting a teen – the time in life where I’m in the passenger seat of the decision-making minivan. I would prefer to be at the wheel, controlling the route to the destination. Or, at minimum, I’d like to have one hand on the wheel so that it is impossible for Yosef to ignore my influence during the trip.

I thought about that analogy as I waited for Yosef to immerge from the locker room, in the pouring rain, after his team’s first game (an ugly 13-0 loss that was delayed by rain midway through the second half).

He seemed upbeat for having sat on the sidelines all evening.

“Man, Dad, I know I can get in there!” Yosef was quiet, but confident.

“Just keep working, man. Control what you can. Nothing in life is given,” I replied quickly.

“Yep.”

I suddenly swelled with pride. Yosef probably will not play this year, but he sure as hell will not quit.

Maybe, after all, Yosef is learning something because of making decisions based on happiness alone.  Maybe he’s learning that the perception of what will bring joy is not devoid of hard work and suffering. Maybe he’s actively redefining what his happiness looks like.

And maybe, if football continues this trajectory for the season, next year Yosef will run cross country instead – and still be happy.

Photo: © Sunny studio / Adobe Stock.

My oldest started high school football practice recently, but we have talked more about his team’s pregame routine than touchdowns or tackles. Instead of X’s and O’s, Yosef and I are commiserating over whether he will kneel or stand during the national anthem. I wonder if other dads of third-string placekickers are spending time doing the same this summer.

Former NFL star Colin Kaepernick, who cost himself millions of dollars and a promising football career after kneeling during the anthem, has been back in the news in recent weeks. And with the ongoing protests and marches in reaction to high-profile instances of police violence against black people, the racial cavities that divide us are proving vast as well as immediate.

Taking a knee before a high school football game might seem relatively meaningless in the whole scheme of things, but I understand why it might seem noteworthy in the mind of an incoming freshman like Yosef, who my wife and I adopted from Ethiopia about 13 years ago.

I do have some strong feelings on the subject. I want to be careful, though, about projecting my views onto my son. In fact, during this time of boiling, racial turmoil, I wanted to take the opportunity to have a deeper discussion with a kid who’s usually tough to engage.

When he asked whether he should kneel during the national anthem, I asked him four questions. Yosef’s answers, I think, provided a blueprint for anyone wondering the same.

Question 1:  Why are you kneeling?

Kaepernick knelt to shine a light on a social issue that, in his opinion, had little advocacy. If Yosef chooses to kneel, what issue has compelled him to do so?

Choosing to kneel during the national anthem must start with an issue – not necessarily the  same one Kaepernick has – that you are passionate about. If Yosef doesn’t have such passion, or if he seems solely to be succumbing to the pressures of other black teammates or the significance of such a gesture to many others, I’d advise him to stay standing.

Kneeling is the outcome of a burning desire to make a difference, not vice versa.

Question 2: How are you sacrificing?

When Colin Kaepernick elected to kneel during The Star-Spangled Banner, he made several burdensome sacrifices. Kaepernick gave up, by some estimates, up to $100 million, yielding himself unemployable by NFL standards, and turned himself into a political lightning rod.

The ashes of Kaepernick’s career as the backdrop, I asked Yosef: What might you be sacrificing if you kneel?

Might Yosef alienate himself from some other classmates and parents? Yes.

Might his coach, in an act of retaliation, sit him on the bench? Very possibly.

Suddenly, Yosef might suddenly find himself to be “that pot stirrer” rather than “that skinny freshman.” No athlete who kneels will EVER pay as steep a cost as Kaepernick has – certainly not my son. There will be a price to pay, though, and it might be significant to a kid entering a new school in the fall.

Without a good understanding of what sacrifices could be demanded of him, there is no way for a kid to assess whether kneeling pregame is the best personal choice.

Question 3: Are you prepared if you face retaliation?

At one point, my son asked if I’d thought his coach might take notice if players kneeled during the anthem? My answer was a question: “Do you care?”

If players care that they might lose playing time if their coach disagrees with their stance, they should not kneel. A willingness to trade activism for a starting spot is a kneeling non-starter.

Question 4: What are you going to give?

Lost on many in the story of Colin Kaepernick is that he has made good on a pledge to donate millions to causes that share his passion for ending oppression. So as our discussion continued, I asked Yosef, “So, if you kneel, you’ll be planning to donate to charity, right?”

