“Wednesday Evenings” aims to show there is beauty in every family’s evening, even if we need an outsider to see it. Thanks to a continued partnership with Allstate, I am flying lifestyle photographer Raquel Langworthy across the US to document the nighttime routines of 12 families in four different cities.
Allison and Otis live in the suburbs of Chicago with their two-year-old son Odie and two Pit Bulls, Chubby and Spike.
Allison and Otis are both transitioning careers at the moment. Allison just switched from a teacher’s assistant to her dream job as an elementary ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher. Otis recently retired from the NFL (the majority of his career was spent with the Cincinnati Bengals) and is currently studying to become a financial advisor.
“People don’t realize this, but professional athletes’ careers can just end. His just ended. He battled a lot of injuries, but was still playing well. There are always younger guys who are less beat up and coaches, owners, and general managers will take the fresh bodies over the veterans. Yes, it was hard on him and us as a family. He still thinks he could play, which he probably could, but at the ripe age of 29, he is probably ‘too old’ for the NFL.”
Allison and Otis are high school sweethearts who moved back home to Chicago when their son was a few months old.
Allison says she entered her family in the Wednesday Evenings series because “I really wanted the world to see that professional athletes and their families are NORMAL and not what reality TV leads people to believe.”
That being said, she also worried that “people will criticize us for who we are and what we do,” particularly for being part of an interracial marriage.
“Racism exists everywhere. We’ve experienced it as a couple. I’ve experienced it as a mom of a biracial child. It was only in 1967 that the Supreme Court ruled that prohibiting interracial couples to marry was unconstitutional. 1967. I’m happy that happened, but we have a long way to go.”
When Raquel arrived the whole family was home and playing in the backyard.
Allison talked about the misconceptions about players and their wives.
“People think football players live a life of luxury. Well most NFL players only play for 2.5-3 years and most are NOT making millions of dollars. Yes, their income is great while they are in the NFL, but a career in the NFL does not last long. After the NFL, they have a hard time finding a job because of injuries and lack of experience in a typical working environment. People also have a misconception about wives being gold diggers or groupies. Yes, they do exist, but there are many NFL wives who are amazing women. They keep their families and husbands afloat when they are injured, having a bad season or just not getting enough playing time.”
Eventually, Allison headed back in to make dinner, while Odie continued to play with his dad.
After a bit, Otis came back in to study for Series 7 exam, which he did for the majority of the evening.
“Otis has ZERO finance background, but we have a financial planner who was very helpful while we were in the NFL. We were young and the players get a paycheck every week of the regular season (16 weeks). That paycheck has to last throughout the year. It’s more than enough, but there were guys making millions of dollars who were living paycheck to paycheck. Otis wants to help them. So, he is studying every waking minute of the day!”
Meanwhile, Odie played around the house and wrecked the couch.
“Odie is always making people laugh. He is a very kindhearted little boy. His day care teacher told me the other day ‘not only is he handsome and intelligent, but he is very helpful and kind.’ I cried on the way home.”
After playing, Otis and Odie helped mom get the table ready.
Then the family all sat down to eat together.
Odie was having trouble sitting so Allison put him on her lap. They talked constantly throughout dinner.
“It’s probably the teacher in me that makes him talk everything out. When he’s upset I try to calm him down and then ask him to explain what’s wrong. When he asks a question, I answer it. When we don’t know an answer, we search for the answer. It really creates life-long learners. I teach kindergarten, 1st and 2d grade English Language Learners – some are recent immigrants to our country, some were born here. You can tell whose parents talk to them non-stop and whose parents NEVER talk to them.”
Otis was not 100% sold on being featured in the shoot and he left for a Target run while Allison cleaned up.
“To be honest, Otis was not too thrilled when I entered and even less pleased when we were actually chosen! I dragged him into it (sorry Otis). He felt uncomfortable. Usually he interacts more with Odie. He also cleans our house. He loves a spotless house and I hate cleaning. I like a sparkly house too, but he LOVES a sparkly house. He does a lot of the cleaning and laundry.”
