There's nothing like the view from the stands on a crisp fall evening at a Friday night high school football game.
I'm partial to the view from our high school because the bleachers on the home team side face due west.
At the start of the season, the sun is directly in our eyes for the first half of the game. All you see are crowds of people holding their hands over their eyes to shield the glare.
But by late September, we get a spectacular view of the sunset. The colors are amazing and add a breathtaking backdrop to the game.
Just like that tradeoff for the sunset view, high school football, in general, comes with tremendous highs and lows.
I'm guessing that's why my son loves it so much.
The heart-pounding excitement when he has the ball and is hurtling down the field toward the goal line.
Then the rush of adrenaline as he gets tackled from behind and taken down...hard.
The relief when he gets up off the ground and walks safely off the field.
And other times, it's the intense joy and pride when he makes that fantastic catch, zigs, and zags down the field to stay away from the defense and clears that goal line, scoring a touchdown for his team.
The crowd goes wild and I hear people from the stands calling Ryder's name, cheering for him.
I tear up just a little and then feel a tiny bit foolish for getting emotional at a football game.
The roller coaster of emotions that comes with being a sports mom (or a mom in general for that matter) can be exhausting.
But I can see how team sports has shaped Ryder's life. All in a very good way.
It channels his energy (there's enough testosterone in this house as it is!), teaches him sportsmanship and builds his self-confidence.
His teammates support him and he supports them.
The last time he got injured on the field, he had his hand wrapped up so he couldn't move it until we could go get an X-ray.
Several of his teammates helped remove his shoulder pads and cleats and put on his street shoes for him so he wouldn't have to wear his full gear to the ER. That's just what you do when you're part of a team.
Football comes with risk, and Ryder has had his share of these types of minor injuries.
Teenagers sometimes think they are invincible, so in a way I'm grateful that he is forced to realize that he's not sometimes.
All of this is teaching him to be a stronger person and helping pave the way for him as he moves into adulthood in just a few short years.
There are only two more football seasons after this one while Ryder is in high school.
Just a few dozen more games in his high school career.
I'll shield my eyes from the sun and capture photos of that spectacular sunset from those bleachers for as long as I have the opportunity.
I'll be grateful for every single twist, turn, dip, and loop-de-loop that comes with this roller coaster of emotions.
And I'll enjoy the ride until the Friday night lights go out.