(James’ first day of kindergarten.)
Since the latest NFL controversy, I’ve been thinking a lot about what I’ll tell my boys as they grow older. I grew up in Texas, attended a large football school, and have relatives who played college football and coached high school football. I completed my student teaching semester with the wife of the district’s head coach and athletic director, and we taught Brian’s Song and watched Remember the Titans, too. Football is part of the culture here, and I absolutely loathe it. I’ve never understood the game, or the point of it to begin with, and the camaraderie and hero worship that begins in childhood is baffling to me.
We are not a football family. Ryan doesn’t watch it and the boys have had minimal exposure to it, only seeing kids practice on the middle school field as we drive by after school. We’re not into sports, and while the boys take gymnastics as a way to run off some extra energy, I would prefer them to focus on more academic interests as they get older. I never thought I’d be the kind of mom to prevent my children from participating in certain activities, but I will not let them play football. I don’t think it’s safe, for one thing, and the overall culture, as shown by recent events, is archaic and disgusting. I don’t want my boys to become a part of that.
I’m hoping, as they get older, to encourage their interests in other areas and to help them pursue the curiosity that comes with learning new things. So far, we’ve had a few short conversations about the sport, and I’ve simply told them that football can hurt your brain, which I believe is true. My boys are too smart to play football, and that’s what I plan to tell them.
Dr. Bennett Omalu, the pathologist who discovered Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) after conducting an autopsy on a former NFL player, was warned by an NFL staff doctor to stop talking about the dangers of playing football, because “if 10 percent of mothers in this country would begin to perceive football as a dangerous sport, that is the end of football.” I’m in that 10 percent, and I’d love nothing more than to see football disappear.
While the recent events within the NFL are incredibly shocking, they aren’t surprising or unexpected. And the NFL isn’t alone when it comes to men behaving badly. Most professional sports have had their fair share of controversies, and our own local college football team is often in the news for the players’ poor choices regarding alcohol, drugs, and even sexual assault. I realize that not all football players are abusive, angry men, but the sport sure seems to attract a certain type. Remember O.J. Simpson?
I’ve never been a football enthusiast, so it’s easy for me to turn my back on the sport and its sponsors. We don’t wear Nike products and Ryan is too much of a beer snob to buy Anheuser-Busch, but companies like CoverGirl and even Vogue have paid or accepted NFL dollars in exchange for advertisement time and space, and that’s unacceptable to me. I’m not watching Monday Night Football, so I can’t hurt the ratings, but I can avoid spending money where NFL items are sold. If you feel strongly about the actions of the NFL, I encourage you to do the same.
I’m not naive and I have no faith in the NFL. I don’t believe that recent mandates or proposed classes will change anything. But I can educate my boys and raise them to be responsible men, and hopefully, keep them safe in the meantime. My boys are too smart to play football, and yours are, too.
(My grandmother’s vintage plates.)
Since my mini blog consultation with Kory, I’ve been thinking a lot about the direction my blog is heading. Some think the heyday of blogging has come and gone, and I’ve witnessed the shuttering of several blogs recently, too. I think blogs still serve a great purpose and I find so much fulfillment in writing mine. My interests and ideas may wax and wane with the seasons, but I love sharing my thoughts here with you, and I hope you enjoy reading them, too.
As my family has adjusted to a new routine with the start of school, I’ve struggled a bit to find time for myself. My day starts much earlier now and is filled with even more responsibilities, so I’m pretty exhausted by the time the boys go to bed in the evenings. Sometimes I don’t feel inspired to write, but I’m pushing myself to stick to my three day posting schedule and, if possible, to try again for five days this fall. Writing consistently keeps me motivated, and in the end, I really benefit from that creative process.
I write about fun things like fashion and makeup, but you know I’ve got a pretty serious political side, too. I try to temper it, but sometimes I feel like things need to be said, especially if nobody else is saying them. For my “This and That” posts each Friday, I include the pieces I’ve read each week that really stick with me, and I like to share thoughtful and controversial articles, too. I’m a reader first, and I find so much joy and even inspiration in reading well-written and thought-provoking articles. I love getting lost in a long news article, and if I had more time, I think I’d make a pretty good news blogger.
Alt for Everyone starts next weekend and I’m excited to take a few of the sessions. I also need to spend some time sorting through my fall magazines to update my inspiration board. I find it really helpful to have pretty pictures in front of me as I work, and I am continuously inspired by print ads and beautiful fashion spreads. I may never understand why, but seeing a beautifully crafted piece of clothing makes me want to write my heart out.
I’m planning to share a few writing tidbits with you every so often, and please let me know if there’s anything you’d like to read. And as always, if you’re in need of an editor, please feel free to contact me. I’m focusing on my writing this fall, and I hope you’ll follow along, too.
(Swag from Alt for Everyone.)
This week was pretty standard, though we did get a lot of rain and the weather seems to be shifting slowly towards fall. I’m looking forward to the new season and it’s always a welcome change from the heat. This weekend, we might take a day trip, with or without the rain, and I’m hoping to catch up on some writing time, too. Here are a few things that caught my eye this week.
Portraits of young Syrian brides.
Photographs of Black Victorians.
Naomi Klein on climate change.
Noonday Collection earned their fair trade certification. Big congratulations to them!
A fascinating post on South Korean skincare.
A young Austin girl debuted her line at New York Fashion Week.
And a new line of fair trade footwear just in time for fall.
Have a wonderful weekend!