After everything was in order, Allison changed, put Odie in the carrier and took the dogs for their nightly walk around the neighborhood.
“Odie has a love-hate relationship with the dogs. They steal his snacks and he yells ‘NO! THAT’S MINE!’ but then before bed he will hug them and say ‘Goodnight Chubby, Goodnight Spike, I love you.’ They are so patient with him. He wants to walk them every day, but they’re too strong for him. One day.”
They usually walk for up to two miles.
When they got back from the walk, Allison gave Odie a bath.
Then Otis returned home and Odie had a bedtime snack with dad.
Allison says Otis is around less now because he splits his time between long workouts (“he is trying hard to lose his extra football weight”) and studying (“preparing for his second career is extremely time consuming”) but she is thankful she doesn’t have to worry about life-altering injuries anymore.
“I’m worried people will think that I do all the work. I do a lot, but only because my hubby needs the time to work on himself and his second career.”
Allison then took Odie to brush his teeth.
She put him to bed at 9pm and read him a few books.
Before getting in bed, Odie left his room to get a good night kiss from dad.
Then one more kiss from mom before Allison put him in bed and left the room.
Usually Allison and Otis watch TV at night but on this night, Otis continued to study.
I asked Allison what she thought of the photos.
“I love them! They capture my son’s goofy personality and our fun evenings! As a working mom, I’m so grateful for the evening hours, when he’s not too completely exhausted from school and we can just play. I try to have fun with Odie every day.”
I asked Allison if she was worried people will judge them.
“I don’t think they will. They show how hard working and dedicated my husband is to his post-NFL career. I don’t mind doting on our son, while he’s busy studying. I know he’s working hard. The pictures show how loved our son is. He’s spoiled with love.”
I asked what Otis thought about the photos.
“Otis kept asking when our pictures would arrive. Even though he wasn’t pleased with me for entering us, I think he secretly did like it. Life is short and changes so frequently. I’m thankful we captured these moments.”
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This post is part of the “Wednesday Evenings” series sponsored by Allstate. From bath time to bed time, every family has a special evening routine. This series aims to show the beauty in the day winding down. As the nation’s largest publicly held insurance company, Allstate is dedicated not only to protecting what matters most—but to guiding families to live the Good Life, every day.
i love that this is the majority of NFL families instead of the garbage on reality tv. The transition would be difficult and Otis is a hero for wanting to help those be financially secure!
Me too! I think financial guidance is a brilliant idea for Otis as a second career-
So many people, especially young ones that are making good money. Since sports careers are typically so short, this could help a lot of people get the most out of their money! 🙂 You have a beautiful family.
The rest of that sentence…
The young people who make good money, but don’t know how to handle it.
There are millions of families who have parents working on second careers or college degrees. I go to school at night and my husband has had to pick up slack while I study. Each family is unique and it shows your husbands commitment to his family that he is willing to put in the effort! Kudos to you all!!!
Thank you Allison and Otis for sharing your normal, happy life with us. It’s wonderful to see you both working as a team to do the best for yourselves and Odie. I love your dogs too!
I love seeing these windows into other families’ lives! This family seems like such a great team. Those transitional times can be some of the hardest, and they really seem are able to find fun and special moments with each other even when things get chaotic. I don’t know them, but I do think that’s one of the marks of a great marriage. I’m so impressed that after a long day (I was a teacher too, I know it is exhausting) and making dinner and supporting her husband while he is going back to school, she straps her baby on her back and walks those dogs for miles!
*like they are able to
A friends father was in the NFL in the early 70s with the Miami Dolphins (yes, the undefeated ’72 ) and has three super bowl rings with the team, many of his teammates and old friends are broke, broken and have bodies that are failing them. He was a scholar athlete and is now an M.D. as is my friend (he didn’t play football or make the nba, but was gifted both scholastically and athletically, he is also like Odie, he is both kind and gentle).
