Author: Family Friendly Daddy Blog

Leave a comment Posted on fatherhood, parenting, People, Spirituality, Storytelling, Uncategorized

Dear Jack: Your New Phone Cover

13 years, 2 months.

Dear Jack,

Exactly a month ago on Christmas Day, I was able to talk you into not going through the annoying/dramatic/stressful ordeal of returning your “not pink” cell phone through the mail and exchanging it for the “off white” one we actually ordered for you.

Now that I have completed writing my book (to be published and released later this year), I can finally appreciate and understand that I am the epitome of an Enneagram 9 Wing 8:

I am a natural negotiator.

And using my negotiation skills on Christmas Day, my “compromise” in the exchange was to agree to buy you whichever cell phone cover you wanted.

By Christmas afternoon, you had made peace with your “not pink” phone, on your own.

But by that point, we had already ordered you the fuzzy green monster of a cell phone cover you wanted.

So… double win?

Love,

Daddy

Leave a comment Posted on Jeep Wrangler, Nostalgia, parenting, Storytelling, Uncategorized

Dear Holly: Making Pizza with Mommy

7 years, 9 months.

Dear Holly,

When subtle yet special family moments show up, I am always prepared with my actual camera to freeze that moment in time for my collection. (Yes, I still use an actual digital camera instead of my phone.)

Last Saturday, I sent myself on a mission to buy groceries while we were snowed in. Good thing I have my Jeep!

When I got home, I saw that you and Mommy were making homemade pizza for dinner… and having so much fun doing it.

It made me feel so good to see the two of you together in that Mommy/daughter moment. I don’t take these times in life for granted. I celebrate them!

Love,

Daddy

Leave a comment Posted on fatherhood, funny, parenting, People, Uncategorized

Dear Holly: The Snow is So Much Fun… for 15 Minutes!

7 years, 8 months.

Dear Holly,

All this school year, one of the ongoing conversations you have initiated with me on our walks together outside is this:

“I definitely think it’s going to snow this year! It didn’t snow at all last year so I know I will be out of school this year when it snows!”

Turns out, the snow is a bit overrated.

After the 15 minute mark out in the snow on the first day off of school this week, Mommy announced to you, “Holly, your lips are turning blue! Are you ready to head back inside?”

You happily agreed.

But hey, that doesn’t take away from the fact that those 15 minutes in the 15 degree weather weren’t fun for you.

It’s just that they were a very efficient 15 minutes!

Love,

Daddy

 

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

Dear Jack: You’re Not Too Old to Want to Play in the Snow with Your Family

13 years, 2 months.

Dear Jack,

At age 13, I perceive you as definitely old enough to go out and play in the snow by yourself; as the weather has caused school to be cancelled all this week.

But instead, you choose to spend your daily outside hour in the 13 degree weather with your family.

You helped push Mommy and your sister in the sled in our cul-de-sac, for the 15 minutes they spent in the snow this week.

As for the other days, I have pushed you down the much bigger hill in the sled, as well as taken you out on the frozen pond for, you know… the fun/dangerous activities!

You’re not a little boy anymore, but I definitely recognize the moments that remind me of those years.

During our time sledding at one point this week, a middle-aged man walked by, recognizing the father/son activity we were enjoying and simply said to me, “Good memories.”

Love,

Daddy

Leave a comment Posted on fatherhood, Storytelling, Uncategorized

Dear Jack: Your Very 1st Cell Phone (But No Social Media Accounts!)

13 years, 1 month.

Dear Jack,

You had been asking for a cell phone for the past year and a half; ever since you started 6th grade. What didn’t help your case was that you set your standards way too high: a brand-new iPhone.

Mommy and I recognized that with you apparently being the only one of your friends without a cell phone, you were by default being left out of social connections with the rest of them.

Once you finally “settled” on a new Google 3 XL that we found a really good deal on, I gave you my blessing on getting your own cell phone; given that you would not be permitted to set up social media accounts:

“You have given me every reason to trust you with this responsibility. I know you are going to take really good care of it and that you’re not going to go on bad websites.”

It helps that we have got you on Mint Mobile, which is what I am on; for just $15 per month.

After you opened your special gift on Christmas morning, you then noticed that the official color was not white like we had ordered online, but instead, “not pink”.

The actually color of your phone is called “not pink”.

Fortunately, I was able to convince you that it’s so close to white that no one will even notice your phone is “not pink”, nor is it white.

To be sure, I agreed to let you order a fun phone case for your new phone. It’s a lot less trouble and less drama than having to send back the phone and wait for a new one.

At age 13, you now have a cell phone. (But no social media accounts!)

 

Love,

Daddy