Storytelling

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Dear Jack: Graduating 6th Grade on the Honor Roll with All A’s!

12 and a half.

Dear Jack,

Today was your last day of 6th grade.

You did it!

And you did it well, because yesterday, Mommy and I went to go see you win an award for All A’s.

I can tell you for certain that I did not get that award 30 years ago in 1993 when I was in 6th grade.

And though I feel like I say this a lot… it’s one less thing to worry about in life, knowing that my son who is 30 years younger than me is much smarter than I am!

You make Mommy and I so proud.

Now it’s time to have a fun summer!

 

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: Your Mother’s Day Gift Was Not Wearing Sweatpants to Church?

12 and a half.

Dear Jack,

I reminded our family Saturday night that there would surely be a specific photo opp for Mother’s Day at church the next day.

So Sunday morning, you came downstairs wearing jeans; as opposed to one of the dozen pairs of Nike sweatpants you wear pretty much anytime “pants” are required.

I said out loud, “Jack… you are actually wearing jeans? You never wear jeans. When’s the last year I have seen you wearing jeans?!”

You explained, “That’s my gift to Mommy for Mother’s day: I’m wearing jeans to church, instead of sweatpants.”

Granted, you still wore your Champion “slides” instead of real shoes… but nice effort!

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: Walking You to School in Your Princess Dress

7 years.

Dear Holly,

Here at the end of the school year, it seems quite common for each remaining day, that there is some specific theme.

This Tuesday, you briefly explained, “Daddy, I get to wear a princess dress to school today.”

No follow-up questions were needed from me.

So that morning, instead of you riding the bus, I carried you through the corn field behind our house, to the sidewalk leading to your school.

Once we got to the sidewalk, I held your hand as we finished the second half of the journey to your school.

I feel like that imagery is a perfect symbol of our relationship:

Me carrying you while you wear a princess dress.

 

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: That Time You Were a Men’s Hair Stylist…

12 years, 5 months.

Dear Jack,

Now that your hair is long enough to maintain the official “flipty do” hairstyle of all junior high boys across America, and now that I officially started taking you to my own barber as well, it was inevitable that you would convince Mommy to buy you your own curling iron to fix your hair in the morning.

When you took it out of the box after it arrived in the mail from Amazon, you announced to me:

“Look, Daddy- it comes with a special styling glove!”

This past weekend, your new official hairstyle was a hot topic while Aunt Dana and Uncle Andrew visited us.

So of course, you volunteered Uncle Andrew to get his own “flipty do” hairstyle!

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: Rebuilding Your Bike from Your Sister’s Old One?

12 years, 5 months. 

Dear Jack,

Again I will say it: You are clearly an Enneagram 5. It’s so obvious to me now.

What truly makes you happy is to have hours to yourself, to work on a complicated, innovative, creative project.

The birthday gift your sister received from Nonna and Papa was a new bike.

I don’t recall you asking permission to do so, but you took it upon yourself to “scrap her old bike for parts” to “modify” your own bike.

Granted, your newly rebuilt bike sure isn’t pretty, but you definitely are proud of your newest creation… a stunt bike?

And your friends are impressed, too!

Love,

Daddy