A Spring Evening on the Sidelines: Finding Peace, Patience, and a Bit of Normalcy

A Spring Evening on the Sidelines: Finding Peace, Patience, and a Bit of Normalcy

After the chaos of the past couple of weeks, work deadlines, family obligations, and just the general whirlwind of life, I found myself parked on a foldout chair on the edge of a grassy field, watching my son practice spring flag football. And for the first time in what felt like ages, I could breathe.

There’s something deeply comforting about the rhythm of a practice. The sound of sneakers thumping on turf, kids laughing and yelling, coaches giving instructions with a mix of authority and compassion, it all felt like a warm, familiar hug. Life has been anything but predictable lately, so this hour of watching my son chase flags and fumble footballs was exactly the kind of grounding I didn’t know I needed.

This is my son’s third season playing flag football. He’s still figuring it out, which means we’ve had our fair share of amusing moments. Take, for example, the team warm-ups. The coach had them doing lunges across the field. My son, bless him, looked like a baby giraffe trying to learn how to walk, arms flailing, knees barely bending, teetering from side to side. I couldn’t help but laugh a little, but the coach didn’t miss a beat. With the patience of a saint, he gently demonstrated the proper form again, encouraging each of the kids individually, including my son, who slowly started to get the hang of it.

Then there’s the football itself. You’d think, in flag football, the fear factor might be a little lower without full contact. But for a kid who’s never really played before, that brown, spiraled missile flying through the air can look a little… intimidating. During one drill, my son visibly flinched every time the ball came his way. He’d hold his hands out, hesitate, and usually end up letting it drop to the grass.

But here’s the part that got me, again, the coach stepped in, this time with a one-on-one drill. They stood just a few feet apart, tossing the ball gently back and forth. Over and over. Each time my son caught it, the coach gave a high five and a cheer. Each drop was met with a “No worries, try again.” And little by little, my son’s confidence started to peek through. By the end of practice, he actually caught a pass during a scrimmage, and I swear I could hear his proud “Yes!” all the way from the bleachers.

Sitting there, I realized how much I’d missed these simple moments, the joy of watching your child grow, stumble, try again, and succeed. It reminded me that even when life feels overwhelming, there's still so much good to be found in the everyday.

It also reminded me how important it is to slow down and be present. Too often, I let my mind race with to-do lists and what-ifs. But when you’re watching your kid try to conquer their fear of a football or learn how to lunge without falling over, the only thing that matters is that moment. And honestly, I think we could all use a little more of those.

When we got home, my son was exhausted but beaming. “Did you see me catch that pass?” he asked about three different times. “I think I like football,” he added between bites of his post-practice snack. I told him I was proud of him. That I saw how hard he tried. That I loved seeing him be brave, even when things were hard.

Later that evening, after the cleats were cleaned and the water bottles were emptied, I poured myself a glass of wine and just exhaled. There’s something so satisfying about sitting down after a long day, especially when that day included watching your kid grow just a little bit more into himself.

Speaking of which, I recently found this beautiful Crystal Glass Wine Decanter Set that has totally elevated my little end-of-day ritual. It’s elegant, makes pouring a breeze, and looks amazing on the kitchen counter or home bar setup. Whether you’re sipping wine after a night on the sidelines or sharing drinks with friends over the weekend, this set adds just the right touch of class.

If you’re looking to upgrade your at-home wine game (or just want to treat yourself to something nice), check out the set here. And while you’re at it, browse around—NeedWineStuff.com has a ton of amazing products that make winding down feel a little more special.

After all, whether it’s flag football or fine wine, life is really about enjoying the little things.