fatherhood

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Dear Jack: Getting 2nd Place in Your 1st Archery Tournament

9 years, 8 months.

Dear Jack,

Last Friday, Mommy and I got to see you in action on your final day of Archery Camp, at Music City Archery.

The week of camp ended with a tournament for all the parents to see.

You were so proud that we both were able to come see you shoot the arrow at the target.

I was impressed that you seemed to effortless hit the bull’s eye, multiple times.

And that’s amazing, for a boy who had never done archery before.

You won the 2nd place prize for your age group.

Needless to say, you are currently searching for a bow and arrow of your own!

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: I Really Love the 4 Year-Old Version of You!

4 years, 2 months.

Dear Holly,

I wrote a song a couple of months ago called “These are the Good Ole Days.”

It is a reminder to myself that despite all the craziness in this world that we are living in right now, I have a true blessing with you as my daughter.

I know that years from now, I am going to bitterly miss living in the time I live in now, because I get to be around you everyday.

This 4 year-old version of you especially speaks to me.

You are in some ways the cure I need; the offset to my existential crisis that I have been working through for a couple of years now.

Your sweetness reaches me in a way that I need in my life right now.

It was meant to be that the 4 year-old version of you and the 39 year-old version of me would exist at the exact same time; right when we needed each other the most.

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: Keeping You Physically Active During the Summer of Covid

9 years, 8 months.

Dear Jack,

With Mommy and I both working from home this summer, and you being stuck here with us, we’re doing what we can to be able to get you out of the house and have some fun whenever we can.

I have made a routine of taking you out to parks on Saturday mornings before it gets too hot. We go on hikes, play in creeks, and sometimes you get to get some exercise on playgrounds that aren’t closed.

This week has been particularly special, because Mommy signed you up for Archery Camp! You love coming home each afternoon and telling me about all the fun you’ve had getting to shoot arrows at different types of targets.

I won’t be surprised if archery becomes an ongoing interest for you!

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: You Tricked Us into Letting You Get a Pet Pine Lizard

9 years, 8 months.

Dear Jack,

You and I started a new routine last week: After I get back from the gym in the morning, you jump on your bike and join me as I go on a two mile run.

Last Saturday morning as we were heading out on our 2 mile excursion, we both noticed a very interesting lizard by the garage door. It looked really cool.

By Saturday afternoon, you set up an amusement park for it in the garage and had hand-tamed it.

By Sunday afternoon, I went to the pet store to buy some meal worms for the lizard.

By Monday afternoon, the lizard was officially living in the hamster’s travel case, in a corner in your bedroom.

And by Tuesday, we learned that Sargento the Pine Lizard was actually a girl.

You re-named her; Serenity.

 

Love,

Daddy

 

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Dear Jack: I’ve Been Writing You Letters Every Week for Over 10 Years, But You’re Not Even 10 Years Old Yet…

9 years, 7 months.

Dear Jack,

It was May 2010 that I decided to start writing you at least one letter every week, to serve as a thumbnail of what was going on in your life that week, or at least what was going on in my head as your dad that week.

I should point out that in May 2010, you weren’t born yet. Instead, that was the month that Mommy and I found out we were going to be having a baby.

You weren’t born until November. So for over a decade, I have been creating and growing this collection of journal entries to document each week of your life.

I have told you about it. You are aware I do this.

But later, when you are older, I think you will truly be able to appreciate having an archive of your own life, written by your dad.

Love,

Daddy