At work, people know me as the host of ESPN’s NFL Live and SEC Network’s SEC Nation. Some people recognize me from sideline reporting during Pro Bowl Games and college games, or maybe they’ve watched me during the NFL Draft coverage. And, yes, I am THAT Laura Rutledge, who got completely trucked on live TV during a Georgia football game and went viral for it. (Hey, it’s all part of the job!)
I love the work I get to do on ESPN. However, my absolute favorite role is Mommy. Some days, I still can’t believe I get to be Reese and Jack’s mom. I also can’t believe how much of what I’ve learned at ESPN applies to being a parent. Take a look at 4 things being an ESPN commentator taught me about motherhood.
1. Be prepared.
I stumbled into sports reporting as a college freshman. Growing up, I trained as a ballerina and fully expected to make a career out of it. So, other than watching my brothers play sports as a kid, I didn’t know much, but I did know how to put in long hours rehearsing and training for roles. I applied the same tenacious dedication to learning all I could about the sports I was assigned to cover. Now, on ESPN, I continue to see how being prepared gives me a leg up and the confidence to perform at a high level, whether an interview goes sideways or technology breaks.
As moms, a lot comes our way. Just like with live sports, there’s no script for this job. You have to be ready to improvise, think on your feet, and tackle whatever challenges come your way. There will still be situations you can’t control. That’s just part of life and part of being a mom. However, being prepared helps us better decide how to deal and keep moving forward.
2. Block out the noise.
I work in the male-dominated field of college sports. And while I’ve generated a lot of respect, I’ve also dealt with a ton of unsolicited advice and negativity from people. I used to take that stuff to heart. If someone commented on my dress, I’d think, “I probably shouldn’t wear that again.” Or when I would read comments like “what a stupid opinion” or “you don’t belong here,” I found myself letting it affect the way I broadcast. It took me a long time to learn to brush that off.
In sports journalism, there will always be noise—critics, skeptics, and naysayers. But at the end of the day, what matters most is staying true to myself and my values. The same goes for motherhood. With the constant onslaught of parenting advice, societal expectations, and comparison culture, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the noise. But by blocking out the distractions and focusing on what truly matters—the love and well-being of your family—you can navigate motherhood with confidence and grace.
3. Work hard.
In my line of work, the one thing I can control is my work ethic. I’m always just trying to get better. For example, as a sideline reporter, I learned it takes reps to truly do it well. It’s not easy to quickly assess what you’re seeing on the sidelines, figure out how to get to the coach or player, and determine the one question to ask—all in 15 seconds. The only way I was going to get better was to commit to the process of learning.
At ESPN, success doesn’t come without hard work. The same principle applies to motherhood. Being a mom requires relentless effort, from sleepless nights to juggling multiple tasks at once to learning more about our kids each and every day. But just like pushing through a tough game or staying focused during a high-pressure interview, the hard work pays off.
4. Seek joy and spread joy.
At ESPN, the most memorable moments from the show have been the ones completely spontaneous and unplanned. I don’t take myself too seriously at all. In fact, I’m sort of goofy, and I love a good blooper and poking fun at myself. Life can be really hard and serious sometimes. I understand that. However, I choose to seek and spread joy in any way I can.
Until I became a mom, though, I wasn’t really great at stopping and smelling the roses. But my daughter and son help me practice being present and finding joy in every moment I get to be their mom. As moms, we can seek and spread joy to our kids in ways special to them. In our house, that looks like making Reese breakfast, her favorite meal, and putting her hair in a ponytail because it’s “dance party” day at school. It also looks like keeping Christmas decorations up way past December because we like them.
At the end of the day, I love the work I get to do at ESPN. But, truth be told, I also love unplugging from being the personality on ESPN and just being “Mommy” at home.
For Laura Rutledge, keeping those Christmas decorations up well into the New Year gives her family joy. How do you seek and spread joy in your home?
