Dear Jack: Graduating 6th Grade on the Honor Roll with All A’s!

12 and a half.

Dear Jack,

Today was your last day of 6th grade.

You did it!

And you did it well, because yesterday, Mommy and I went to go see you win an award for All A’s.

I can tell you for certain that I did not get that award 30 years ago in 1993 when I was in 6th grade.

And though I feel like I say this a lot… it’s one less thing to worry about in life, knowing that my son who is 30 years younger than me is much smarter than I am!

You make Mommy and I so proud.

Now it’s time to have a fun summer!

 

Love,

Daddy

Dear Jack: Your Mother’s Day Gift Was Not Wearing Sweatpants to Church?

12 and a half.

Dear Jack,

I reminded our family Saturday night that there would surely be a specific photo opp for Mother’s Day at church the next day.

So Sunday morning, you came downstairs wearing jeans; as opposed to one of the dozen pairs of Nike sweatpants you wear pretty much anytime “pants” are required.

I said out loud, “Jack… you are actually wearing jeans? You never wear jeans. When’s the last year I have seen you wearing jeans?!”

You explained, “That’s my gift to Mommy for Mother’s day: I’m wearing jeans to church, instead of sweatpants.”

Granted, you still wore your Champion “slides” instead of real shoes… but nice effort!

Love,

Daddy

Dear Holly: Walking You to School in Your Princess Dress

7 years.

Dear Holly,

Here at the end of the school year, it seems quite common for each remaining day, that there is some specific theme.

This Tuesday, you briefly explained, “Daddy, I get to wear a princess dress to school today.”

No follow-up questions were needed from me.

So that morning, instead of you riding the bus, I carried you through the corn field behind our house, to the sidewalk leading to your school.

Once we got to the sidewalk, I held your hand as we finished the second half of the journey to your school.

I feel like that imagery is a perfect symbol of our relationship:

Me carrying you while you wear a princess dress.

 

Love,

Daddy

Dear Holly: You Chose the Jelly Cat Bunny I Got You as Your Favorite Toy

7 years.

Dear Holly,

Back in 2015, when Mommy was only 21 weeks pregnant with you, I bought you a very special stuffed bunny; in anticipation of you being born.

Here we are, 7 and a half years later, and I learned this week that you chose that Jelly Cat bunny to use in a special project for school, about your favorite toy.

You explained, “One reason is it is soft. Another reason is it is from my dad and it is really special.”

I have always been aware of an exclusive bond that you and I share.

To quote one of my favorite bands ever Oasis, “I don’t believe that anybody feels the way I do about you now.”

It means so much to me that you chose the bunny I got you 6 months before you were born.

 

Love,

Daddy

Dear Jack: That Time You Were a Men’s Hair Stylist…

12 years, 5 months.

Dear Jack,

Now that your hair is long enough to maintain the official “flipty do” hairstyle of all junior high boys across America, and now that I officially started taking you to my own barber as well, it was inevitable that you would convince Mommy to buy you your own curling iron to fix your hair in the morning.

When you took it out of the box after it arrived in the mail from Amazon, you announced to me:

“Look, Daddy- it comes with a special styling glove!”

This past weekend, your new official hairstyle was a hot topic while Aunt Dana and Uncle Andrew visited us.

So of course, you volunteered Uncle Andrew to get his own “flipty do” hairstyle!

Love,

Daddy