Author: Family Friendly Daddy Blog

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We Never Have Visitors Or House Guests Over Anymore

September 3, 2013 at 11:20 pm , by 

2 years, 9 months.

Dear Jack,

It wasn’t until my parents left our house for Labor Day weekend that I realized something:

We never have guests at our house anymore! At least, not since you were born nearly three years ago.

Earlier in the summer, your best friend Sophie spent the afternoon with us while her parents were at a wedding.

And before that, other than family…

Well over a year ago your friend Henry and his parents stopped by for the afternoon.

Other than that, though… there is no other than that.

I just never thought about it before, but a whole lot goes in to having people over at our house.

Food, entertainment, corresponding schedules with the guests, your nap schedule, your lunch and dinner schedule…

It’s just easier for us to meet people we know outside of our house. At places where we don’t have to think or plan or prepare.

We want to be hospitable. We want to be the cool family who invites people over for shindigs.

But honestly, I think a lot of people wish that. At least, it seems like that on House Hunters on HGTV. They’re always interested in finding a house with “entertaining space” because they “love to entertain guests.”

I question that they really get to throw that many parties.

Or maybe it’s just our family. Maybe we’re so far removed from that reality.

Not to mention, we live in a townhouse.

So really, now is just not the time for us to have people over very often. One day, when you get older. One day, when we move into a bigger house. One day, when it actually concerns me that hardly anyone other than you, Mommy, or me ever walks through the front door.

As for now, you’re just stuck in this house with your parents as company. Good thing you love us.

 

Love,

Daddy

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And I Thought It Was Just A Toy Ladder…

September 3, 2013 at 10:28 pm , by 

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How I Get Home Improvement Projects Done, As A Parent

September 2, 2013 at 11:17 pm , by 

2 years, 9 months.

Dear Jack,

These “before and after” pictures actually pretty well illustrate the cure for Mommy and I not being able to get home improvement projects finished, in the little amount of time we have together as a family.

By the way, it’s completely unintentional that this letter to you has by default become the 3rd consecutive one to talk about my parents, who you know as Nonna and Papa. (And there might even be a 4th after this.)

But just as our 2 and a half hour trips to their house serve as a sort of “time out” for us, it’s their trips to our house that serve as the perfect time for Mommy and I to complete “major” projects; just the opposite. Instead of relaxing while they are here in town… we are productive!

Exactly 3 months ago, it was a backsplash.

As for Labor Day weekend, we painted our living room and installed brand new curtains; taking down the blinds. And because we made such good time, we decided to paint the downstairs bathroom, too.

During all the labor, there was always one adult to entertain and play with you, while the other three worked on the project.

In case you’re wondering why I’m not featuring any pictures of our home’s new makeover, it’s because I know in the upcoming months, the pictures I daily take of you playing downstairs will be featuring the changes.

There will be more than enough… too many, probably…

So instead, I wanted to point out a notable milestone in your life. As a reward for completing our projects early, we decided to do something we never do as a family.

We went to “the city” and dined out.

It’s funny how the last time I remember being in the heart of Nashville, not just on the outskirts of the city limits where we live, was at last June when we went to that random drum circle.

Our family never goes to the city and we never go out to eat.

But this weekend, we did. And it went well!

I was telling Mommy, how a year ago, if we were to have done this, we wouldn’t have made it through the entire meal without me having to escort you outside and distract you from being restless.

However, at 2 years and 9 months, you are able to handle dining out.

Hashtag, “I didn’t see that one coming.”

Admittedly, the fact that Mommy and I let you have a vegan chocolate cupcakecertainly helped the situation.

Seriously, this is epic for me, as your Daddy.

I feel so accomplished after this Labor Day weekend!

We painted the living room and the bathroom, put up a new curtain rod and curtains, and you proved you can handle going to the city and dining at a restaurant… way past your bedtime.

The plan was to officially potty train you this weekend, too. Oh well…

With the grandparents in town, we were able to be very productive in other ways.

Actually though, I think we might need a completely separate trip where they come up and the only project is just to potty train you. Not a bad idea.

 

Love,

Daddy

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The Closest Thing I Get To A Vacation, As A Parent

September 2, 2013 at 8:58 pm , by 

2 years, 9 months.

Dear Jack,

A few weeks ago, Mommy asked me if I had any idea why my weekly paycheck was significantly higher than usual. I wanted to believe that I had been given a raise by my boss, without me being notified first.

Hashtag, “wishful thinking.”

Turns out, my extra vacation days had just automatically cashed out since I didn’t take them since the anniversary of my hire date.

That’s the way it has to be, though. I have to prepare for several extra days throughout the year for you to be sick.

Fortunately, you hardly got sick this year so I didn’t need to cash in my sick days on your behalf.

As for myself, I don’t get sick either but there are definitely days I just wish I could call in sick and truly have the day off.

But then I would feel guilty driving you all the way to school for that; just to have a day with truly no responsibilities. Not to mention, I hate the thought of spending gas money on that, too.

And by now, I have clearly established the fact that a family vacation is not truly a vacation, but a quest for fun.

Still, I am not without hope.

The closest thing I get to a vacation, as a parent, is taking the 2 and a half hour drive to Nonna and Papa’s house, for the weekend.

I still get to spend time with you but with a 3 to 1 adult to kid ratio, since your Auntie Dana, Uncle Andrew, and cousin Calla are there too, along with my parents.

You and I are both more relaxed. I like for you to be able to see me in that sort of mind; not just the one where I have to be in charge all the time.

So it’s kind of like a vacation for both you and me.

From sitting on Papa’s face (featured as top picture) to hearing Nonna read you and your cousin Calla a story (featured directly above), it’s just good, easy times for the whole family.

We don’t need a fancy trip or destination. It’s funny how family is not only home, but also a vacation.

 

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: New Infographic- Rent Vs. Own: Which Option Is Best For You?

3 years, 8 months.

Dear Jack,

I’ve been mentioning to you about our family’s plans to move out of our townhouse and into “a real house with a yard and one that’s in the right school discrict.” (That’s important here in Nashville.)

After having owned our townhouse for 6 years now, we are finally at the point at which we could sell it and actually make a profit.

For now it’s sort of a waiting game, as we continue to build our savings after having gone debt-free a year ago. Meanwhile, the prices in the neighborhoods we are considering moving to are now affordable… but how long?

The paradox: The longer we wait to move from our townhouse (as we continue to put more in savings for the down payment on our next house and watch the value of our townhouse continue to rise), the more likely the prices will also rise on the house we want to move into.

When should we move? We’ve got our sights on early next year.

This brand-new infographic below does a great job explaining which option is better, renting or owning. While it doesn’t relate to us in that we already own our townhouse instead of renting it, it does relate in helping me personally see that by owning it 7 years makes it more of an investment than selling it sooner.

Ten years would be ideal, but again, we have to keep watch on prices of the neighborhoods we’re interested in.

It’s hard to imagine what it will be like actually moving into the house that our family plans to live in for the rest of your childhood.

We’ve been working towards this goal for a while now.

I remember back in the days when it seemed the value of our townhome would stay in the negative forever.

But we’ve worked hard to pay off our debts, save our money, and keep a close eye on what’s going on out there.

Maybe by early next year…

 

Love,

Daddy

Infographic courtesy of SpareFoot.

Courtesy of: SpareFoot