parenting

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

Dear Holly: Your New Alarm Clock, to Ensure You Don’t Wake Up Too Early

3 years, 4 months.

You and I had a deal. It had been working for many months now:

Each night as I put you to bed, I would remind you, “Okay Holly, remember- don’t come downstairs until you see the sunlight start coming through the window.”

It helped ensure you didn’t start the day too early.

But for some reason, you stopped going along with our deal.

This past week, your new default wake-up time was 5 AM.

So I decided to set up a new system. I pulled out an old cell phone and let you decide what song you want to play for the alarm.

It’s less of an alarm to wake you up each morning and more of an alarm to let you know what time you are allowed to come downstairs and start the day.

I sure hope this works…

Dear Holly,

Love,

Daddy

Leave a comment Posted on fatherhood, parenting, Uncategorized

Dear Jack: Your Prehistoric Sea Monkeys Science Experiment

8 years, 9 months.

Dear Jack,

This past weekend, you sold some of your toys in the garage, so that you could buy some things that are more relevant for you as a 3rd grader.

You are so proud of the “prehistoric sea monkeys” you bought. They came with instructions, which you explained to Mommy and me:

Three days under a lamp causes the shrimp to hatch!

Turns out, today was the third day. Sure enough, we were able to see nearly microscopic little white dots start moving around.

You have recently started talking to us about getting a pet lizard for your birthday. Admittedly, this “prehistoric sea monkey” experiment might serve as training grounds for the lizard.

We’ll see how this thing goes…

Love,

Daddy

Leave a comment Posted on fatherhood, parenting, Uncategorized

Dear Holly: A Summer of Sunscreen (and Sunburn)

3 years, 3 months.

Dear Holly,

Thanks to multiple family members taking DNA tests, it is officially undeniable that you have a decent amount of DNA that is Italian, Mexican (Native American/Spanish), Sephardic Jewish, and West Asian (from Iran, Iran, Lebanon). But I don’t think most people would think that if they saw you, thanks to your blonde hair and blue eyes.

Your physical traits are more representative of the Norwegian and British DNA you also have.

While your brother was also born with blonde hair, blue eyes, and fair skin, his hair and skin have turned much darker over the years.

I am beginning to have serious doubts that your skin will get much darker because by the time your brother was your age now, he wasn’t still getting sunburned as quickly and easily as you do.

This has been a summer of sunblock and sunburn for you.

You are the white sheep of the family.

Love,

Daddy

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

Dear Jack: Your 1st Week of 3rd Grade

8 years, 8 months.

Dear Jack,

You have now completed your first full week of 3rd grade. I told you going in to it, that this would be a very fun year.

I remember how I specifically liked 3rd grade the most out of every year in Elementary school. I truly think it will be the same way for you.

Last week when we went to the school to meet your teacher, you immediately were cool, calm, and collected.

She even said to Mommy and Me, “Yeah, didn’t you know? They automatically become cool the moment they walk through their 3rd grade classroom.”

Over the past three school years, you have really formed your identity, and therefore, your confidence.

Not to mention, Mommy and I can’t help but notice, you suddenly started looking like a pre-teen!

Love,

Daddy

Leave a comment Posted on car reviews, fatherhood, parenting, Storytelling, Uncategorized

Dear Holly: You Helped Papa Clean My Super Dirty Jeep

3 years, 3 months.

Dear Holly,

Part of my character arc and personal journey this year in 2019 is that I had to test out my new Jeep’s off-roading capabilities and my own abilities to drive it through some self-prescribed extreme conditions this summer.

After 3 really close calls in the span of 3 weeks, I finally decided I need to settle down a bit, knowing that I had truly broken in my Jeep.

With that being said, I got the Jeep really, really dirty… and muddy… and stinky.

But thanks to Papa visiting last week while I was at work, the two of you were able to help get my Jeep looking and smelling better than it ever has since I’ve owned it.

Good job!

Love,

Daddy