Its that time of year again, when fall sports season starts to come to an end. Fall Ball, football, cheerleading, whatever your sport is you likely started in the heat of the summer back in August and have watched the seasons change.  I’m not entirely sure why, but fall sports just seem to feel like they are a longer season than Spring sports. Many of these sports are winding down and heading into playoffs right as you are trying to make your plans for the holidays.  Somehow Halloween always sneaks up on me as a football mom – now I know exactly why you see so many “football zombies” while out trick or treating. Some fake blood, black eyes and you can go trick-or-treating right from practice!

Then comes Thanksgiving.  I don’t know if my family will ever understand that I love them, however, it’s playoffs and bowl season for youth football.  If you are lucky enough to make it that deep into high school football playoffs, you’ll have practice the week of Thanksgiving. Shoot, this year if we keep moving in the direction we’re going, we’ll be in the semifinals on black friday! Then theres end of season awards banquets or team parties, work christmas parties, family events, Christmas, New Year’s and shopping, oh the shopping! I’m tired just thinking about it!

This time of year is stressful and overwhelming for everyone. If you are in a leadership position, a team mom, or just an involved parent chances are you are helping out with all the end of season duties in addition to the regular holiday stressors. We’re not going to skip our annual holiday dinner with your great aunt or your child’s end of season awards. So what do we do? Simplify.

I hear over and over as a booster club president how “easy” and simple all my events are.  That’s me, simple.  I’m not saying to not put in any work, but simplify.  Maybe every year you are who brings the pies to Thanksgiving dinner, so this year, make your famous apple pie, but buy store made pumpkin and pecan.  Trust me the world won’t end.  A highlight video for the team party might be a must, but you don’t have to burn 60 DVDs,  just post it on whatever online service you use and email out the link.  You don’t need banners and posters up at the end of season party, nice table cloths are enough. Maybe 2 bouquets of flowers to put on the awards table, not a handmade centerpiece on every table. While we’re talking about centerpieces, helmets make perfect centerpieces; so do trays of cookies. Have the event catered, there are some cheap options out there that might even cost less than buying everything yourself and way less work.

And pause. Always pause. Take a step back at each and every event and look around, take it all in. Know that no matter how little or how much you did for that event, you are a part of it and these are the moments that your children will remember for a lifetime; and hopefully, you will too.