My son looked confused. He didn’t connect the dots between activism and support, financial or time-wise. If my son kneels, I want him to do so for a cause important enough to demand his resources.

Kneeling, particularly at a high school game, is meaningless at its face. The only lasting impact is in devoting time or money to local organizations that champion the reason for the kneeling.

As long as he’s ready to give, he can consider kneeling.

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I am glad I chose to create a dialogue with my son rather than dismissing him. Asking those four questions helped me learn more about his thoughts – and let me wade through mine, too.

I learned that Yosef cares deeply about the same issues that Kaepernick knelt for. Yosef explained to me his feelings about the Black Lives Matter protests, and his role in changing the underlying injustices have stained American history. My son, I believe, will be a starting point for a more inclusive American future.

Yosef, though, showed me that he lacked the maturity to connect activism and activity. He saw kneeling during the national anthem as little more than symbolic – an act that might convey a disgust in the status quo. To him, that symbolic gesture was it – he did not need to do anything else.

He didn’t plan to donate his allowance. He wouldn’t think of volunteering.

Yosef certainly was evaluating whether  he’d be benched while determining his pregame routine. And whether he was OK with that.

I did not forbid Yosef from kneeling. I did not tell him to respect the flag and those who’ve sacrificed. I refused to dismiss him as only trying to get attention.

And, because I asked him those few questions, he may now have a more adequate answer.

Photo: © mezzotint_fotolia / Adobe Stock.

My wife and I were recently given two tickets to an Indianapolis Colts preseason football game. Since my wife, admittedly, pays no attention during games she told me to do whatever I wanted with the tickets. After much debate, I decided to take my oldest daughter. The Colts no longer had Peyton “Nanny” as she calls him, but she was still pumped up and excited to go.

We live just a couple of miles from the Lucas Oil Stadium, so it was a quick car ride downtown. I managed to find free street parking, too, and all I had to do was cross four lanes of traffic and cut off two cars to get it. From our parking spot, it was about a half-mile walk to the game. As we walked up to stadium, I said, “Isn’t this place big?” and my daughter replied, “No, dad, this place is humongous.”

After entering the stadium and taking the lone escalator up, we finally made it to our seats. As soon as we sat down, my daughter wanted food and something to drink from the concession stand. I was able to hold her off until the end of the first quarter.

During the game we spent a lot of time following Blue, the Colts mascot, as he wandered around the field heckling fans. We watched the cheerleaders (because SHE wanted to, of course) do their dances on the sidelines. We even watched some actual football.

And there were questions. Lots of questions.

Are the guys dressed in black and white the referees?

Why are the Colts wearing white instead of blue?

Is there an out-of-bounds line like soccer?

Why aren’t the cheerleaders wearing pants?

Where are the cameras that put the game on TV?

At the end of the first quarter, we headed to the concession stand as promised. After much agonizing over what to order, she finally came decided on a hot pretzel and Vitamin Water.

We walked around for a while, looking at the race cars and boats on display all over the stadium. We went up to look out the big window on the south side of the stadium the overlooks downtown. We spent a lot of time figuring out what downtown buildings we knew. We found several cameramen, which satisfied her question about how the game gets on TV.

As the final seconds of the first half ticked down, we decided it was time to head home. If I’ve learned one thing over the years involving children, it is to end on a positive note. Besides, it’s preseason football.

It was a perfect day with my daughter. She felt special because she got to go on an adventure without her brother and sister. I enjoyed an outing without a stroller and diaper bag.

I’m not sure the conversation we had about the cameras putting the game on TV completely sank in, though. When we got home we turned on the TV to watch the end of the game, my daughter said, “Dad, lets look for us at the game on TV.”

A version of this first appeared on Indy’s Child. Football cheerleaders photo: ©moodboard / Adobe Stock.

September 6th 2017 Note: I’ve updated this post to include my own experiences with four teams; the Texas Marshals, the Texas Legends, the Dallas Wings, and the Dallas Sidekicks, as well as the annual Frisco College Baseball Classic. I also want to highlight the benefits of getting Pogo Pass*, which gets you into several RoughRiders, Wings, Legends, and Revolution games each year, as well as many other DFW area family attractions. If you go to more than one game a year, the pass will be very cost-effective for your family.

