Dear Holly: Your New Day Bed!

6 years, 2 months.

Dear Holly,

You have been very excited this week because you now have a brand-new day bed, to replace your smaller older one that we got you two years ago when you started Pre-K.

So now, you have an even bigger bed, and one that has another roll-out bed underneath it!

It took Mommy and me three days to put it to together- and when I say “Mommy and me”, what I really should say is “mostly Mommy”… because I am not mechanical-minded at all!

Your new bed is so comfortable. I look forward to taking a nap on it sometime soon!

 

Love,

Daddy

Dear Jack: I Broke Boards for the 1st Time, Doing Taekwondo

11 years, 8 months.

Dear Jack,

It was this Father’s Day that I realized at this point at my life, Father’s Day is a bigger deal to me than my birthday now.

And this Father’s Day felt particularly special to me.

I was invited to join you for Taekwondo on Saturday, which I’ve never done before. And at the end, was invited to break boards, also which I’ve never done before!

Most of the dads broke two boards, but when it was my turn, I confidently announced, “I’ll do as many boards as Jack thinks I can break.”

I will say: Five boards sure look thick- and they were!

Somehow, I managed to break 4 of the 5 boards on the first try.

And my foot wasn’t as sore as it should have been!

 

Love,

Daddy

Dear Holly: Your Very Interactive “Daddy Puppet”

6 years, 1 month.

Dear Holly,

On Father’s Day at church this week, the craft was to make a puppet out of a paper bag to look like your Daddy.

Turns out, in the likeness of Forky in Toy Story 4, the Daddy puppet came alive the moment you created him!

So for all this week, you have been following me around ,with your hand activating the Daddy puppet, having him mimic my every move:

Whether I’m making dinner, mumbling to myself, or working!

You happened to be sitting in my lap as I was finishing up my final phone call of the day.

“Goodbye, Frank!” I said.

Needless to say, there was an immediate echo of “Goodbye, Frank!” – but this time, in the voice of a 6 year-old girl trying to sound like a 41 year-old man!

And yes, Frank heard you.

 

Love,

Daddy

Dear Jack: Turns Out, I Do Have FOMO After All…

11 years, 8 months.

Dear Jack,

When it comes to “FOMO” (fear of missing out), I typically can’t relate. In most cases, I have JOMO instead: I have joy of missing out.

I usually am so relieved when plans get cancelled. Most people have major trouble believing me when I say I truly am an introvert, but it’s true: I love not having to go do the thing, whatever the thing is- if it involves driving more than 5 minutes, waiting in line, or being in a crowd of people.

But when it comes to being involved in your life and your sister’s, I totally have fear of missing out. I just realized that this week.

It makes sense now why I have faithfully written you and your sister every week of your lives. I see now that it’s my way of being involved as I can in your lives; to always have a souvenir of what we experienced together that week.

 

Love,

Daddy

Dear Holly: It’s an All Summer Long Slumber Party

6 years, 1 month.

Dear Holly,

I’m not sure how the conversation happened, but at some point once school was out for the summer, you and your brother decided that you would be sleeping on the floor of his bedroom; until further notice.

What’s funny is, he just hangs out in his tent next to his bed and plays his games on his computer until you fall asleep.

So there’s not necessarily any real quality time going on, but the unspoken truth is that you both prefer sleeping in the same room as opposed to separate ones.

I cracked up last Saturday as Jack and I were hanging out in the bonus room, and you discreetly went up to him and whispered to him, “I’m going to bed now.”

As if you needed his approval? And I was right there!

That was hilarious.

Love,

Daddy