parenting

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Dear Holly: Your First Week Away at Summer Camp

9 years, 2 months.

Dear Holly,

Last week as you left for your first time away to summer camp, I was so sad to see you go… and I was so sad all week while you were gone.

But… you didn’t seem sad at all! And that definitely makes me happy.

I am so proud of you for showing confidence and displaying your natural need for independence.

Granted, it helped that your cousin Darla was there with you the whole time and that Aunt Dana was there as a chaperone.

And it helped me on my end that Aunt Dana was able to send me pictures of you each day so I could see how much fun you were having, in real time.

You have now been away at summer camp for the first time!

Love,

Daddy

 

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Dear Jack: Reciprocating Your Sister’s Need for Affection

14 years, 9 months.

Dear Jack,

I feel like one of the themes of this summer is that you continue to reciprocate your sister’s efforts in wanting to be buddies.

What I am seeing is that now, instead of you seeing her as some sort of competition as your only sibling, you have begun to see her as an equal member of our family.

I see the way that the two of you now mutually choose to hang out around each other, like when we were at Lowe’s this past weekend.

Or when as a family, we were watching TV in the living room this week and I noticed that you both were sort of cuddled up together on the bean bag.

I love this!

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: Ramen for Lunch During the Summer

9 years, 2 months.

Dear Holly,

During these couple of summer months, it’s never a mystery what you are having for lunch each day. While I rarely ever take a full lunch hour for myself as I work from home, I do stop long enough to prepare your daily ramen noodles on the stove top.

Once I place your bowl of hot Ramen noodles on the counter of our breakfast nook, it is tradition that I pour a cup of milk for you to drink. Next, you fill up a cup of ice and use some tongs to place the ice cubes one by one in the ramen, until it is cool enough for you to eat without burning your mouth.

You then are able to enjoy your ramen lunch while watching SpongeBob on your phone. I love that you have your little lunch tradition everyday.

 

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: You Finally Ate a Taco?

9 years, 2 months.

Dear Holly,

Last week while we were on summer vacation, Mommy made tacos for dinner for us. What I didn’t realize was, despite being 9 years old and even having some Mexican ancestry, you had never eaten a taco before?!

So I made sure to document this historic event: Holly eats a taco for the first time.

Fortunately, you quickly confirmed you liked the taco.

So now in addition to the recently discovered sushi, as well as steak, we will now include tacos as a “new food” that you can eat.

To be fair, I don’t think I had a taco until I was about your age, when Taco Bell opened in our town.

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: Access to a Pet Bunny

14 years, 8 months.

Dear Jack,

Throughout your entire life, you have always been drawn to animals. You just seem to speak their language.

Your cousin Calla got a bunny named Hazel for her recent 14th birthday. Lucky for you, we live just down the street.

So that means for the rest of the summer, you get to hang out with Hazel whenever you feel like it.

It’s clear that Hazel likes you.

Not only do you do a great job keeping her entertained, but you help her get rest as well:

She fell asleep in your arms.

I love it that my sister has a bunny at her house… and that I don’t!

 

Love,

Daddy