How Could I Have Been So Stupid?
I attend three football games a year, usually all in Ann Arbor, but sometimes one at ND or IU. This number has been previously "agreed to" between me and my wife, i.e. she's said this is all she would put up with. However, I have just figured out a way to extend this number to four games a year. Since I'm already going to the ND, PSU and OSU games, I pitched the IU game as an important bonding experience and opportunity to introduce my 9-year-old daughter, who has not yet been to a game, to Michigan football. It worked!
Has anyone else tried this strategery with similarly successful results? Am I retarded for not figuring this out sooner? She's very much looking forward to it, but she did put it in immediate perspective by asking whether there would be "snacks."
Here's a GO BLUE to kids of all ages. It's August, I'm ready for football.
up from 1 game to 2.....in a perfect world i would like to go to a home and an away game each year, but in the next few weeks we are buying our first house....could put a damper on things
Maybe it's me, but I find these married-life "struggles" always funny. Your post gave me a big smile. Women...can't live with them, can't live without them.
I suggest you do whatever it takes to brainwash (I know that sounds bad) your daughter and make her a crazy UM fan. Or do whatever it takes for her to enjoy her game-day experiences to the maximum. Once she starts begging her mom to go to more games, your wife will get more generous I suspect. Could make a big difference if instead of going to games as a pure fan, you start taking your children to where they "want" to go. ;)
"Or do whatever it takes for her to enjoy her game-day experiences to the maximum."
In other words - lots of snacks.
And no less than two souvenirs.
Get DOZENS of souvenirs... the collectors cups people leave everywhere after the games are great, as long as you're willing to clean them extremely thoroughly.
August 2nd, 2009 at 10:21 PM ^
For a slightly different take on the last line of your first paragraph, I've lately taken to saying, "Women, can't live with 'em, difficult to reproduce without 'em."
August 3rd, 2009 at 10:43 AM ^
Be careful what you wish for!
that might scar her for life.
I hope you and your daughter have a great time at the game. Since I'm from NY, I didn't get to go to my first UM game until I was 12 or 13, but even with a 10-hour drive it was life-alteringly amazing.
However, I also played football (with my family and on a team) and was already a big Michigan fan with alumni grandparents. If you don't have this advantage with your daughter, I would suggest something typically successful with 9-year-old girls: take her shopping. For maize Michigan gear, but still: shopping. My dad learned that strategy early on.
Good luck with the wife, and I hope your daughter has fun at the IU game so you can take her to the Big House next season.
There will definitely be shopping.
Oh and something I forgot to mention in my original post - my wife graduated from IU so that's a little added spice to the situation. When my daughter found out who Michigan was playing, she initially seemed a bit worried, but then said "I cheer for IU when I'm with mommy and Michigan when I'm with daddy." Once she experiences the snacks, shopping and football with 110,000 new friends, I'm confident she'll be hooked.
It helps that "The Victors" is very easy for kids to pick up on and much more fun at Michigan Stadium, but hopefully we'll get to hear it a lot @ IU this year.
So they can go to the restroom together. Unless you enjoy standing and waiting. I'm hoping the new construction improves things, but there was nowhere near "potty parity" before.
A girl on MGoBlog! Holy Shit! Let's hit on her.
the 00's look like boobs. like mine. i have boobs. lol lesticles!
I already have tickets to take my girlfriend to two games. Eastern and @ Illinois. Shes in Chicago and im in a corn field west of the Mississippi. The way I got her excited about it was when I told her that if we can do this together we will could do anything in life together with subtle hints of marriage. I think she sees through my rhetoric but she seems pretty excited about the games now.
edit: Im also a sucker for those marriage vs. Michigan fandom stories.
August 2nd, 2009 at 10:00 PM ^
Yes, you've hit upon a classic strategy for your married life: using the kids as a free pass. Our wives have such love for their children, anything that enriches their lives or cultivates their relationship with dear old dad is a green light. Not only does it work for sporting events, but make sure junior learns how to play golf as soon as possible. Watching football on the weekend can become a bonding experience. Need a new football jersey? Buy a matchig one for the kid and it will be viewed as a sentimental purchase as opposed to a waste of money.
I view it as a win/win situation. Families are great...but so is football.
August 2nd, 2009 at 10:24 PM ^
Ha, that's great. My little guy is only 6 months but I'm taking notes for the coming years. Thanks!
August 2nd, 2009 at 10:26 PM ^
im sure if you make it more about hanging out with her, it will mean alot more to her than any football game (even at the big house)...she will be begging you to take her time and time again
August 2nd, 2009 at 11:33 PM ^
My wife knew that I wa a lifelong fan before we ever went on a date, as was she. She in fact, worked as a ticket taker at the stadium before we ever met.
The question with my son was waiting until he was old enough to truly appreciate the game.
August 2nd, 2009 at 11:55 PM ^
I'm still young but I've never considered this. Maybe I'll start bargaining with my girlfriend now so I can get a head start.
August 2nd, 2009 at 11:56 PM ^
My wife and I met at Michigan and went to hockey and hoops games together for two years. (I was in the band and then she joined for her senior year, so we were already at the football games.)
We've always gone to games, but with 3 kids (11, 8, and 4) the schedule gets tougher each year. Now my 11 year old daughter starts asking around this time in the summer what games she'll be able to attend. If my wife has other commitments, or there's something going on with one of the other kids, I know I can usually count on my daughter going with me.
