In nearly every household there seems to be some form of football widow. The person in a relationship, weather female or male, who just does not enjoy watching the game. In our house, my Husband was the football widow. For years. my Son and I watched sports together while dad stayed busy fixing things and running back & forth to ask unnecessary questions between plays. Now, my daughter in-law, is the football widow. Like herself and my husband, the football widow will spend Sunday and/or Monday trying to stay busy while the television blares and armchair quarterbacks shout at the TV. It's an age old problem that really doesn't have to be.
If you're a football widow, like my daughter in-law, you understand the dilemma. You just don't get to spend enough time with your significant other during the season. After all, isn't fall the best time for cuddling? Yet, here you are, alone in the other room or out shopping or having lunch with a friend, all in the name of not getting in the way of the game. But there are some ways you can participate without having to care about what an "illegal block in the back" means. My daughter in-law found a way to accomplish this by creating a game day ambiance. She has made some wonderful game day memories and spent a lot more time with my son to satisfy her thirst for his company. So get yourself an NFL themed blanket for couch cuddling because you're about to spend a lot more time with your Fan.
In anticipation, football fans prepare for the game throughout the week and so should you. Sunday is inevitable, so be ready for it. Start by asking your Fan, who's playing this weekend? After the shock wears off and the blind stare begins to fade, your Fan should answer and you'll have an idea of a color theme to help you get going. The dollar store has a large array of decorations in multiple colors and a huge selection of party supplies on the cheap. During the season, they also have an array of football themed items you can choose from. All for around a dollar. Don't be tempted to get carried way with too much decor though, you'd be wasting your talent since your Fan won't really care about them so, keep it simple.
Now food. Your Fan will definitely care about the food. There are so many delicious game day recipes on the internet your head will spin. But, unless you love to spend all day cooking, try to stick with simple items like, chips & salsa, meatballs, Little Smokie's, Hot Dogs or Burgers. My football widow has included assorted salads in the past but for the most part he sticks with easy to prepare dishes that can be whipped up that morning. You can see his favorite meatball recipe here. Armed with your color theme and shopping list, you'll need to visit the stores by Saturday because some Sunday games start pretty early. If your Fan only watches Monday Night, you can wait for Sunday to shop.
Prepare any more complicated food items on Saturday if you can and wait to put it out, along with the decorations, until just prior to the game. Your Fan will be very pleased that you've decided to make the day so festive! As soon as the kickoff happens, grab your NFL blanket, your laptop and a beer. Then get cozy and snuggle up on the couch next to your Fan (even if you have to move his best friend) and yes, he will look at you like he is trying to figure out who has taken over your body, but I'm fairly certain he'll let you stay. The blanket let's your Fan know, you're not going away, the laptop is to keep you entertained and the beer is simply a form of saying you're participating in the game.
Now, I'm not talking about you being the gopher or feeling like you're at their beckon call but...soon, you'll notice your fan draining his beer, your next task is to say, can I get you another? Yes, I'd like another beer...and can you bring me some chips? After that, if you stay put and don't get up again, your Fan should begin to look at you and say something like, "oh man! Did you see what just happened"!? Oh my, is all you need to say. He knows you didn't see but, he is paying attention to you and that's the goal here isn't it? At some point, he is certain to get up for something, beer, bathroom, or food, at that point you should ask..."when you come back, can you grab us a few meatballs and another beer"? Next thing you know he's going to be talking to you and bringing you things and letting you snuggle a bit closer, even if his friends are there. You'll begin to have conversations about what happened during the game. Don't pretend to know what your Fan is talking about, just nod and say things like, oh yeah? right? or oh no I missed that! Who cares if you don't understand or care about the game, your goal is time together and closeness. And now you've got that.
