parenting

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Dear Holly: You Started Taking Ballet Classes

4 years, 2 months.

Dear Holly,

Last week you were so excited to get to start going to ballet class.

It just so happened that in the same strip mall as your preschool, there is a dance studio that is offering a trial dance class for your age group.

Needless to say, I knew there weren’t be much of a “trial” to it, because after your first class last week, you made the decision to start taking tap dance lessons once the trial period ends.

As I look at this picture of you in your ballet dress, I can’t help but think of the Elton John song:

“Hold me closer, tiny dancer.”

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: House Arrest Summer Camp

9 years, 7 months.

Dear Jack,

Every previous summer of your life, I felt a bit guilty that you had to spend 5 days a week at a summer enrichment program, as opposed to hanging out at the house like I did during my summers as a kid.

Now, thanks to Covid Culture, your only option is to hang out at the house with Mommy and me; as we spend all day working from home.

It’s almost like trading one parental guilt for another.

I feel bad that I can’t spend quality time with you during the day, even though you are right there in the next room.

But we are making it work.

You are especially good at keeping me posted on your newest self-assigned Lego project; as our living room is currently an ocean of Lego blocks.

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: If You Were a Cat, You Would Look Like This

4 years, 2 months.

Dear Holly,

Last weekend Mommy and I celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary by visiting Look Out Winery near Chattanooga. We arrived a few minutes before they opened, and as we were making our way over to our table, which overlooked the river, we could help but notice an inviting little cat lying there on the ledge.

Mommy and I immediately both thought the same thing:

If Holly were a cat, this would be her.

She wasn’t a kitten. She seemed fully grown. However, she was more of the size of a kitten. She had big blue almond-shaped eyes.

And of course, she was very friendly, inviting, and playful.

Just like you!

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: I’ve Been Writing You Letters Every Week for Over 10 Years, But You’re Not Even 10 Years Old Yet…

9 years, 7 months.

Dear Jack,

It was May 2010 that I decided to start writing you at least one letter every week, to serve as a thumbnail of what was going on in your life that week, or at least what was going on in my head as your dad that week.

I should point out that in May 2010, you weren’t born yet. Instead, that was the month that Mommy and I found out we were going to be having a baby.

You weren’t born until November. So for over a decade, I have been creating and growing this collection of journal entries to document each week of your life.

I have told you about it. You are aware I do this.

But later, when you are older, I think you will truly be able to appreciate having an archive of your own life, written by your dad.

Love,

Daddy

 

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Dear Holly: Why I Call You “Squeaky”

4 years, 2 months.

Dear Holly,

Ever since you started really talking, and especially now to the point you are actually chatty, the name I have called you has been “Squeaky”.

You have a soft, sweet little voice, that often sounds sad for no reason.

Any time you tell a story, you often begin with, “Yeah, p’cause…” as if it needs some melancholy explanation.

You make things sound so sad even though they are not actually sad at all.

So to me, the naturally name for you is Squeaky.

Anytime you call out to me to tell me something, with “Daddy…”

I instantly respond with, “Yes, Squeaky?”

That has become the norm for us.

Love,

Daddy