The first time we took the girls, it was expensive and a little tedious. Now, my oldest knows how it works and does a good job of not wanting to leave the seats very often during the game. It is a process. I'm just hoping at least one of them will consider U of M so when we "visit" college it will at least be the same place one of our children attend!
August 2nd, 2009 at 11:58 PM ^
My Daughter's only 4+ so she hasn't made it to a game yet. (I'm usually only able to go to 1)
She does know that Daddy watches football on Saturdays, and watches with me as long as her patience will last.
She knows that teams in Red and White/Silver are the "crabbies" and we don't like them at all.
She heard "winged helmet" saw the blue and yellow stripes and promptly decided that Michigan players were the "goodguy bluebirds".
Trying to describe a wolverine to her was confusing, and ended with her believing that a wolverine is some sort of furred flying bat-like creature. (which is kind of cool when you think about it)
She likes hearing the "victory song" and does a dance that is a cross between a moonwalk, and that crazy circular Wile E.. Coyote fast leg windup.
After a bad loss, she's my blood pressure med.
My son is 8, and my daughter is 11, both have been attending games with me for about 5-6 years....I like to take them to nice weather games, usually an early game against a non-conference opponent. It helps to take a friend for each of them. They both enjoy the "Victors" and the towels, go blue signs, pom poms, etc. Snacks help tremendously...Especially the dipping dots. They do get hot and enjoy taking a few breaks by sitting on the Big HIll behind section 36 IN THE SHADE.
There are numerous hidden benefits to taking children to game....MORE ASS ROOM on the seats.
I have properly indoctrinated by children in the UM culture....I told them Grandma, Grandpa, their Brothers and SIsters, My brother and sister were all raised in Maize and Blue Diapers. I told them that they have a chance to go to the greatest University in the Land, IF they get good grades and work hard in school. I also have told them how my sister, their aunt was accepted at UM and another instate school, and was seriously considering both. MY Father, then told my sister that IF YOU ARE ACTUALLY SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING the OTHER SCHOOL, YOU SHOULD GO TO THAT SCHOOL. You do not deserve to attend THE University of Michigan. I love that story.
Anyway, please accept my cautionary words....my children NOW want to attend every game. They also have eliminated every piece of RED and GREEN clothing from their closets.
It is also a great excuse when your kids get old enough to actually attend the University of Michigan. I know my Dad and other relatives use the excuse of visiting me and brother, cousin, and I at college to go to at least one game a year. It is also great that I get a free meal after the game out of the deal. Also playing beer pong with your Dad and relatives is pretty wild.
my wife to at least one of the four that I attend every year. We have our first baby on the way (she's 21 weeks) and this year's opener will be my daughter-to-be's first game (in utero). Does that still count? I think the baby Michigan stuff she gets will be some of the only clothing that isn't pink. I am also taking notes on how to coax more games out of the wifey, and I was wondering what is a good age to bring them to their first game? I'm pretty sure my first game in the Big House was at seven years old, and it intantly became my favorite place to visit bar none. Go Blue! We only have a month and a couple of days left...
When we first met last year she hated football. Took her to a couple games and she wants to go to every single one this year. Bringing them in and involving them with your interests helps a ton. Now that I have her loving Mich football, my goal this year is to broaden her horizons so we can watch it all day on Saturdays. Had her watch a few Tex Tech games since they have an exciting offense and now I've got her into watching other games as well. Win/Win!
August 3rd, 2009 at 10:33 AM ^
been to a live UM game before as I live in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia (one of the eastern most points of Canada) and the trip would be a long one. I also have Quadruplet 13 month olds (three boys and a girl) so it may be a while before I get the courage to take that tribe to a stadium with 100,000++ fans.
I am, however very interested in attending the next home OSU game (not this year, but 2011) and am just wondering about things like cost, availability and things like accomodation in AA.
I realize this is quite off topic but some advise would be appreciated. Do you have to get the OSU tickets way in advance? What is the time frame like?
August 3rd, 2009 at 10:43 AM ^
From Michigan, I don't see the problem. Football season is all of 12-13 weeks out of 52. I understand financial constraints, but if I have the moolah and it isn't a huge logistics concern, I'm going to all the home games (7-8) no matter what. I don't even see where there's room for compromise. I'm a fan, I work hard to earn money, I'm there.
Personally, I wouldn't want to be married to someone I had to "negotiate" this with.
Even the television angle. Heck, especially he television angle. It's free entertainment, and that's what I want to do. I feel I've earned three hours of peace every Saturday in front of the TV watching something I enjoy immensely. And I enjoy doing it alone as well. I don't need my wifey sitting next to me on the couch during football, and have never encouraged it. We can do things separately. I'd rather watch with my buddies and a large amount of beer. As I've said, it's a short time period in a calendar year and goes by fast. I'm not going to negotiate or argue about it. I'll be there or watch it, with or (preferably) without her.
Shit, I don't need to watch Lifetime or Oprah with her. Why should she need to watch football with me?
August 3rd, 2009 at 10:44 AM ^
Just wait a few years and she will be glad to have the house to herself for a day. At this point, she will be encouraging you to go to all the games.
August 3rd, 2009 at 10:56 AM ^
Man, you guys are OLD!
August 3rd, 2009 at 11:13 AM ^
my battle is living in new orleans. at first i had proposed to the wife us heading up for my bday (psu weekend) but that could be BAD so now i have to debate on another course of action. gah. living far away sucks.