parenting

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Dear Holly: You Helped Mommy Repaint Our Backyard Sign

7 years, 2 months.

Dear Holly,

We have always talked as a family about the idea of buying one of those giant metal chickens for our backyard. This past weekend, we settled for two lifesize metal chickens instead.

After we set them up in the backyard, Mommy decided our sign that hanging up on the fence needed to be repainted, since the words had completed faded. They originally read, “This is My Happy Place.”

Our backyard has now had a little makeover. We can enjoy it for about another week… until the mosquitoes and humidity make it too miserable to be outside in Tennessee for the rest of the summer.

Love,

Daddy

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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 Jack: You are Our Family’s Pool Manager

12 and a half years.

Dear Jack,

Our new pool arrived this past weekend. It was so big, we had to make a trip to Lowe’s to buy an shop vac just to inflate it.

You and I worked in the garage Sunday afternoon to inflate not only the pool, but also the new floaties to go along with our pool.

I watched you as you meticulously staged the pool on our back deck.

You proudly took on the role of pool manager; as you are responsible for refilling the pool with water, as well as keeping it covered when not in use.

This was a great decision for the summer. Since I work from our kitchen table, which faces the back deck, I can be within 15 feet of you and your sister as you play.

Not to menton, the two of you have even been using the area as a fun new spot to eat lunch!

(Even if you don’t look like you’re having as much fun as your sister during lunch!)

 

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