If you’re a sports fan like me, you’re probably also raising your kid(s) to love sports. With a team in each of the major professional sports leagues, the DFW area is an incredible place for us sports lovers. Going to a Rangers, Mavs, Stars, or Cowboys game is a great time, but they’re also expensive and sometimes not as kid-friendly as they could be, especially for younger kids.  However, if you’re looking for something more cost-effective with the same fun factor for your young sports fans, here is a guide to the many options the DFW sports scene offers:

For any sport: For both boys and girls teams, your local high school is a great place to start. You’ll be exposing your young ones to school spirit early, and in our area, many schools have players who will end up on division 1 college teams, so there is no lack of talent. For football, in addition to the game, your kids will also get to see the marching band. My son loves this as much as the game. We also go to see basketball, baseball, and soccer. There will be mistakes made at this level, so for kids learning the game, these can be used as teaching moments.

For baseball:

1) The Frisco Roughriders seem by far the area’s most popular minor league attraction. They are the Double-A affiliate of the Rangers and all of the team’s top prospects will end up playing for the Riders at some point. It’s also a great way to catch Rangers players on rehab assignments. We got to see Josh Hamilton and Yu Darvish at past outings. You can use Pogo Pass to get into two games each season.

2) The Texas Airhogs (formerly Grand Prairie Airhogs) is a smaller, cheaper option than the Riders. They are not affiliated with a major league team and therefore you won’t be seeing top prospects, but it’s still pro ball and it’s still fun.

3) The Texas Marshals of the Texas Collegiate League is a team of college baseball players looking to continue to play competitively throughout the summer. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for kids. They have a small concession stand, and you can bring your own food and drinks. They play at the Prestonwood Christian Academy and it’s a great way to see competitive baseball up close. The crowd is small and tends to be mostly parents of the players, and this past summer I ran into a hall-of-fame parent of a player on the opposite team, Greg Maddux! And if you were wondering, his son is just as crafty as he is.

4) In early March, check out the Frisco College Baseball Classic. It’s a four-team round-robin style event with a doubleheader each of the three days. Played at Dr. Pepper Ballpark, they bring in top teams and you get to see two games each session.

5) Other local college baseball: TCU is usually very competitive nationally. For folks in greater Fort Worth, it’s a great way to see quality ball without having to make a long drive. Likewise, Dallas Baptist also fields competitive teams.

For basketball

1) The Texas Legends are the NBA developmental league team of the Dallas Mavericks, who play at the Dr. Pepper Arena in Frisco. There’s not a bad seat in the house, and they have a kid zone behind one of the baskets with some inflatables for kids who need a break from sitting. For a small arena, it’s a great atmosphere to catch a game, and the players play hard every night, trying to earn a call-up to the NBA. You can use your Pogo Pass to get into a couple of games each season.

2) The Hoop City Dallas Pro-Am summer league features teams made up of players who have played in the NBA, NBADL, professional leagues in foreign countries, and top NCAA division 1 programs. It’s a very inexpensive way to see pro-level talent in the intimacy of a high school gym.

3) Local Colleges: SMU is having lots of recent success and therefore can be a tough ticket to get. They are in the same conference as UConn, so go see the UConn Women’s team for some of the best basketball you’ll ever see.  TCU is historically not very competitive in the Big 12, but they host Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas each year.

4) The Dallas Wings experience is relatively inexpensive and family-friendly. The area’s WNBA team includes Skylar Diggins-Smith, one of the game’s most talented and exciting stars. The games are played at UT-Arlington’s arena, creating an intimate experience without a bad seat. Don’t be deterred by their advertised ticket prices…use Pogo Pass to get into up to 3 games per season, or look for deals on Groupon.

For Soccer:
1) FC Dallas: I’m including them here even though they’re a major league team because you can get good seats for minor league prices. Toyota Stadium is a great venue, big enough to draw a loud crowd, but small enough that you can buy the cheapest ticket and you won’t be up in a nosebleed seat.

2) Dallas Sidekicks: I’m not a soccer fanatic, so when I first heard about an indoor professional soccer team, I was skeptical, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. We got a chance to have a group outing last season, and it was incredibly exciting. Because of the small playing area, the ball moves fast and the action doesn’t stop, creating an intense, high-energy atmosphere. Between the two teams, we saw 18 goals scored. I was also surprised at how physical the game was. I’m not sure I’d watch it on TV but was extremely fun to be there.

