10/09/2026
We are a football family here at The Florist. Our team is having a rough season. This is a long read, but if you are a parent of an athlete please read.
🏈Last night was depressing. And I’m not talking about the scoreboard. I’m talking about the stands. The parents. The fans.
Are we having a winning season? No. Are we excited to go watch every week right now? Probably not. But does that affect the boys on the field? Absolutely!
When our children were learning to walk, did we only cheer when they finally took that first step? No! We cheered when they stood on their own. We celebrated the wobble, the almost-step, and every little bit of progress. We encouraged them to keep trying until they got it.
So why have we stopped doing that for our boys on the football field?
This season, they have a new coaching staff. They’re learning new systems, new techniques, and new ways of doing things. They’re learning, adjusting, and working to get better. And guess what? That deserves our support, too!
Cheer when the defense forces a lose. Cheer when they stop a fourth-down conversion. Cheer when offense gain positive yardage, complete a pass, or get a first down. Cheer when YOUR player makes a great play, and cheer just as loudly when another player makes one. Stomp your feet, get loud on 3rd and 4th down!
Celebrate the effort. Celebrate the improvement. Celebrate the boys who keep showing up day after day and giving it their all, even when the results aren’t what they hoped for.
Because what I saw last night was a stadium full of people socializing with those around them. People sitting quietly, barely clapping, barely cheering, and not getting on their feet.
Folks, we are at a FOOTBALL GAME, not church or a classroom! Get loud! Make some noise!
Let those boys hear you. Let them know you’re proud of them. Let them know that all those hours spent working out, training, practicing, and pushing themselves matter to someone besides their coaches.
We show up for a couple of hours once a week. These boys put in hours upon hours of work to prepare for that night. The least we can do is give them our attention, our energy, and our encouragement when we are there.
Last night, I saw parents who had physically made it to the stadium but weren’t truly there. And there’s a difference.
Parents, we have to do better.
Our kids need to know we have their backs when they win, and just as importantly, when they lose. They need to know our support isn’t dependent on the scoreboard. They need to know we’re proud of them for showing up, putting in the work, and continuing to fight even when things get tough.
That’s what support looks like. That’s what being a parent looks like. And that’s what being part of a community looks like.
Next Friday night, I hope the atmosphere is different. I hope those boys hear us. I hope they feel our energy. I hope they look into those stands and see people who believe in them, even when the wins aren’t coming.
If you’re going to spend the money to get into the game, then show up and BE THERE. Put your phone down. Stop worrying about who’s sitting next to you. Cheer for your boys!
They don’t need us to pretend every play is perfect. They need us to remind them that one bad play, one bad game, or one tough season doesn’t define them.
Win or lose, those are OUR boys. Let’s start acting like it. 🏈💙
