Uncategorized

Leave a comment Posted on fatherhood, parenting, Storytelling, Uncategorized

Dear Jack: You Made Yourself the Manager of the Massage Gun

13 years, 5 months.

Dear Jack,

With an Amazon gift card our family recently received, you convinced Mommy to spend it on a DDVWU massage gun, which is the $40 version of the $150 Theragun.

(I think your original inspiration was to use it to recover being sore from playing baseball.)

Once it arrived a few days later, you immediately unboxed it, studied the manual, and then began practicing all the settings on Mommy.

Of course, after all your hard work, you naturally needed your own massage. Like clockwork, your sister stepped in.

She was proud to try out what she learned by watching you.

I’m still surprised that it is because of you that our family now owns a massager gun.

Love,

Daddy

Leave a comment Posted on fatherhood, parenting, Uncategorized

Dear Holly: Your Final Month of School in Tennessee

8 years.

Dear Holly,

Mommy and I recently joined you for your school’s annual fun run, which had to be moved to the gym due to it raining.

As we watched you along with your friends and your teachers, I thought to myself, “This may be the last time we are here with you at this school for an activity like this.”

Your brother was at your school from Kindergarten through 5th grade; we have spent so many years at this school. We have watched you and your brother both grow up there.

However, you continue to tell me on a daily basis: “Daddy, I can’t wait to start going to my new school in Alabama!”

Love,

Daddy

Leave a comment Posted on fatherhood, parenting, Storytelling, Uncategorized

Dear Jack: Bonding Through Baseball

13 years, 5 months.

Dear Jack,

You continue to take playing baseball so seriously. It is now the norm for you and I to go throw the ball for about 45 minutes each evening that you don’t already have a baseball game or a coaching lesson.

On my end, I can definitely tell that not only your skills have improved, but also your mindset.

I am watching you mature out of boyhood, in a good way.

Baseball is giving you something challenging to focus on.

The way you interact with our family now is more positive, involved, and connected.

It’s like you have an upgraded form of independent confidence now.

 

Love,

Daddy

Leave a comment Posted on parenting, Storytelling, Uncategorized

Dear Holly: Your 8th Birthday Party

8 years old.

Dear Holly,

You chose to have your 8th birthday party at Muletown Pottery, where you and your friends each got to select a small clay item to paint; to be put in an oven and ready for pick up a week later.

I loved seeing the smile on your face when you had the privilege of placing your handprint to be featured on the birthday wall.

Something I appreciated about your birthday part was the ambience: chill.

It was almost like being in a library. I loved that everyone was having fun… without chaos, noise, or any out-of-control messes.

Good choice on your part!

Love,

Daddy

Leave a comment Posted on fatherhood, parenting, Storytelling, Uncategorized

Dear Jack: How to Have Fun at Your Sister’s 8th Birthday Party

13 years, 5 months.

Dear Jack,

Leading up to your sister’s 8th birthday party last weekend, I never gave any thought to the fact that you, a 13 year-old, and your nearly 13 year-old cousin Calla, would be invited to and therefore, actually participate in painting pottery with everyone else.

When the time came for the designated activity, you were authentically into it; no irony whatsoever.

You paid attention to the details as you painted your gnome figurine.

But you definitely had some extra fun before and after the party, leading by example, as you pretended to be trapped in a box; which was basically a decorative glass table.

Love,

Daddy