fatherhood

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

Dear Holly: Social Distancing During Coronavirus 2020

3 years, 10 months.

Dear Holly,

I’m not sure how much of Coronavirus 2020 that you’ll remember, but from what I can tell, you’re still having plenty of fun.

Mommy took you and your brother to the Dollar Tree to buy you both some things to your “Entertain Yourself Survival Kit”.

You are loving your flash cards! You showed them to Nonna and Papa over a Face Time call a few days ago.

Since we can’t see the rest of our family until this all clears up a bit more, this is how we’re getting by.

I don’t really think you’ve noticed anything is even different at our house, honestly. That’s good!

Love,

Daddy

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

Dear Jack: What I Was Doing During My Own Spring Break 30 Years Ago in 1990

9 years, 4 months.

Dear Jack,

This will most likely be remembered as your strangest Spring Break ever. Instead of being quarantined in our house because of the Coronavirus, you were supposed to be at Nonna and Papa’s house in Alabama this week.

Being forced to stay home during your 3rd grade Spring Break is definitely in major contrast to what I was doing exactly 30 years ago in March 1990 during mine.

That was when our family went to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida for the first time.

I specifically remember it being the first time I ever experienced a water faucet with an automatic sensor. I was amazed how I could wash my hands without having to each touch a knob.

And that was only the beginning of the amazing things I experienced in Disney World.

So yes, Disney World vs. lockdown to due the Coronavirus… quite a difference.

We’ll make the most of this, though.

Love,

Daddy

Leave a comment Posted on fatherhood, parenting

Dear Holly: Making Buckwheat Pancakes for Breakfast

3 years, 10 months.

Dear Holly,

Last year, Mommy and I started a tradition of having Nonna and Papa come up the Saturday that Mommy and I go to get our taxes done.

Afterwards, we go out for dinner and stay at a hotel in Nashville while you and your brother spend the day and night with Nonna and Papa.

Meanwhile, this time around, you and your brother decided to have a slumber party in their home.

You put down your sleeping bags, like one big pallet on the carpet.

Then the next morning, you helped Nonna make buckwheat pancakes for breakfast.

You had a lot of fun!

Love,

Daddy

 

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

Dear Jack: Diggin’ Up Onions

9 years, 3 months.

Dear Jack,

While Nonna and Papa were in town a few weeks ago, you spent one afternoon with them digging up little wild onions in the community area of our neighborhood.

I had always wondered why often, it smells like onions when people mow their lawns. Now I know why- little wild onions are often growing in the lawn.

Once you collected several pounds of the wild onions, you washed them off over the sink. Your sister helped.

Now that I think of it, the two of you should have opened a “Wild Onion” stand in our neighborhood. Nothing like a refreshing wild onion on a crisp Spring morning!

Love,

Daddy

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

Dear Jack: Diggin’ Up Bones (from Owl Pellets)

9 years, 3 months.

Dear Jack,

It is an unspoken understanding that anytime you have an extracurricular activity sponsored by your school, it will be just you and me. In most cases, Mommy stays home with your sister, getting her ready for her bedtime which is earlier than yours.

Or, in the case of the Super Bowl Breakfast last month, I dropped off your sister first, then ate with you and your school.

Last night, your school conducted his annual STREAM night, where every classroom in the school becomes a different science experience station.

Your favorite was the one where you got to dissect an “owl pellet.”

As I just happened to learn from one of your library books a few weeks ago, owls can’t actually chew up their food.

Instead, they just swallow it whole, digest the meat, then regurgitate a furball of bones.

After you dissected your first owl pellet, which turned to be the remains of a mole.

You enjoyed it so much, you then requested to dissect a 2nd owl pellet! You were the first and only student to make this request.

The 2nd owl pellet was for a shrew; an animal I can’t differentiate from a mole.

It is confirmed that in our kitchen pantry (not sure how that ended up being the most appropriate place!) there are now two plastic baggies containing the bones of two undigested rodents.

Love,

Daddy