Should I try and prevent my two year old from being a Bills fan?

[letsgoteam]

Honest question. I would love for her to care about the Bills and actually have someone to enjoy games with (actually it's just to suffer with if we are being honest). 

 

My wife hates football and I'll be honest, it bothers me that she could care less about the Bills. 

 

I feel that I am just being selfish. I definitely don't want to force her into it. If she does on her own, then it's ok. However I think her life would be better off if she doesn't.

 

This season was the first time I didn't subscribe to NFL Sunday ticket. I'm trying to move on with life and the Bills have consumed so much of my life.

 

I did not watch any other NFL games this season other then the Bills. I believe my goal is stop watching the Bills as well. 

 

I guess my real question is I don't want to force myself on her deciding if she is going to like the Bills or not. Any advice would be appreciated. 

 

I wish I didn't care and I honestly don't want my daughter to go through life like I have. 

 

 

 

[Beast]

Honest answer. I ,or most of us for that matter, couldn’t care less what you do with your two year old. If you think your two year old will be mentally weak and not be able to handle being a fan of a football team,……well, you’re going to have some tough parenting ahead.

 

Sorry the Bills have made your life so rough. You should seek help so you can feel better about yourself.

Edited Monday at 06:16 AM by Beast

[muppy]

My own fandom never translated to my kids for 2 reasons.

 

1. we lived in socal with no access to Bills culture other than mom

 

but also and even more importantly is

 

2, neither of them really like football. Not sports kids.

 

That makes it a lot easier.

 

I still randomly gift them Bills gear. "Choose LOVE" black t shirts to everyone in the family

 

You can model fandom but kids have minds of their owns is what was my experience

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

Let your child develop their own heroes, but keep them clear of fan message boards!  They'll be gibbering idiots if they spend too much time there! 🤪

[US Egg]

There's more important things regarding raising children.

[Augie]

This is how we handle our two year old granddaughter……she is too young to buy her own clothes, so she is a Bills fan!  😊

1 hour ago, US Egg said:

There's more important things regarding raising children.

 

Are you sure??? 

[US Egg]

44 minutes ago, Augie said:

This is how we handle our two year old granddaughter……she is too young to buy her own clothes, so she is a Bills fan!  😊

 

Are you sure??? 

Pretty sure. Heard stuff.

[Augie]

1 minute ago, US Egg said:

Pretty sure. Heard stuff.

 

My wife even bought a book about it once. I’m not sure if she read it, but there must be something to it. 🤷‍♂️

[US Egg]

14 minutes ago, Augie said:

My wife even bought a book about it once. I’m not sure if she read it, but there must be something to it. 🤷‍♂️

Only reason I buy books is for display. Just got two two day.

Edited Monday at 10:28 PM by US Egg

[Augie]

21 minutes ago, US Egg said:

Only reason I buy books is for display. Just got two two day.

 

I’m sure they are lovely. 

[Pete]

Why?

[GETTOTHE50]

Just don’t introduce him to football period. 
 

like the waterboys mom says, ‘football is the devil’

boy was she right.

 

let it die with you. do your future generations a huge favor. 

 

[Pete]

My father is 79, and we have been going to Bills games together since 1974.  We take trips together to see the Bills.  Those have provided some of my favorite moments with my Father, and I would not trade that for anything!  If you were a Bills fan since 74, you know suffering and heartache.  Still it has strengthen my bond between my and my Father.  We call each other often and talk about the Bills.   Why would anyone want to deny that relationship with their child?

[BillsPride12]

We've all had to suffer for years, why should she be spared!? 

[Pete]

Not to mention- I wear Bills gear most days.  No matter where I am, I hear “Go Bills!”.   My gf says Bills fans are like dogs- we run to each to greet each other.  Bills Mafia is unique in all sports, and it’s magical.  My father and I were waiting in line for the bathroom in NE.  While in line, one Bills Mafia handed us Fireball nips.  You can go to any Bills tailgate, and they will treat you like family.  Being Bills Mafia gets respect from other NFL fans worldwide.  Everyone that knows me, knows I love the Bills and will always support them.  Mafia takes care one another, cheers together, cries together, loses and wins together.  No where is the team and community so intertwined as Bills Mafia and the Bills.

 

why on earth would any sane person shield their child from that?

[Augie]

3 hours ago, Pete said:

My father is 79, and we have been going to Bills games together since 1974.  We take trips together to see the Bills.  Those have provided some of my favorite moments with my Father, and I would not trade that for anything!  If you were a Bills fan since 74, you know suffering and heartache.  Still it has strengthen my bond between my and my Father.  We call each other often and talk about the Bills.   Why would anyone want to deny that relationship with their child?

