They may glare a little when you cheer. They may get big eyes when you run out onto to the field at the first site of blood. They may even downright, out loud, with a little hint of angry in their voices say they don’t want you there, but they do. Even if they don’t know it.

Sideline moms: Here are five reasons your son needs you there.

To NOT be Dad. Dads have this thing: They like to fix stuff. There’s a problem with your throwing technique, they want to help you fix it. Timing off on your swing, Dad’s all over that. Shot not falling, it’s your wrist, that’s what Dad says. We moms do our fair share of fixing, but for whatever reason, when we get on the sidelines to cheer on our Dudes, it’s really about just that. We’re pretty OK letting Dad or coach or that one parent who knows every single thing about every single thing fix his arm-swing-shot. It frees us up so that we can just be there for him.

To keep him safe. We are the ones who make sure you have your cup on and your mouth guard in so your teeth and your junk stay safe before you get all the way to the field and realize someone has to rush home for it. Plus, we know our sons. I can sit in the stands and look out on that field and know, in my being, when something isn’t right with my kid. Even when he’s trying to shake it off and be a “tough guy,” I can tell from 50 yards away if I need to rush the field and deal with his mortification later or sit in my seat, heart beating out of my chest, and send positive vibes and silent you-can-do-its out to him. 

To speak up.Mama Bear will not be silenced – especially not when it comes to advocating for my child. 

To maintain perspective.I know, my kid is the very best center 8-year-old football has ever seen. And he is so stinkin’ adorable in his uniform. But I also know that I’m not raising the next, ummm, NFL centers aren’t really that popular, so pick one. Every game isn’t the Super Bowl. In fact, when you’re 8, none of the games are the Super Bowl. Moms have a knack for reminding everyone else of this fact when practice goes long and there’s still dinner to eat and homework to do and sweaty little boys who need baths before cuddles and stories in bed.

To run up and down that field cheering like a madwoman.They say they don’t want it, but you know they need it. He needs to feel you and hear you and see you losing your mind for him when he makes his first touchdown or throws his first pass or comes up after hiking the ball and takes down that nose guard like a boss. He has to act embarrassed, like he doesn’t love hearing you screaming his name louder than the entire stadium, just like you have to set up your chair at every single game and keep doing it no matter what he says.

Amanda Rodriguez is a humor and lifestyle blogger at DudeMom.com. In her free time, she enjoys losing weight easily, looking like a soap star the moment she rolls out of bed and riding around town on her unicorn. In addition to having a loose grip on reality, Amanda enjoys traveling to far off lands (or, not so far off lands) with her family and cheering herself hoarse on the sidelines of her sons’ games. The mom behind the blog is a former Teach for Americamiddle school language arts and social studies teacher turned stay-at-home-mom turned graduate student turned professional photographer, freelance writer, pro blogger, Zumba Fitness enthusiast and general director of awesomeness.