Everyday Football Magic: Presence, Connection, and the Heart of Parenting
“Sometimes the small moments are actually the big ones. ”
It was one of those Saturday afternoons that just feels like fall — the autumn sunlight filtering through the windows, a cool breeze rustling the trees, and the low hum of a college football game starting up on TV. I had just stepped out to grab snacks when I heard a small but mighty voice from the living room shout, “FOOTBALL!”
I peeked around the corner to see our toddler, eyes wide with excitement, arms pumping in rhythm with the game’s opening music, nestled safely in the crook of his dad’s arm. His little body wrapped into his dad’s, huge grin highlighting his two front teeth, completely absorbed in the moment — both by the spectacle on the screen and by the comfort of being held, seen, and shared with. My partner’s strong arm encircled him with such ease — a kind of quiet security that said, you’re safe here, you’re seen, and this moment together matters.
I stood there for a second longer than I needed to, just taking it in. Not for the football, but for the connection. The way these ordinary minutes were making something lasting.
That same feeling came rushing back to me again at a recent high school football game.
There was a couple standing a few rows down — middle-aged, bundled in warm jackets, beanies pulled low, their hands wrapped around paper cups that sent little trails of steam into the cool autumn air. Every time their son made a play, they lit up – standing and cheering for him like he was the best player in the world. Not in a performative, over-the-top way — just this beautiful, wholehearted joy that was clearly because of the pride and joy they held for him. You could feel the pride radiating from them, in the way they leaned into one another and excitedly whooped with abandon, embracing this experience like something to be remembered.
I watched them for a moment, witnessing love showing up in real time.
And I thought: this is it.
This is what showing up as a parent, as a person, can be like. Not grand gestures or perfectly curated pictures - just being there. Being with. Being excited to be there with the people you care about.
Whether it’s holding your toddler on the couch for the first kickoff of the season, or standing in the cold with hot cocoa, cheering your teen on with unshakable pride — these are the moments that answer that often unspoken question many parents carry:
“Am I a good parent?”
Maybe there’s not always a definitive answer. But I think moments like these get close.
Because at the heart of it, being a “good parent” (or a good partner, a good human) isn’t about perfection. It’s about presence. It’s about letting your excitement show. Letting your love be obvious. Letting the small stuff — the messy, silly, ordinary stuff — matter.
This season, let yourself get caught up in the energy, the connection, the shared warmth of it all. Whether it’s football, fall traditions, or just a few extra minutes on the couch as a family — these little things build the kind of belonging that lasts a lifetime.
So bring the snacks. Wrap your arms around someone you love. Shout for your kid a little too loudly. Let it all shine.
Sometimes, the smallest moments are the big ones.