 

It was a close bond with my father, and later my sons. I got a text first thing this morning from my son telling me Kincaid had a torn PCL. Then he asked me to me to meet the HVAC people at his place tomorrow morning. I wonder if he has figured me out?  🤷‍♂️

[Riverboat Ritchie]

4 hours ago, Pete said:

My father is 79, and we have been going to Bills games together since 1974.  We take trips together to see the Bills.  Those have provided some of my favorite moments with my Father, and I would not trade that for anything!  If you were a Bills fan since 74, you know suffering and heartache.  Still it has strengthen my bond between my and my Father.  We call each other often and talk about the Bills.   Why would anyone want to deny that relationship with their child?

Agreed.  Yeah we lost game(s) and it’s frustrating and disappointing but the Bills community is second to none and let the kid be apart of it (would also encourage wife to get more involved too). Joe Marino said it pretty well a couple days ago, that in a world with so much division and hate, it’s awesome to be apart of something that brings people together. I live with kids on west coast but brother sent me some WNY news moments over the week of philharmonic getting ramped up, schools, and even Aquirium getting behind the team and community. You don’t get that in SF or LA.  It’s a special community. Yesterday my 12 year old who had a free dress day chose to put on his JA17 jersey and headed into Lions den to get all the heckling.  It is awesome. Frustrating and sometimes seems insane but the benefits (I think) outweigh the heartache even in defeat. Go Bills. 

[Pecos Bills]

On 1/27/2025 at 12:09 AM, letsgoteam said:

Honest question. I would love for her to care about the Bills and actually have someone to enjoy games with (actually it's just to suffer with if we are being honest). 

 

My wife hates football and I'll be honest, it bothers me that she could care less about the Bills. 

 

I feel that I am just being selfish. I definitely don't want to force her into it. If she does on her own, then it's ok. However I think her life would be better off if she doesn't.

 

This season was the first time I didn't subscribe to NFL Sunday ticket. I'm trying to move on with life and the Bills have consumed so much of my life.

 

I did not watch any other NFL games this season other then the Bills. I believe my goal is stop watching the Bills as well. 

 

I guess my real question is I don't want to force myself on her deciding if she is going to like the Bills or not. Any advice would be appreciated. 

 

I wish I didn't care and I honestly don't want my daughter to go through life like I have. 

 

You owe it to your children to be your authentic self for them.  A parent sharing their favorite sports teams (or other personal interests) with kids is giving them an opportunity, not a burden: they don't have to love your team or even share your interests, but they can if they want to.  Then for the rest of their life, if they hear anything about your thing, they'll have that personal connection and associate it with you.  I take my daughters to football games every year, and they care way more about the snacks and cheerleaders than the game, but they'll always remember it's something I loved and wanted to share with them.

[slaphappy]

If it isn't adding to your enjoyment of life then I would find another hobby. I mean, it's just a game right? A game we have no real control of the outcomes ( maybe fan noise at home? ) I get pretty wrapped up in it myself and it can really change my mood and emotions for a few days a week sometimes.. but deep down I know that when the heat death of the universe happens, it doesn't matter who won Super Bowl 8.. in fact I don't have a clue who won Super Bowl 8 without looking it up.

[Augie]

3 hours ago, Riverboat Ritchie said:

Agreed.  Yeah we lost game(s) and it’s frustrating and disappointing but the Bills community is second to none and let the kid be apart of it (would also encourage wife to get more involved too). Joe Marino said it pretty well a couple days ago, that in a world with so much division and hate, it’s awesome to be apart of something that brings people together. I live with kids on west coast but brother sent me some WNY news moments over the week of philharmonic getting ramped up, schools, and even Aquirium getting behind the team and community. You don’t get that in SF or LA.  It’s a special community. Yesterday my 12 year old who had a free dress day chose to put on his JA17 jersey and headed into Lions den to get all the heckling.  It is awesome. Frustrating and sometimes seems insane but the benefits (I think) outweigh the heartache even in defeat. Go Bills. 

 

My wife is a great sport about all this. I sent her a pic of a guy in London and when I got back she had “I Married Into This” shirts for herself and our DIL. Our grandkids have Bills gear for the next 5 years. 

 

We were 2-14 back to back when we were married, and she asked “why do you do this to yourself?”  Now she mostly keeps the neighbors at bay during games and we enjoy them in a way that doesn’t make me any crazier than necessary.  There may be something wrong with me, but it seems to be fairly standard for Bills fans.