For Hockey:

1) Allen Americans – An affiliate of the NHL San Jose Sharks, this team draws top talent and has been at the top of the standings the last few seasons. If you’ve never seen live hockey from close seats, definitely give this a try. In my opinion, of the four major sports, the action of hockey translates the worst to TV, so seeing it live will be a whole new experience for those who have never been.

2) Lone Star Brahmas – this is a team of 18-20-year-olds who are hoping for college scholarships and attention from pro scouts. Several of their players end up on top division 1 NCAA hockey teams. Their arena is very small and it’s a great and low-cost way to watch quality hockey live.

For Football:
1) I’ve never seen indoor football before, so I asked group member Josh Graziani to guest-write about the Texas Revolution, who play in Allen: “The Texas Revolution indoor arena football games are intimate and action-packed. You get close-up experience of America’s favorite game and the team does a lot of giveaways and entertainment between quarters. The kids love it and the fans get into it. All of the games have great attendance and energy.” You can use Pogo Pass to get into some Revolution games each season.

2) College Football: This is a hard one to summarize.  If you go to see TCU, particularly against a big 12 rival, neither the game nor the impact on your wallet, will seem minor.  UNT and SMU would be more cost-effective choices but can be pricey for certain games.  There’s a lot of variances depending on who the opponent is.

Lastly, Some General Tips:

1) Before the game, go online and look at the rosters to learn the names of a few of the team’s key players.  When you’re there, point them out to your kids. They will feel more involved if they can cheer for the players by name.

2) Look at the promotions schedule before choosing the game you will attend. Many teams have days they give out free souvenirs such as jerseys, bobbleheads, etc. Your kids will get something cool and it won’t cost any extra. Some teams also have food deals like dollar hot dog nights.

3) Get there early.  Find a staff member to ask if there are any ways your kids can be involved. Some teams pick a kid to say “play ball”, announce a player, ride the Zamboni, or bring out the ball to start the game. Even if your kids don’t get to do any of those things, they can watch pre-game practice up close, or head to the area where players come on and off to get high fives.

4) Groupon and other similar websites can be your friend. Many of the local teams mentioned here run deals that can save you extra money.

*5) As mentioned above, Pogo Pass gets you into several games a year. Dallas Dads Group is an affiliate member of Pogo Pass.

I was driving my kids and family to take a Polar Express-themed train ride. We were all dressed in pajamas, including my six-foot-three father – because that’s what you do for the Polar Express. You wear pajamas.

I was worried we would be late and, apparently, I was burning a bit of rubber. About 20 miles from our destination, we got pulled over. The officer saw us all in pajamas, laughed, gave me a warning, and told me to slow down.

Three hours later, we were ending the train ride and Santa appeared and took the time to talk to all the kids.

He got to me and asked what I wanted for Christmas to which I respond “A Browns Super Bowl.” Santa informed me that he doesn’t work those kind of miracles and then handed me a bell. As I grasped the bell, he refused to let go of it, looks me in the eye and says, “Alvin,” (that’s my first name) “you have precious cargo. Slow down and Merry Christmas.” He walked on to talk to other kids while I was frozen like a statue.

And, no, before you ask – the cop was not Santa.

Summary: Santa is real, he sees when you are speeding and knows when you’re awake, he knows which teams are bad and good, but can’t make the Browns good for goodness sake.

A version of this first appeared on Tales from the Poop Deck.

Photo: jmtimages via photopin (license)

Next week The NFL and their festival of football is descending on our fair city.  For fans of the game this is a great opportunity to get up close and personal with the NFL.  This will be three days of football fun.  Maybe just enough to tide you over until the preseason finally gets underway.

Location:

The Fan festival will be held in Grant Park and Congress Plaza for a 900,000 square foot celebration of the 2016 NFL Draft.

Hours of Operation:

• Thursday, April 28: 12PM – 10PM
• Friday, April 29: 12PM – 10PM
• Saturday, April 30: 10AM – 6PM

The event is free to the public though you do need to download the Fan Mobile Pass to participate in some of the events. which include:

• NFL PLAY 60 Clinic Field 
• Kids’ Long Snap
• Kids’ Quarterback Challenge
• Gear Up & Go
• Kids’ Extra Point Kick
• NFL PLAY 60 Zone Obstacle Course

To see all the events and download the app visit the NFL Draft Town Page

Don’t forget to  check out our Meetups page as the Chicago Dads will be meeting at various times throughout the festival.