It always angers me when people don’t understand how short these careers in professional sports can be and how an injury can be career ending can be the end to a life many of these athletes have known their entire lives. The salaries earned aren’t enough (the majority of the league players not the one off star franchise players who aren’t the average players) and many don’t end up getting the medical help long term (Though it seems the league is trying to make up for that). Many of old vets are so badly physically damaged many aren’t able to even work after their careers end, it is something that seems to be coming to light now, but especially back then, players weren’t cared for when they were no longer needed, and they weren’t even close to being compensated as they are these days. I hope Otis is able to get his second career started soon and help other players who will be in need of financial planning.
Thank you for sharing and giving a small glimpse of your daily family life, I am secretly so jealous of how tidy and organized your home is, my husband is also the one who does more of the daily cleaning just because he is more ocd than I am when it comes to a clean home.
yikes, i did ramble a bit didn’t I?
Thank you for showing us the real life of an athlete. They look like a sweet family that works very hard. Good luck to them in their future careers!
The beauty of this series is how it captures a window into a family’s life. Family life (and responsibilities and chores and duties) are always changing. Being able to understand and support those transitions is the mark of a loving relationship. It’s evident here.
Last fall I studied and completed the seven licensing exams required for licensure as an architect. It’s difficult as a parent to commit that sort of time to something non-family. But I did, and my husband and children were huge supports in that effort. At first I thought I could manage studying after everyone went to bed – but I’m way past those years when I can be a night owl and still function the next day. So these pictures looked like our house looked this time last year.
What a lovely family you have. You are very correct that racism is alive and well these days, and I’m sorry that you have to experience that in your daily life. Thank you for sharing your family with us. Good luck to you all in this new phase of your family story.
I just love this little family! You can tell Odie is a sweet, fun boy from those constant smiles. No doubt a result of a loving, caring mom and dad. I can see how Otis may not be on board with the photo shoot. I think I’d have to do some coercing to get my husband on board too. You can still tell he’s a dedicated family man and a stand up individual. Allison is simply an amazing mom and wife! We all have to make sacrifices for family and she does it with aplomb.
This was a great read. What a wonderful family! My husband and I have both said before that we can’t imagine how much more difficult our education would have been if we had been parents already.
I echo what everyone else has said but have to add Oh my word that is one cute kid!! 🙂
I have a friend who played for the 49ers 2 seasons ago he was injured and had to leave. He is in his late twenties as well. He went back to school and got his degree as a coach. He is now married and expecting his first child. Life after football is possible. I’m proud to call him my friend. For these reasons and for playing for my favorite team. 😉
What a beautiful family! Thank you for sharing. And your little boy is just too cute!
I am really glad he agreed to show up in some of the pictures, because I could see the love between the family in their eyes! I am sure one day he will be really happy and grateful that you did it 🙂
The “good night kiss” pic with Dad and the “post bath” pics with Mom are my favorites. You have a beautiful family.
And I am totally inspired to strap my kid on my back and go for a walk! I thought my son would be too big for that sort of thing, but I am going to try it.
Thank you Jill!!! I encourage you to try it! He calls it a backpack and loves going in it! 🙂 If your son doesn’t seem to like it, just keep trying, or try when he’s sleepy. It’s a great snuggle time.
The loveliness of your family is making me cry a bit. The nose kiss with Dad, the after-shower cuddle with Mom. I see two awesome partners working hard and loving one another. Thank you for this glimpse, and thank you for showing humanity in the NFL!!!
Allison, thank you and Otis for sharing. My husband didn’t want to do the Monday Morning series, also afraid of the judgment of the internet. But he warmed up to it, and likes looking at the pictures now.
Your family looks incredibly relatable. My daughter has that batman shirt, and we still use those sectioned plates at meal time.
Odie is ADORABLE.