I’ve never been much of a watching-sports-on-tv-girl. It was always just boring to me. Game night was never important.  I’ve always enjoyed attending live events, but to watch them on tv, not for me. During the dating part of my life, I knew that I needed to find a future husband that wasn’t into watching sports on tv all the time. I didn’t mind if he watched it every once in while, but I knew if it was his passion, to watch sports on tv, we probably would have some challenges later on in our lives. I do love sports, and played competitively in high school and even coached my daughter’s soccer team. So don’t think that I’m just a sports-hating-person. Now, if your husband, or you yourself,  loves watching sports on tv, that is great! It’s just not my favorite thing to do. I was extremely thankful, when I met my husband, that he too loves sports in the way I do, playing or watching live games, but not so much watching them on tv. What a blessing for me, Score!

However, this past weekend I caved.

Why, because that’s what you do in a marriage, in a family. Make each other happy by doing what the other likes too, not just what you like or prefer to do. Remember, my husband isn’t a huge fan of watching sports on tv, but occasionally he likes to catch a football game. And this past weekend, he was in the mood! He said, he just felt like watching some football. He found a game, which happened to be our hometown against the current town we live in. This was a perfect game to watch, a little rivalry between our old friends and family and our current friends.

This was also the perfect time for family time, doing what my husband wanted to do. I decided to have a good attitude and watch the game along with him. Not go off and do something else. We like to do this thing called life together! I don’t understand much about football (I’m a soccer fan), but it wasn’t about the game, it was about spending fun quality time with my family. It was about yummy food, fun snacks and playing games. About memories being made. A moment that I didn’t want to lose. Family.

It was about spending fun quality time with my family. It was about yummy food, fun snacks and playing games. About memories being made. A moment that I didn’t want to lose. Family.

We didn’t just watch the game, but interacted during the game, of course not during exciting important plays that no one wanted to miss. We had nachos for dinner, an easy meal to eat while watching a game. Earlier in the day, I ran to our local party store and bought plates and napkins of the teams that were playing. At the grocery store I stocked up on nacho supplies, soda and all kinds of unnecessary junk. Then decided we should have a little competition amongst ourselves. The prize. Candy! Of course I had to get schooled on football to make a logical game for someone to win the candy. And wouldn’t you know it. I won!

We played Farkle and RLC during the game. Those are easy non-thinking games that you can play while being distracted. I’m competitive when it comes to playing any games, I didn’t want to lose at a game like Clue while trying to learn why pretty yellow flags are being thrown on the field.

The evening was a great success. We had fun. Memories were made. I actually look forward to the next time. Something different is in order every once in a while. Something to shake things up from the normal routine of life. Even if it’s as simple as watching a football game on tv.

How can you turn a tv sports game into something fun for the whole family?

1. Make a fun out-of-the-ordinary dinner than you can eat sitting on the couch and having fun. Check here for fun food ideas.
2. Buy or make decorations to go along with the sports teams. Banners, flags, signs, shirts, hats, plates, cups, napkins, tablecloths, or anything you can think of. More ideas here.
3. Get out the easy to play games. Ones that don’t take much concentration.
4. Create a contest based on the game your watching. Pick the team that wins, pick the wining score, how many penalties are called, how many commercials (ugh), be creative and make it easier if you have young children.
5. Take pictures of the fun your having, save those memories.
6. Have everyone help clean up after the game (use paper plates, no dishes!)