DISCLOSURE: We would like to thank Meta health and wellness products for providing us the opportunity to promote its “Heart 2 Heart” campaign.

Every parent should have an occasionally heart-to-heart talk with his or her kids, and there’s no better time than February which is National Heart Health Month. There’s also no reason a child can’t have that same talk with his parent which is just what pro football Hall of Famer and talk show host Michael Strahan does, chatting with his father, Gene, in the new campaign for Meta.

City Dads Group: You have a little experience having a “heart to heart” conversation about heart health with your own father, Gene. Can you tell us how that conversation happened, and what prompted you to have it?

Michael Strahan: My dad was having heart issues. I assumed he and my mother could handle it … but it wasn’t getting any better. The issues were getting worse and I decided to step in. Because of my relationship with him, it wasn’t a fight, it wasn’t an argument. I just said, “I want to help you and let’s try this. I want you to meet with these doctors I found for you. Let’s see if we can do something to get you back on track.” He was really receptive to it. It wasn’t an easy conversation for me. … It’s a scary thing to do when somebody you admire so much, you’re kind of used to going to them for advice or they give it unsolicited sometimes. Now you’re the one giving advice, advice you feel could really help them. Difficult conversation at first to have, but once it set in, it was great. In a lot of ways, it made us closer in a different way.

What did you learn about fatherhood from your dad?

Michael Strahan: Oh, yeah, my dad was an incredible father. He never did anything his kids weren’t allowed to do with him. If he were going on a fishing trip, and no kids were going, he wouldn’t go. He’d take us by himself, just him. We always had a camper, so we’d always travel. And he was an old Army boxer. When he went to the gym, we would go. I remember being 5 years old, and I was out there running with the 82nd Airborne Division. How many 5-year-old kids could say that? He was always there. He always included us in everything he did, and that’s what I learned from him. Always be present. Always be a part. And don’t think that your kids don’t understand what you do or that it’s too early to get them involved to see what you do. And from being around him and seeing what hard work was, it allowed me to know that you have to work hard. But at the same time, you have to enjoy your family. That’s why the purpose of what you do is to spend time with your family and keep them around as long as possible.

What are some of the challenges you face as a father?

Michael Strahan: Time management. Managing the time as a father when you are as busy as I am I think is one. Then, when you do have the time, to be there and be present and not to be worried about everything else you have going on. Not being on your phone, because your kids want your attention. Those are the biggest challenges for me. The phone thing doesn’t bother me. At first it was like, “OK, I have to get on top of this.” But now, I’ve gotten to the point where it’s their time, and it’s absolutely their time. When you’re in the entertainment business … this is funny, because my youngest kids, the twins at 11 years old are at the point … Well I used to say to people who would come up to me that I appreciate it, but I’m with the kids, so I can’t take a picture. Now, the girls will say to me, “You can say ‘yes’ to everyone today.” They want me to say yes. They’re willing to give up their time with me to make other people happy. This is another thing that makes me happy. They are very giving and caring in that way to think about somebody else before themselves.

What is your favorite thing about being a dad? What’s that one thing that you always look forward to doing with your kids?

Michael Strahan: The kids keep you young. I was just at the father/daughter dance. We just sat down after we got our food. “The Cupid Shuffle” came on, and my kids said we had to dance. I said, “But we just got our food.” They said, “You have to eat after.” So, we’re up there Cupid Shuffling. To the right, to the right. To the left, to the left. Between that and “whipping and nae-naeing,” it kind of makes you realize what’s important. Work is great, and that’s important. Doing this and that is important, but nothing’s more important than that time. They make everything seem not so serious. As an adult, at a certain point in your life you go, “OK, now I’m an adult, and this has to be this way.” And they make you realize, you can have fun and play and enjoy your life the whole way through! It’s not like you get serious for this period and then enjoy it. You’re able to enjoy your life the entire way through. The innocence of kids, my kids, keep me focused and help me with that.

We have a podcast called, “The Modern Dads Podcast.” What does the term “modern dad'” mean to you?

Michael Strahan: I think it’s a father who can do it all. It almost used to feel like mom was home with the kids, mom fed the kids, mom changed the kids, mom drove the kids, mom did the homework, and all those things. Now, dad does all that, too. And I think that’s what a modern father is. Not going by that society given notion that dads are uninvolved in the everyday life and is just the one who goes and provides. I just think that thinking is dead. Modern fathers do it all and deserve credit for it as well. And we wash clothes, too!

