This past weekend I took in four football games. None were Griz games or NFL games. They were all Missoula Youth Football games. Two of my boys play football, and of course, they are on two different teams. I have to admit, I am not a huge football fan.

I see a lot of women who are crazy gung-ho about the Griz or have a weekly date night with their favorite NFL team. They can tell you what a tight end is and does, or tell you what a safety is. I, however, am not one of those women. When people ask me what position my boys play, all I can tell people is that they play defense and that they tackle other kids.

I am slowly learning this game. My boys are in fifth grade and third grade, so I have many years to figure it out. I’m afraid I just might need them. Football just doesn’t seem to be coming easy to me. I guess when you have kids, you learn to love what they love, or you just learn to live with it because you know you are going to have to endure it for years to come.

I would have to say the thing that I like the most about football is when my boys have a great play or their game goes well. The joy on their faces makes my heart sing. That alone is all I need to know about football.

Joy Larson is a mother of four boys, graduate of The University of Montana, animal lover and writer.

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