Children of a Divorce

As we approach the dreaded day, let us give some thought to our pain.

As Packer fans, you and I are the children in a divorce, and that's a certain brand of pain. The children, you know, are not the major players either in the marriage or in the divorce, yet they are profoundly impacted by both. The children are the beneficiaries of a good relationship between the husband and wife, and the children are the victims of a bad one.

And, in the case of a divorce, the children are the sad casualties, hopelessly frustrated by how their lives are changed and their loyalties divided, yet all without having any say for themselves.

Enter the summer of 2008.

Of course, the problems could be traced back further -- they always can -- but that was when it all finally unraveled. Ted Thompson was the one spouse; Brett Favre the other. And by the end of that ugly, "he said, he said" summer of stubbornness, blame, selfishness, and insecurity, they had decided to go their separate ways.

After so many years of bliss in Green Bay, now Brett was going to live in New York. And we, the shocked and broken-hearted children, who had no say in the divorce, were left to spend our weekends shuttling back and forth between our old home and our new one. We wore two shades of green all season, and we tried to live a double-life as football fans.

Well, that New York marriage didn't last long. That was okay with us -- we never really fell in love with that new home or family. We had just begun to learn the names.

But now look at what has happened! Brett has gone and married that awful neighbor woman! The one we've lived next to -- and hated -- all these years. He used to hate her, too, remember? What happened? When did they start making eyes at each other? When did he start liking her?

We saw Darren Sharper go there, and that bothered us. Same thing for Ryan Longwell. But Brett?! The divorce was something of a betrayal, to be sure, but this remarriage is of a whole different magnitude.

And now we have to go and spend the weekend over there -- and see him with her, on her side! Ah, Monday is the dreaded day.