If you know anything at all about me, it’s that I love basketball. I enjoy watching my own children play basketball, as well as watching men’s college basketball on TV.
Needless to say, March is my absolute favorite time of the year. It’s that time of the season where college basketball teams are trying their hardest to make it to the NCAA March Madness tournament, otherwise known as, ‘The Big Dance.’
Personal Days
Often, teachers will use their Personal Days to go on field trips with their own children, schedule a special day with a family member, use it for vacation time, etc…
Not me.
I save them exclusively to use for the opening days of March Madness.
If you are not a college basketball fan, you may not know that the first two main days of the tournament typically are on a Thursday and Friday. Games start at noon and play throughout the day, with the last of the action ending after midnight. A total of 16 games are played each day, with multiple games staggering their tip-off times throughout the afternoon and evening.
It’s pure basketball bliss.
Brackets Galore
A tournament that begins with 68 basketball teams, means there’s a bracket involved.
And boy, oh, boy. It’s quite the bracket.
All across the nation people from ages 9-99 are filling out March Madness brackets. They are completing them online, in work break-rooms, while commuting on public transit, and probably while spending time in bathroom stalls.
Brackets are everywhere.
It’s a single-elimination style bracket with losing teams going home.
At our house, we all have brackets. Every single one of us. Some of us have multiple brackets going on.
There’s a lot of family competition and trash talk involved, depending on the current standings. We take this seriously.
All joking aside, it’s a time of the year where the whole family is sharing in a common interest. Other families bond over puzzles and ‘game night.’ We have our brackets.
Endless Hours of Madness
I understand that, for some, hours upon endless hours of basketball games is not necessarily enjoyable (a co-worker of mine reminds me of this all the time).
For me, and specifically as we talk about this tournament, it’s amazing!
It’s not just about basketball.
Many of the student athletes involved in these games have dreamed about being a part of the The Big Dance since they were in elementary school, playing a game of HORSE in their driveway with a couple of friends.
It’s about achieving what seems to be impossible. It’s about resilience.
Dreams are reached, and crushed during the tournament. It’s phenomenal.
I attempt to watch as many basketball minutes as possible.
I move from channel to channel, occasionally choosing the Picture-in-Picture option.
My kids would tell you that I’m not a good mother during March Madness. I’m probably not the best wife, as well.
I encourage independence with my children during these times.
Dinner (as well as breakfast and lunch) are an ‘eat what you can find’ kind of thing.
The children are told to problem solve their issues. Figure things out themselves.
I’m watching basketball.
I do feel a little guilty at times, but you know what? I’m not going to lose sleep over it.
Ready to Watch
The end of March is here, and so is the tournament.
As I type out this blog post, I’m watching a tied up Northwestern/Florida Atlantic game with two minutes left.
We are on our second day of the tournament, and I’m here for all of the action!
I love the buzzer beaters, the hustle, tenacity of the players, and just the game.
Let’s dance!
Goals for Today:
- Watch Basketball
- Watch More Basketball
- Watch Even More Basketball!