Baseball Spouse's Survival Guide

Spring Training games begin tomorrow and by the end of the month of March, baseball's regular season will begin. I wrote down a few steps in helping families of baseball fans cope with the oncoming baseball season:

1. Step 1
Women need to understand that being a baseball fan is like a full-time job, so imagine what it can do to your relationship. Baseball has one of the longest seasons in sports. With a season that lasts from April to October and 162 regular season games.

2. Step 2
Women who lose their husbands to baseball complain that their lives have been turned upside down. Make it easier on you and the family by investing in a smartphone and implementing web access during the baseball season. He'll be able to check stats on his phone discreetly and even in church on Sunday.

3. Step 3
Men - You don't have to give up your love of the game for your relationship. You just need to be aware of your schedule. Plan dates around your baseball watching. Chances are you don't hang out every night, even if married, so schedule couple time on off-nights. Schedule a date night once a week, so she knows that she ranks right up there with baseball. HINT: You can always take your iTouch or iPhone and sneak away for a few minutes to catch a portion or a game or take her out to eat where games are being televised.

4. Step 4
Baseball is available virtually every single night during the regular season and for most couples, weekday games don't cause too much of a problem. For most couples, weekend baseball is a point of contention. Weekends are often the only time couples have together, so playing second fiddle to a TV can get old for the wife. Brunch dates, walks in the park or day trips to the beach have to be rescheduled if they conflict with a true fan's baseball watching unless you plan accordingly. Get your wife a spa package or massage, so you can live guilt-free in front of the TV. Offer to watch the kids while she has some ‘free time’ shopping or relaxing. Chances are that your kids will be fine for 3 hours relatively unsupervised – hopefully, you have a child old enough to recognize when another child may need to go to the hospital.

5. Step 5
The bottom line is that woman aren't expecting you to change. You're not a fair weather fan and wives respect you're unwavering commitment. If there is still an issue, then have 3 or 4 children to keep her busy. She'll always have the children to keep her company.