Trust me this works. Sure, you'll need to be clever and keep things interesting over the season, but it's worth the trouble. These tactics work for my husband and are working extremely well for my daughter in-law who deals with my son and I every week! Without even knowing what's happening, your Fan will start asking about the upcoming menu or the decor and may even start sharing who's playing this weekend BEFORE you even ask! Viola! You're no longer the widow, but instead, part of the team! No one should be a football widow unless they want to be. Happy Football Season!
If you're a football widow, like my daughter in-law, you understand the dilemma. You just don't get to spend enough time with your significant other during the season. After all, isn't fall the best time for cuddling? Yet, here you are, alone in the other room or out shopping or having lunch with a friend, all in the name of not getting in the way of the game. But there are some ways you can participate without having to care about what an "illegal block in the back" means. My daughter in-law found a way to accomplish this by creating a game day ambiance. She has made some wonderful game day memories and spent a lot more time with my son to satisfy her thirst for his company. So get yourself an NFL themed blanket for couch cuddling because you're about to spend a lot more time with your Fan.
In anticipation, football fans prepare for the game throughout the week and so should you. Sunday is inevitable, so be ready for it. Start by asking your Fan, who's playing this weekend? After the shock wears off and the blind stare begins to fade, your Fan should answer and you'll have an idea of a color theme to help you get going. The dollar store has a large array of decorations in multiple colors and a huge selection of party supplies on the cheap. During the season, they also have an array of football themed items you can choose from. All for around a dollar. Don't be tempted to get carried way with too much decor though, you'd be wasting your talent since your Fan won't really care about them so, keep it simple.
Now food. Your Fan will definitely care about the food. There are so many delicious game day recipes on the internet your head will spin. But, unless you love to spend all day cooking, try to stick with simple items like, chips & salsa, meatballs, Little Smokie's, Hot Dogs or Burgers. My football widow has included assorted salads in the past but for the most part he sticks with easy to prepare dishes that can be whipped up that morning. You can see his favorite meatball recipe here. Armed with your color theme and shopping list, you'll need to visit the stores by Saturday because some Sunday games start pretty early. If your Fan only watches Monday Night, you can wait for Sunday to shop.
Prepare any more complicated food items on Saturday if you can and wait to put it out, along with the decorations, until just prior to the game. Your Fan will be very pleased that you've decided to make the day so festive! As soon as the kickoff happens, grab your NFL blanket, your laptop and a beer. Then get cozy and snuggle up on the couch next to your Fan (even if you have to move his best friend) and yes, he will look at you like he is trying to figure out who has taken over your body, but I'm fairly certain he'll let you stay. The blanket let's your Fan know, you're not going away, the laptop is to keep you entertained and the beer is simply a form of saying you're participating in the game.
Now, I'm not talking about you being the gopher or feeling like you're at their beckon call but...soon, you'll notice your fan draining his beer, your next task is to say, can I get you another? Yes, I'd like another beer...and can you bring me some chips? After that, if you stay put and don't get up again, your Fan should begin to look at you and say something like, "oh man! Did you see what just happened"!? Oh my, is all you need to say. He knows you didn't see but, he is paying attention to you and that's the goal here isn't it? At some point, he is certain to get up for something, beer, bathroom, or food, at that point you should ask..."when you come back, can you grab us a few meatballs and another beer"? Next thing you know he's going to be talking to you and bringing you things and letting you snuggle a bit closer, even if his friends are there. You'll begin to have conversations about what happened during the game. Don't pretend to know what your Fan is talking about, just nod and say things like, oh yeah? right? or oh no I missed that! Who cares if you don't understand or care about the game, your goal is time together and closeness. And now you've got that.
Trust me this works. Sure, you'll need to be clever and keep things interesting over the season, but it's worth the trouble. These tactics work for my husband and are working extremely well for my daughter in-law who deals with my son and I every week! Without even knowing what's happening, your Fan will start asking about the upcoming menu or the decor and may even start sharing who's playing this weekend BEFORE you even ask! Viola! You're no longer the widow, but instead, part of the team! No one should be a football widow unless they want to be. Happy Football Season!
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