Told this essay is based on conversation parker henryIt has been edited for length and clarity,
When my husband, Hunter Henry, signed with the New England Patriots in 2021, I was skeptical about moving to Boston. Yet after we arrived, I was surprised at how much Massachusetts reminded me of Arkansas, where Hunter and I grew up. The weather is similar and the people in both places are very loyal.
We bought a house near the stadium in Massachusetts and both of our children were born there. Because of that, Massachusetts just feels like home. We have a great community, both within and outside the team.
We always return to Arkansas in the off-season, where we have another home. Now that my son is in preschool, it’s getting harder. We don’t want to take him away from the school he loves. I’m also pregnant, due in March, and we’re planning to live in New England all year for the first time. In the future, we will play it by ear each season.
I try not to think about moving for Hunter’s job
If Hunter is traded, where we call home could change. It’s one of those things you try not to think about, but I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t on my mind. We have been very fortunate to live in New England for five years.
I remind myself that worrying won’t change anything. It’s the reality of the NFL that you can get busted at any time. Ultimately, whether it’s Massachusetts, Arkansas, or anywhere else, I know that home is where your people are.
Before kids, I worked as an RN while Hunter played
Hunter and I started dating when we were at the University of Arkansas. He was a year ahead of me, and I was just finishing my nursing degree when he was hired by the Chargers (who were based in San Diego, then Los Angeles).
We had a long distance relationship before getting married in 2018. That was the year I graduated and started working as a labor and delivery nurse. Working as a nurse for two and a half years gave me a sense of purpose and fulfillment.
I stopped working when we moved to Massachusetts and I found out I was pregnant with our son. Now, my purpose and fulfillment come from parenting our soon-to-be three children. However, I don’t think I’m finished with nursing; I joke that I’m going to become a school nurse to raise kids.
It may be difficult to travel for away games, so we watch from home
The kids and I go to all the home games. If the Hunter is traveling, things are more complicated. We can’t travel or even stay with the team, so I have to figure out our flights and accommodations. The team always goes home after the game, no matter how late the game ends, so if we go away from the game Hunter gets home before the kids and me.
Because of this, we usually only go if we have friends or family in the city where it’s playing. I would love to be home after the game to welcome him and spend the next day together.
Instead, my son and I watch every away game. He still naps from 1 to 3 pm every day, so sometimes we have to negotiate that he can watch the second half if it’s an early game.
Being an NFL wife isn’t all glitz and glam
The fascination with NFL wives and girlfriends is weird to me. We’re just human, trying to wake up and get through the week. Glitz and glamor isn’t all it should be, especially when you’re dealing with the mental burden of running a household, taking the kids to school, and packing lunches.
Hunter has no idea what’s going on at the house during football season. I rely on paid help, as we have no family living with us. It really does take a village.
I also recently got a Skylight calendar, which helps a lot because Hunter can just look at it and see if our son has preschool that day, or if we have any events coming up. My son also likes calendars very much. Now that he’s older, he wants to know everything about Hunter’s program. She loves seeing where Daddy is traveling, when he’ll be home and what time the games are, and the calendar helps her feel connected, even when Hunter is on the road.
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