Dear Football Mom,

The season may be over for many of you, but we all know your job is far from done.

You’re probably the first one up in the morning, yet you’re the last one in bed at night.

You can’t buy a sick day for all the tea in China.

And you already know that there never seems to be enough time in the day to fold the laundry, write out bills, shuttle the kids to and from practice, get dinner on the table, tackle the holiday shopping and manage to squeeze in a moment to assist little Scotty with his science project (Where’s a pipe cleaner when you need one?)

I know you love this job and that you wouldn’t trade it for the world.

But then there are also those times.

Times when you moan and groan because it’s a grind – a neverending and often thankless one at that.

But guess what?

You’ve got staying power.

Your children are not going to wake up one morning and say, “You know what? I’m putting you on the bench this week, Mom,” or, worse, “Thanks, but your services are no longer needed so you’ve just been released.”

Nope.

Your kids know that mom isn’t going anywhere.

From the Gatorade in the fridge right down to that fresh roll of toilet paper in the bathroom, your kids know that mom put it there.

Despite the eruption of little earthquakes like the discovery of crayons in the dryer, overflowing toilets and toddler meltdowns, virtually nothing rattles you.

Come to think of it, when Eleanor Roosevelt said, “A woman is like a tea bag; you never know how strong it is until it's in hot water,” she may have been looking at a football mom.

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Your kids are secure in the knowledge that you have the uncanny ability (some might actually call it clairvoyance) to locate lost game day socks, the strength to withstand sitting on steel bleachers in an arctic blast and the compassion to soothe even the worst pain with a hug and a kiss.

With regard to virtually all positions in the private sector, job security is shaky, at best.

But not here at home.

No, Mom, there will never, ever be a pink slip with your name on it.

Because you are needed.

And you are appreciated.

Thank you for all that you do.

Sincerely,

The hearts of youth football players everywhere

Courtney Conover is a mom of two and the wife of former Detroit Lions offensive lineman and current Heads Up Football Ambassador Scott Conover. She has more Legos and NFL memorabilia lying around her home than she knows what to do with. She is also a certified yoga instructor and a contributing writer to the Chicken Soup for the Soul book series. She blogs at The Brown Girl with Long Hair (http://www.thebrowngirlwithlonghair.com) and over-shares on Facebook. Follow her here: (https://www.facebook.com/thebrowngirlwithlonghair).