fatherhood

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Dear Holly: Signs of Life

8 years, 10 months.

Dear Holly,

Last week Mommy traveled to California to spend some time with Grandma in Sacramento. Apparently, it is customary that because you are still a little girl, you definitely are still entitled to a souvenir every time she leaves the state of Alabama.

Even though you already had 8 other Warmies (microwaveable stuffed animals that smell like lavender when you heat them up), you needed another: This time, a hamster.

Before you left for school yesterday morning, you made sure your new hamster was all set up for the day: He watched TV and ate popcorn until you got home.

It is not uncommon for me to discover your Warmies throughout the house; staged like real life animals and/or babies.

I love being your dad.

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: Smart Money

14 years, 3 months.

Dear Jack,

You are the smartest person I know. That means my life is a little bit easier, accordingly.

We never have to ask you to do your homework, because you always get it done during school. Somehow you never study for tests, yet your grades are always good.

So this week when I learned you had earned the privilege of “skipping out” of your semester tests due to your consistently high grades, I was very happy for you.

This is a reminder that I am a “fun” dad. My rule: No school? No bedtime.

I don’t care. Stay up super late playing your PlayStation 5 games. Be a 14 year-old boy.

But of course, you elected to spend one of your days off from school working for Nonna and Papa; tearing down some old playground equipment in their background and helping with the insulation process under their house.

So in review: You’re a smart kid who plays hard and works hard. I endorse this.

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: You are Currently about 5′ 3″

14 years, 3 months.

Dear Jack,

When we bought you new shoes to begin your 8th grade school year, I learned that you officially have a larger shoe size than me. And since then, you have continued growing taller.

I don’t think I grew after the 8th grade. I’m pretty sure I’ve been 5′ 9″ since 1995.

You were curious enough this weekend for me to measure you. Looks like you are currently a little over 5′ 3″.

But if your shoe size is already size 10, it seems like by the time you are finished growing, there’s a decent chance you will end up being at least a little taller than me.

We’ll know for sure in a few more years.

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: A Book about Poo… from School?

8 years, 10 months.

Dear Holly,

Last Friday Mommy made it back from her work trip to Nashville in time to help work the final day of your school’s book fair.

So in addition to all the books and other fun stuff you had already ended up with last week (basically like a small Christmas), you still had one more day to grab any items you just had to have.

The most interesting thing you came home with was, to my surprise, actually a book!

Of course, the name of the book is none other than “Where’s the Poo? Sticker Activity Book”.

Because yes, that is a real thing, and you now own it.

I can confidently say that in all my elementary school years, I never once encountered a book about poo… that also happened to be a fun activity book including “over 200 poop-tastic stickers!”

 

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: Going to Church on Wednesday Nights

14 years, 3 months.

Dear Jack,

For me, being active in the youth group at my church was a huge part of my teenage years.

Of course, as soon as you started school here in Alabama, you quickly were recruited by your new friends to join the football team. And it just so happened that several of them all went to the same church.

We are there every Sunday as a family, but specifically on Wednesdays while your sister is at dance class down the road, I drive you to church.

I definitely appreciate that you want to be there with the dozens of other kids in your youth group, while I am at the men’s Bible study.

Last Wednesday as we crossed the street to the church, two of your friends ran to catch up to you: “Hey, there’s Jack!”

I was so proud. Not only do you want to go to church on Wednesday nights, but you have friends waiting for you there.

 

Love,

Daddy