You know how in typical high school films, there's that one girl who's a cheerleader and she's dating the football player? Yeah, well that's pretty much what I, and every other middle school girl expected it to be like if we ever got a boyfriend in high school who was on the football team. Only now i'm in high school, i'm dating a football player, I'm not a cheerleader, and it's 110% not as glamorous as everyone would expect it to be.
Don't get me wrong. i love football, and i love watching the guy i love, do what he loves. but dating a guy on the football team is difficult, and it takes a lot out of you because you're learning to share him with 30 other players and like 10 coaches. You have to change your schedule to fit around his game and practice schedule, and most of the time you see him for about 5 minutes out of the week because he's so occupied with practice and weight lifting.
Coming into this relationship, i assumed it to be easy because we worked so well together and because he's my absolute best friend. I thought it was just a normal relationship because he was just a football player, and i was just a normal girl who went to highschool with him. What I didn't realize though was the toll it takes on your relationship when you're dating a football player, or really any athlete, no matter the level or position.
I never expected to be up at midnight worried about any injuries he might be keeping from me because he doesn't want me to worry.
I never expected to not see him during the week because of practice, games, and then more practices and games, and then on top of that, potential team dinners.
I never expected to have to set alarms for random times at night so if I fall asleep, i wake up and make sure he's home and okay after a game.
But most importantly I never expected to be put on the back burner in the relationship. With high school athletics and relationships, unfortunately, one of the two has to be put 2nd, and most of the time it's their significant other.
That's probably the most difficult part of all. I've had to learn to support him no matter what when it comes to football and this.While supporting him is the easiest thing I've ever had to do, getting used to being runner-up next to the game isn't.
When it comes to the game and the team, i'm 2nd. While this hurts, I’m learning to deal with it because i’m his biggest fan, no matter the circumstances. If he’s got an 8am practice on the weekend and then again after school everyday till 6, i’ll be there after it all to listen about it. If he’s got a game 2 hours away, I’ll be up till he’s home to see how it went if i’m not there. If he’s got a home game, i’ll be there supporting him no matter what.
Yeah, having to share him with his teammates is annoying. But just having him in general is the biggest honor and blessing of all. At the end of the day, he’s not coming home to talk to his boys, he coming home to tell you all about practice and how much he loves you.
Being able to be proud of somebody who’s doing something they love, is the biggest joy of all.