Michael Strahan also did a Q & A at the 2016 Dad 2.0 Summit. Here is a a quick clip from that session.

http://youtu.be/86ypWuipReU

I am in the middle of yet another trying fantasy football season. Two of them, actually, since I am participating in two leagues, like some kind of masochist. It’s been weeks of misery, punctuated by occasional spurts of short-lived happiness.

Just like raising kids!

Seriously, parenting and fantasy football aren’t all that different (here’s what a fantasy parenting draft might look like!) There’s a lot of work, you have to pay a lot of attention, and nobody wants to hear about any of it.

I know, you think I’m an idiot. So I made a list!

1. So. Much. Prep.

The fantasy football industry and the parenting industry are loaded with experts and manuals and pundits and buttinskis. They both have long lead times of about eight or nine months before the action happens. They both involve a lot of logistical headaches, e.g.: buying supplies; arranging schedules; collecting fees; stockpiling booze; placating your wife; etc. They both involve a lot of hushed, paranoid conversations with friends about what’s going to happen. And, despite all that prep, they both involve someone potentially shitting the bed on the big day (draft or labor).

2. Friendships Are Destroyed

Fantasy is a competition. Some people inevitably take it too seriously and irritate the hell out of everyone else. Because nobody knows what they’re doing, least of all people who act like they do. Of course, the only thing more irritating than someone bragging about their fantasy team is someone bragging about their kid. Parenting is NOT a competition, which makes it even worse when someone starts making comparisons. Congrats, he can count to 10 in Spanish. Wake me when he has blue hair and a meth addiction. Nobody likes someone who rubs their good luck in your face, especially when they act like they planned it. Because nine times out of ten, they didn’t …

3. Fantasy Football is All Luck

Sure, you can prepare. You can study. You can read all the “experts,” get advice from friends, buy all the recommended gadgets that make things easier. But at the end of the day, none of that matters because it’s all a crapshoot. You might go undefeated and then lose in the playoffs because Matt Asiata comes off the bench and scores three touchdowns. You might follow every rule in the parenting handbook and still watch your kid become a Juggalo and drop out of high school. It’s impossible to prepare for the excruciating randomness, the heartbreaking arbitrariness of both endeavors. Your best made plans are worthless. All you can do is sit back and hope your team/kid/marriage survives.

4. Nobody Cares!

You love your kids, we get it. You’re tired, we get it. Everybody else’s kids are boring and exactly the same and nobody cares about them except you. The same goes for your fantasy team. You made a trade? Snooze. You started the wrong guy and lost by a half a point? Nobody cares! But let me tell you how Ilost last week, it’s so frustrazzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Fine, did I tell you the hilarious thing Junior did at prezzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

5. The Stress isn’t Worth It

You enter into the fantasy season with grand expectations of all the good times you’re gonna have. Then, when you lose week one because you didn’t start the guy who scored three touchdowns, or you drop the wrong RB and pick up the wrong WR, or you lose to a guy who didn’t even start his kicker but whose DST had two punt return TDs and a pick-6, you realize it’s mostly just aggravation and stress. Just like parenting! Suddenly this thing that is supposed to bring you happiness instead costs you a bunch of money and gives you an ulcer. You’ll lose count of the amount of times you wonder why you even participate.

6. The Payoff is Worth It

And yet the happy moments trump everything. You make a good trade and your team goes from on-the-brink-of-elimination to five straight wins and the championship purse. Or the hunch you played by stashing a third-string RB on your roster for 13 weeks pays off when he finally gets the starting job just in time for the playoffs and suddenly you forget how aggravating your Sundays have been for the past three months. Or your kid grabs your hand in the store, totally unprompted, and looks at you and says “I love you, Daddy.” Or he asks if he can watch Star Wars some day. Or he gives you a snuggle. And suddenly you don’t even care that he just fumbled his Spaghetti-O’s all over the couch.

7. Time Flies

It’s already week twelve! My son is already four! It seems like yesterday I was childfree, sitting around drinking beers, bullshitting with my friends, without a care in the world. Now I have to worry about parent-teacher conferences and whether or not I am going to make the playoffs. Fantasy moves fast. Parenting moves fast too, which can be tough, because unlike fantasy, you can’t just start over the next season. I mean, you can, but that would just be stupid.

A version of Fantasy Football first appeared on Dad and Buried.