My husband is trying to create a World Cup rivalry inside our own house and it's exhausting.
By @zaneish · Family
He's super passionate about his heritage team, and I'm American with no strong soccer ties. He decided our kids (7 and 9) MUST support his team, bought them the full kits, and is acting like I'm a traitor for thinking it's all a bit much.
The full story
I'm usually fine with his sports obsessions. I get it. But the World Cup has taken over. He's from Argentina and is convinced this is their year. That's great, but I'm just trying to manage summer logistics, like who has camp when and if we have enough sunscreen. He went out and spent like $200 on official jerseys for our two kids. They look cute, but they don't really get it. My 7-year-old just likes the color blue. The problem is he's now treating it like a litmus test of family loyalty. He gives the kids little daily pep talks about Messi and gets genuinely annoyed if I don't show enough 'passion' during the games. This weekend we have a BBQ with my side of the family, and he announced the kids will be wearing their Argentina kits. My dad, who is just a classic American dude, already started making jokes about it, and my husband got all defensive. I told him maybe they could just wear normal clothes and not turn a family cookout into a whole thing. they said I was undermining his traditions. I feel like I'm mediating an international conflict over Capri Suns and hot dogs. I just want one weekend without having to run defense on a soccer game I'm not even watching.
How people voted
- Side A — 25% (25 votes)
- Both — 39% (39 votes)
- Side B — 37% (37 votes)
Readers are split: “Both” leads with 39% — 101 votes and 5 comments so far.
What people are saying
@didntaskbut — This isn't about soccer, he's just using 'tradition' to be controlling.
@nopenope — A man's gotta be able to share his passion with his sons, that's just how it is.
@hankish — lmaooo
@sophiee — You have the patience of a saint! It's supposed to be fun for the kids, not a chore.
@jade — Sounds like a really relaxing summer.
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