AFC Playoff Lesson: Billy Cundiff is Someone's Child

Today, I want to talk about Billy Cundiff, kicker for the Baltimore Ravens.

Well, sort of.

I was born and raised in Maine, where loyalty to the New England Patriots is fierce.

It’s a loyalty that stays with you, no matter where you move.

It’s insane how much I love my Pats.

So, you’d think that I would have been simply elated with yesterday’s win, right?

Yeah, me too.

Before I had kids, I would have probably yelled something rude at the television and would have thought only of how we had won.

But my kids have changed everything.

Instead of celebrating, I sat in shock when Cundiff missed that seemingly easy 32-yard field goal.

He wasn’t just a football player on an opposing team. In those moments, all I could think was that he was someone’s son.

The entire Ravens team played so hard. I couldn’t just look at them and gloat that my team had won. My heart broke a little bit for each of those guys on the field…each of them someone’s child.

And I couldn’t even imagine coming up with the right words to soothe my child after a loss like that.

Though I’m thrilled for the win and the our upcoming trip to the Super Bowl, a piece of my heart will be with Billy Cundiff and I’m hoping that his mother came up with the right words to comfort him.

How have your kids changed how you view life? Are you turning into as much as a softy as I am?

Want more proof that my kids are stealing my edge? Don’t miss My Kids Ruin Weddings.

You can also find Nichole over at in these small moments and on Facebook and Twitter too!