Coach's Wife in Season: Preparing for Anything
Being the wife of a football coach is a unique and rewarding experience, but as we all know, it comes with its own set of challenges. With camp fully in session this month, you may find yourself feeling a little bit of anxiety over the new season and the uncertainty that comes with it. I often feel the same. Here are a few things I recommend to help you embrace the unknown and prepare for anything.
#1 - Welcome Flexibility
Whether your younger self was a go-with-the-flow kind of woman or a stickler for a schedule, I’m sure being a coach’s wife has fully changed that aspect of your personality. With this role comes a crucial need for flexibility and understanding. We live in an environment that is driven by constant change, and we have the opportunity each day to push through our anxiety and welcome this uncertainty with a sense of peace, trusting that whatever happens next will lead to beautiful things for ourselves and our families. Try to keep an open mind and create moments of celebration & excitement as you attend preseason events!
#2 - Get Plugged In
With so much uncertainty, the best thing you can do is carry a “be where your feet are” mentality. I encourage you to connect with fellow wives and mothers in your organization. Find out how they are spending the first month of the season and plan to get together and keep each other company. Beyond that, I believe it’s important to get plugged into your local community. This is easy to do when you have children that are active in sports and social activities, but it can also be easy for you to make friends by joining a workout class or finding a church you enjoy. Live in the moment and make the very best of where you are right now!
#3 - Maintain Your Network
We all know if something happens that shakes things up on your current staff, your significant other will seek opportunities with coaches in his network. So it can’t hurt to stay connected with a network of your own. Whether you became friends through another football program or met briefly in passing, there are so many women across the country that share your struggles and heavily identify with your situation. You never know when you may find yourselves together again, so stay in touch and check on each other as much as you can!
#4 - Keep Things Simple
Realistically speaking, we never know when our next move will be. Sometimes that move means listing your house and buying somewhere else. Sometimes that means breaking a lease and finding a new place to rent. It often involves moving to a city and/or state you may have never even visited before. The best thing you can do is keep it simple. Keep your house organized, keep your belongings minimal, and declutter whenever you can. Moving is stressful enough, so keep it as light as possible. If you’re looking for ways to instantly declutter, here are 25 things you can clean out today to feel more at peace.
#5 - Stay Positive!
No matter how long you have been a coach’s wife, the fluctuations of your husband’s schedule can still pose anxiety and require a mental adjustment of expectations for how often you will see each other. It’s okay to feel a mix of worry and excitement! All is normal in this industry, and I encourage you to lean on your support systems as much as you can. We are all in this together.
Being a football coach's wife during the season is undoubtedly an adventure filled with both joy and challenges, but don’t forget how much your support means to your husband and family as you make the most of this season both on and off the field! Stress is fleeting, but the memories you make will last forever.