Author: Family Friendly Daddy Blog

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Dear Holly: Sweet and Savory Classroom

9 years, 3 months.

Dear Holly,

This past Saturday our family tried a new activity: We took a cooking class at Sweet & Savory Classroom in Chattanooga.

I was pleasantly surprised at how we collectively and authentically enjoyed the experience!

As our family worked on our calzones, I took notice of how Mommy and your brother quickly picked up on each new set of instructions; as they confidently and instantly began each next task.

Meanwhile, you and I were in our own similar situation. Our mindset was more, “What could I do to help now that the main job is already done?”

As for me, it meant cooking the Italian sausage for the entire class; including for all the strangers next to us.

For you, it meant carrying the newly prepared ingredients to the next table… as well as being the official “taste tester” for the meat I cooked for the entire class.

I’m still laughing at the thought of how everyone trusted my cooking abilities… when they totally shouldn’t have!

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: Your First Week Away at Summer Camp

9 years, 2 months.

Dear Holly,

Last week as you left for your first time away to summer camp, I was so sad to see you go… and I was so sad all week while you were gone.

But… you didn’t seem sad at all! And that definitely makes me happy.

I am so proud of you for showing confidence and displaying your natural need for independence.

Granted, it helped that your cousin Darla was there with you the whole time and that Aunt Dana was there as a chaperone.

And it helped me on my end that Aunt Dana was able to send me pictures of you each day so I could see how much fun you were having, in real time.

You have now been away at summer camp for the first time!

Love,

Daddy

 

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Dear Jack: Reciprocating Your Sister’s Need for Affection

14 years, 9 months.

Dear Jack,

I feel like one of the themes of this summer is that you continue to reciprocate your sister’s efforts in wanting to be buddies.

What I am seeing is that now, instead of you seeing her as some sort of competition as your only sibling, you have begun to see her as an equal member of our family.

I see the way that the two of you now mutually choose to hang out around each other, like when we were at Lowe’s this past weekend.

Or when as a family, we were watching TV in the living room this week and I noticed that you both were sort of cuddled up together on the bean bag.

I love this!

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: Ramen for Lunch During the Summer

9 years, 2 months.

Dear Holly,

During these couple of summer months, it’s never a mystery what you are having for lunch each day. While I rarely ever take a full lunch hour for myself as I work from home, I do stop long enough to prepare your daily ramen noodles on the stove top.

Once I place your bowl of hot Ramen noodles on the counter of our breakfast nook, it is tradition that I pour a cup of milk for you to drink. Next, you fill up a cup of ice and use some tongs to place the ice cubes one by one in the ramen, until it is cool enough for you to eat without burning your mouth.

You then are able to enjoy your ramen lunch while watching SpongeBob on your phone. I love that you have your little lunch tradition everyday.

 

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: Our 4th of July Fireworks Entertainment

14 years, 8 months.

Dear Jack,

Carrying on family traditions is extremely important to you. Your entire life, you have always been drawn to the entertainment of fireworks on the 4th of July. We gave you a budget of $50 to spend on fireworks this year, to serve as the family’s entertainment.

The city does a really good job of putting on a fireworks show on July 3rd, which we watched from the parking lot of Grace Presbyterian Church. That was fun for our family to do for our 2nd time now, since moving here a little over a year ago.

Then on the actual night of July 4th, Aunt Dana and Uncle Andrew allowed us to host your fireworks show in their backyard.

The theme of your very own fireworks show was not about beauty. It was not to entice us spectators to look up in the sky and say, “ooh” and “aah”…

Instead, it was more like, “Look out!”, as pieces of cheap toy cars you were blowing up flew into the audience.

You definitely put on a show!

Love,

Daddy