parenting

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Dear Holly: The Snow is So Much Fun… for 15 Minutes!

7 years, 8 months.

Dear Holly,

All this school year, one of the ongoing conversations you have initiated with me on our walks together outside is this:

“I definitely think it’s going to snow this year! It didn’t snow at all last year so I know I will be out of school this year when it snows!”

Turns out, the snow is a bit overrated.

After the 15 minute mark out in the snow on the first day off of school this week, Mommy announced to you, “Holly, your lips are turning blue! Are you ready to head back inside?”

You happily agreed.

But hey, that doesn’t take away from the fact that those 15 minutes in the 15 degree weather weren’t fun for you.

It’s just that they were a very efficient 15 minutes!

Love,

Daddy

 

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Dear Jack: You’re Not Too Old to Want to Play in the Snow with Your Family

13 years, 2 months.

Dear Jack,

At age 13, I perceive you as definitely old enough to go out and play in the snow by yourself; as the weather has caused school to be cancelled all this week.

But instead, you choose to spend your daily outside hour in the 13 degree weather with your family.

You helped push Mommy and your sister in the sled in our cul-de-sac, for the 15 minutes they spent in the snow this week.

As for the other days, I have pushed you down the much bigger hill in the sled, as well as taken you out on the frozen pond for, you know… the fun/dangerous activities!

You’re not a little boy anymore, but I definitely recognize the moments that remind me of those years.

During our time sledding at one point this week, a middle-aged man walked by, recognizing the father/son activity we were enjoying and simply said to me, “Good memories.”

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: You Had No Complaints about Our New House…

13 years, 2 months.

Dear Jack,

Over the course of the past five months, our family has driven to Alabama several times to view houses for sale. Through the process, you openly announced your issues with each one we saw.

Fate would have it that the house we ended up buying last Friday was the one house that you and your sister didn’t get a chance to see.

So a few minutes after walking into our family’s new home, as the ink was still drying on the paperwork from us closing on the house, I asked you:

“Jack, what is your favorite part of our new house?”

Your response: “All of it!”

This marked the first time we visited a house that you didn’t even have one complaint about.

What a relief!

Our new house in Alabama is only 50 square feet bigger than our house now in Tennessee. However, our Tennessee house has 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, and a bonus room; whereas our Alabama house has 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and no bonus room.

That means that literally every room in our new house in Alabama, including your bedroom, is bigger than our current house; even all the closets!

And your “second bedroom”, the garage, where you are often slipping away to work on your projects, has much more space for you in your Batcave/Fortress of Solitude.

So yeah, you’re going to like our new house.

 

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: A Popcorn Picnic Before Breakfast

7 years, 8 months.

Dear Holly,

I had just returned from the gym at 6:30 AM, as Mommy was getting ready to go into the office for work in downtown Nashville. Before I could turn the corner to say hi to Mommy, I noticed you on our bedroom floor.

You had taken it upon yourself to set up a popcorn picnic for a couple of lucky stuffed animals.

My immediate thought was, “Yep, that checks out.”

I didn’t need any explanation. That scene perfectly sums up your playful personality.

Of course you set up a popcorn picnic before breakfast on a Tuesday morning!

 

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: Your “Cat Turned Potato” Creation from Art Class

13 years, 1 month.

Dear Jack,

A week ago you walked through the door after school, nonchalantly holding your newest finished project from art class.

I was expecting a smirk from you, or at least a curious pause for me to immediately start laughing.

My obvious initial guess was wrong.

You simply explained, “I was trying to make a cat, but then its ears didn’t look right, so I tried to turn into a potato instead, but I left the legs on so it could sit up straight.”

For the past week, your “cat/potato” art creation has been placed in the center of our kitchen table.

Your sister keeps asking me to move it, as for some reason, your art creation is not providing a very appetizing dining experience.

 

Love,

Daddy