parenting

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Dear Holly: Your New Day Bed!

6 years, 2 months.

Dear Holly,

You have been very excited this week because you now have a brand-new day bed, to replace your smaller older one that we got you two years ago when you started Pre-K.

So now, you have an even bigger bed, and one that has another roll-out bed underneath it!

It took Mommy and me three days to put it to together- and when I say “Mommy and me”, what I really should say is “mostly Mommy”… because I am not mechanical-minded at all!

Your new bed is so comfortable. I look forward to taking a nap on it sometime soon!

 

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: Turns Out, I Do Have FOMO After All…

11 years, 8 months.

Dear Jack,

When it comes to “FOMO” (fear of missing out), I typically can’t relate. In most cases, I have JOMO instead: I have joy of missing out.

I usually am so relieved when plans get cancelled. Most people have major trouble believing me when I say I truly am an introvert, but it’s true: I love not having to go do the thing, whatever the thing is- if it involves driving more than 5 minutes, waiting in line, or being in a crowd of people.

But when it comes to being involved in your life and your sister’s, I totally have fear of missing out. I just realized that this week.

It makes sense now why I have faithfully written you and your sister every week of your lives. I see now that it’s my way of being involved as I can in your lives; to always have a souvenir of what we experienced together that week.

 

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: It’s an All Summer Long Slumber Party

6 years, 1 month.

Dear Holly,

I’m not sure how the conversation happened, but at some point once school was out for the summer, you and your brother decided that you would be sleeping on the floor of his bedroom; until further notice.

What’s funny is, he just hangs out in his tent next to his bed and plays his games on his computer until you fall asleep.

So there’s not necessarily any real quality time going on, but the unspoken truth is that you both prefer sleeping in the same room as opposed to separate ones.

I cracked up last Saturday as Jack and I were hanging out in the bonus room, and you discreetly went up to him and whispered to him, “I’m going to bed now.”

As if you needed his approval? And I was right there!

That was hilarious.

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: You Practiced Being a Tattoo Artist, On Your Sister

11 years, 7 months.

Dear Jack,

We’re a couple of weeks into the summer now and I am watching you and your sister come up with fun activities to do, as I work from home at the kitchen table.

One of the most interesting events was last week when you easily convinced your sister to let you give her some “tattoos” with watercolor paints.

She was so proud of all the tattoos you gave her, that she cried in the bath when they washed off.

And that includes the face tattoo!

But I’m pretty she will have more opportunities this summer to get more tattoos from you.

 

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: I Now Realize You are an Enneagram 2, “The Helper”

6 years, 1 month.

Dear Holly,

Up until this past week, I didn’t question you being an Enneagram 7, the Scattered Enthusiast.

But then I discovered a few of your notes that you thoughtfully wrote for your brother and let in his room.

That’s when it hit me: It couldn’t be any more obvious that you are an Enneagram 2, The Helper:

Empathetic, sincere, warm-hearted.

One of the notes you proactively wrote for your brother was because he “cleaned out the junk” in his room… and gave it to you!

I almost feel silly not realizing this until now…

Because something I always say to you is, “Holly’s such a good little helper!”

You’ve been an Enneagram 2 the entire time.

 

Love,

Daddy