parenting

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Dear Jack: Summer Camp, Sister Edition

10 years, 8 months.

Dear Jack,

I would say the theme of your summer this year has been “Different Summer Camp Every Week.” Between your week at Coding Camp, your week at Space Camp, our family trip to Georgia, our family trip to North Carolina, our family trip to California, your week of church summer camp in Alabama, in addition to another week in Alabama at Nonna and Papa’s house, you’ve hardly had much time to be bored at our house!

But for the nights you have slept in your own bed, you have insisted that your sister join you for what I call “Sister Summer Camp”, where Mommy and I let the two of you stay up later than normal.

I can tell it helps the two of you have good quality time together. And it’s your choice to have her there with you in your bedroom, as she sleeps on her sleeping bag on the floor next to you, or the bunk bed above you.

Love,

Daddy

 

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Dear Holly: I Took You to Preschool for the Final Time This Week

5 years, 3 months.

Dear Holly,

You start Kindergarten next Friday. And with us leaving today to go on one last little summer vacation, that means these past few days were the final times I would take you to preschool or pick you up.

More specifically, this makes the last time that I as a parent will walk into a preschool for one of my children.

Your brother was finishing up preschool when you were born.

So this makes the first time in over a decade that we as a family are truly graduating from preschool.

I’m taking it all in. A chapter in our lives is closing- and another is beginning.

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: Your Swimming Pool in the Garage

10 years, 8 months.

Dear Jack,

As the summer comes to a close, we’ve finally put our $20 swimming pool to use for the first time this week.

But to avoid sunburn and exhaustion, we decided it was best to put the pool in the garage. That way you still get the fresh air and heat from being outside, without it being too much.

So each afternoon this week, your friend Landon has come over to play in the “garage pool” with you.

The two of you seem to mutually appreciate our family’s new entertainment venue.

But based on the fact I have to keep refilling the air in it every morning, I’m putting sure that the majority of the $20 we spent on it is nearly all gone. In order words, we got our money’s worth!

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: Your Freckles

5 years, 2 months.

Dear Holly,

I feel like I mention this every so often, but I love your freckles!

And I know you do, too.

In fact, you brought home a picture today that you drew of yourself at school.

You made sure to include lots of little dots on your face to show your “freckles and make-up”.

(I’m not sure about the make-up part!)

Despite me actually being over “half-Hispanic”, you definitely got the “over 1/3rd German” part from me, more noticeably.

I never imagined I would have a daughter who looks like you, but I’m really glad you turned out this way.

You are so special.

Love,

Daddy

 

 

 

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: You and Your Sister Secretly Got Each Other Gifts While You Were Apart

10 years, 8 months.

Dear Jack,

Until this past weekend, you hadn’t been in our house for 3 weeks! First, we were in Georgia on vacation, then you spent the next week at Nonna and Papa’s in Alabama, and then last week you were away at CentrKid camp.

When you finally made it back to our house and saw your sister again, you had a special gift prepared for her: A pair of little matching stuffed animals; one for you and one for your sister.

And your sister had saved you some little plastic balloons from her friend’s birthday; that was her surprise gift for you. She even carefully wrapped them up for your to open!

At no point had Mommy and I suggested the two of you get gifts for each other; but to our surprise, you both did!

Love,

Daddy