I have to start off saying that I don’t “hate” football. I actually do enjoy watching it, usually only when it’s my Philadelphia Eagles though. I’m a one team kind of girl and Philly is where my interest lies. I’ll tolerate watching other games and if it’s a close game I might actually have some interest in it, but usually I’m on mom duty and I’m thinking or doing mom things.

My husband on the other hand loves sports, especially football. The season doesn’t start at the end of August/beginning of September for him, it never ends – it’s a year round interest. Once the Super Bowl is over, talk of the NFL draft begins – what team needs what position, who will be drafted in the first round, what trades could/will be made to get a better pick in the draft? Draft weekend is just as big around our house as Super Bowl Sunday is in most others. Once the draft has come and gone the drafted players need to be analyzed according to the teams who drafted them. How will the rookies affect the veterans on the team? Will there need to be trades to make room for the rookies? Which free agents will be re-signed or signed elsewhere? How does this affect a team or the league? Can you understand yet, that the season really never ends?

Long before players show up for training camp, my husband is writing player profiles, trying to predict what players will be hot in the upcoming season. What running back or wide receiver is going to be the quarterback’s go to guy? What defense is going to allow the least amount of touchdowns and passing/rushing yards? I sit and listen to him talk to me about these things and know it’s important because he has a job to do. Fantasy football isn’t just an interest or hobby to him, it’s a part time job, and it is what allows me to be a stay at home mom. He writes for a fantasy football website and is published in their annual magazine, FootballGuys.com.

I know enough about football to get me through a conversation. I enjoy football enough to get me through a game. What I want though is to “love” football in some small portion like my husband does. I think Momspective KickOff Fantasy League is just the thing to get me out of my rut and broaden my interests beyond the Philadelphia Eagles. I tried to pre-rank my players, but must have been doing it while the auto draft was going on. I researched the players I was given and even asked for my husband’s expert advice regarding hurt players. He’s enjoyed the conversations that I’ve initiated regarding football and my fantasy team and I have a real interest in the conversations about football because I want “my team” to do well. I’m learning about players I had never heard of before, learning that it’s important to know how the scoring is handled in the fantasy league to know which positions you should pick first, and that you need to watch your players for injuries.

We’re expecting our third child in October and will have three children under three! Life is busy with the little ones and I don’t want to resent my husband for wanting to relax and enjoy something he loves on Sundays. I want to relax and enjoy it with him – instead of it being “his” time, I want it to be “family” time. This Sunday I’ll be sitting on the couch with my husband looking forward to watching the games and keeping track of my players. I know I’ll be thanking Julie again on Monday morning for creating the league because I’m already excited, planning the food, and looking into what games are on at what time. I think this Sunday is going to be a great time at our house!

-Beth H.

Contributor, Momspective