Author: Family Friendly Daddy Blog

Leave a comment Posted on fatherhood, Nostalgia, parenting, Storytelling, Uncategorized

Dear Holly: Hanging Out at Our House after the Thanksgiving Meal

8 years, 7 months.

 

Dear Holly,

As I came across more photos from Thanksgiving Day at our house, what stood out to me was how we all had a space to just casually hang out for the afternoon after the big meal.

You and your cousin Darla spent most of the time “selling” things from your bedroom, using the cash registers with credit card readers you made.

Meanwhile, those of us in our 40s played old school Nintendo games.

I’m still not over the fact that we don’t have to drive three hours across state lines with Christmas gifts, after having worked all week; in order to be with everyone at Thanksgiving.

It’s just easier to be thankful at Thanksgiving now.

Love,

Daddy

Leave a comment Posted on fatherhood, Storytelling, Uncategorized

Dear Jack: You are Now Entering Your Skateboarding Phase

14 years old. 

Dear Jack,

And just like that, your football days are in the rearview mirror and now you have officially entered your skateboarding phase.

Suddenly now all your jeans are baggy skateboarding jeans and your shoes are skateboarding shoes.

To make it official, you spent your own money to buy your very own skateboard.

The very day you got it, you skated over to Uncle Andrew and Aunt Dana’s house. With their house under renovation, they temporarily have plenty of smooth concrete poured.

Perfect timing.

And for the record, about 30 years ago, I entered my skateboarding phase too.

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: Our 1st Alabama Thanksgiving was a Success!

8 years, 7 months.

Dear Holly,

It’s unanimous:

Our family’s first time hosting Thanksgiving here in Alabama was a success!

We had a total of 15 people at our home- and we all actually fit in the kitchen for the Thanksgiving meal.

With it being a collaboration for the food, it wasn’t all on us to feed everyone. Hosting Thanksgiving is not bad at all. I truly enjoyed sharing our home with family.

It’s funny how not stressful Thanksgiving is when we’re not having to drive three hours to get there and then not sleep in our own beds.

So, yeah… I think we officially made Thanksgiving great again.

 

Love,

Daddy

Leave a comment Posted on Enneagram, fatherhood, Storytelling, Uncategorized

Dear Holly: You are the Helper and the Host

8 years, 7 months.

Dear Holly,

Both for your brother’s recent birthday dinner as well as our big Thanksgiving dinner at our house coming up today, you assigned yourself the task of setting the table and assigning everyone’s places at the table.

This is particularly interesting to me, as this year I have pinpointed exactly which Enneagram each person in our family is. As an Enneagram 2 Wing 3, yours is referred to as “The Hostess”.

As your Daddy, you truly make it so easy to adore you. I love your gentle and kind spirit. I love how you are always aware of others’ needs.

You are so special to me.

Love,

Daddy

1 Comment Posted on fatherhood, parenting, People, Storytelling, Uncategorized

Dear Jack: I’m Not the Handyman, but You Are!

14 years old.

Dear Jack,

One of my many life mottos is this:

“Be proud of your strengths and make jokes about your weaknesses.”

With that being said, there has never been any question that the “handyman gene” went straight from one Jack Shell (Papa) to the next Jack Shell (you).

In other words, it totally skipped me!

But I am happy for you that you have the kind of brain that is eager to get in there and figure out how to fix whatever it is that needs fixing; when it comes to home repairs.

Yes, it’s true we paid off our mortgage a few weeks ago. However, that doesn’t change the fact that owning a home means that there is always something that must be considered “under construction”.

And I am certainly not the man for the job!

Love,

Daddy