fatherhood

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Dear Jack: What “Homeschool Summer School” Looks Like

12 and a half years.

Dear Jack,

Mommy joked with you this week, “What if we started homeschooling you?”

You immediately replied, “No! Then I couldn’t be around any people.”

However, during the summer, I suppose things do resemble the concept of homeschool a little bit.

We are paying you and your sister a “reading allowance” this summer, to help encourage you both to use your brains on books… and it’s totally working.

You always self-elect some “P.E.” time right before lunch, as you go on a bike ride through surrounding neighborhoods.

And then usually after lunch, you join me at the kitchen table; which also serves as my “office” and your “shop” for rebuilding cars.

That’s pretty much what the next two months are going to look like.

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: Your Shorter Haircut for the Summer

7 years, 2 months.

Dear Holly,

I was so happy to see you walk through the door as Mommy brought you back from getting your hair cut with her at the salon.

She had mentioned to me that you may want to get your hair cut shorter for the summer.

You got several inches taken off- and it looks so good!

Not to mention, when I dry and brush your hair each night after I give you your bath, it’s a lot less work; now that it doesn’t get tangled up as easy.

I liked your long hair before, but I like your shorter hair even more!

 

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: Mommy is the Bravest and Smartest in Our Family?

7 years, 1 month.

Dear Holly,

Hanging up on our fridge, for the past few weeks now, is a Mother’s Day card you made; which gives a rundown of how Mommy compares to everyone in our family.

You declared that Mommy is stronger and cooler than you, smarter than me, and braver than your brother.

I was expecting him to get defensive when we read the card out loud at dinner. But no.

Instead, he immediately agreed than Mommy is braver than he is. And sure, I didn’t have a problem admitting Mommy is smarter than me.

So I guess your Mother’s Day card was accurate!

 

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: You Like My Jeep in the Summertime

12 and a half years.

Dear Jack,

It is understood that during the months when the weather is cold, I am in the only one who is ever in my Jeep. Our family only rides in Mommy’s Equinox during the school year.

But once it gets warm enough outside to take the front panels off the top of my Jeep, suddenly everyone wants me to drive wherever we go.

And that’s how I know summer has officially begun. Because this past weekend, we took a family drive in my Jeep out in the country.

I have the cool car… until around October, that is.

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: The Case of the Missing Teddy!

7 years, 1 month.

Dear Holly,

Last Friday night, your brother went to the rodeo with one of his friends. He thought of you while he was there and picked up a free swag (“stuff we all get”) teddy bear for you.

You were so happy to see such a surprise the next morning when you found it. All of Saturday, you carried it with you wherever we went.

That afternoon, we went to my coworker Lori’s going-away party for her foreign exchange student. Lori immediately asked you, “Oh, Holly- what’s your teddy bear’s name?”

You proudly responded with a big smile, “Henry.”

That night, as Mommy was tucking you in to bed, a panic occured: You couldn’t find Henry!

Over the next couple of days, as a family, we searched everywhere. I went back to the restaurant where we all collectively remember seeing it last, at the going-away party.

I spoke with the restaurant manager myself, but he confirmed they didn’t find a teddy bear, and if they did, they would have placed it up front at the cash register.

After days had passed, we were all just about ready to give up on the search, though the consensus was, “But it has to be somewhere in the house…”

Sure enough, on Wednesday morning, you shouted with joy, “Daddy! Today’s the day! I found Henry! He was in my pillow case the entire time!’

 

Love,

Daddy