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Dear Jack: You and Your Sister Babysat Each Other?

13 years, 4 months.

Dear Jack,

In the more than 13 years of you being alive, and the nearly 8 years for your sister, I can only think of two times we ever hired a babysitter.

And both times, it was a pre-school teacher who we already knew very well.

Other than that, anytime Mommy and I have needed to get out and go somewhere by ourselves, we would just base it off of Nonna and Papa coming up for the weekend from Alabama.

But last weekend, we decided to go out to dinner with some friends and leave you and your sister at home to babysit… each other?

Or yourselves?

I’m not sure how that worked out, since we got home to learn that the two of you went to your own bedrooms the entire time we were gone and never even talked to each other.

However, you negotiated us paying you $6 so you could buy an upgrade for one of your games you play on your phone. To be fair, your sister also got the same pay.

Everyone got what they wanted out of the deal.

The irony: We are just a couple of months now from moving to Alabama, where we will always have instant and constant access to family members who can watch you anytime we need.

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: I’m Not Sure When You Want to Be in the Picture

13 years, 4 months.

Dear Jack,

Last weekend at the Easter Egg Hunt in Alabama, I suppose I served as the official photographer.

While I made sure to take plenty of pictures of your sister as well as all the other kids there from the church, I made no effort to take a picture of you.

That’s because, these days, I respect the fact you don’t necessarily want a picture made each time you do anything.

You’re getting older- so I get it.

During all the “eggcitement”, Mommy made a point to stop me in the middle of the action:

“Here, I want you to take a picture of me and Jack.”

You clearly wanted to be in that picture.

Later on, though… maybe not so much.

It can be difficult to know when you are ironically trying to pose like you are too cool to be in the photo…

Or if you truly feel you are too cool to be in the photo!

 

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: New Friends Await

7 years, 11 months.

Dear Holly,

Last weekend, Nonna and Papa once again hosted the official Easter Egg Hunt at their house in Alabama.

Pretty much immediately, you got to meet a friend of your cousin Darla’s. The three of you hung out together the entire time.

As we finish out your current 2nd school year here in Tennessee, you continue to stand by your statement, “I’m pretty good at making new friends.”

You’re right. That’s actually one of the things you do best… and with little effort!

I am excited for the new friends you will make in Alabama.

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: Personal Coaching Lessons for Baseball

13 years, 4 months.

Dear Jack,

Joining a baseball team has been such a good activity for you right now. It has inspired you to choose to spend so much of your free time practicing.

We have been investing in purchasing extra equipment for you to practice with.

I have been so pleased with the personal coaching lessons you have been going to, as well. Your coach specifically made a point to tell me that you are very coachable and that he can see how you are improving and learning.

Coming up here in a few weeks, you will actually start having games!

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: Our Final Daddy Daughter Dance in Tennessee

7 years, 11 months.

Dear Holly,

Last Friday night I took you to the Daddy Daughter Dance for the 3rd and final time at our church here in Tennessee.

I thought about how after we move to Alabama this summer, it is not for certain that we will have access to dances like these, where we are moving.

So I definitely cherished every minute with you at the dance.

As always, we were the first in the door, the last to leave, and the most active out there on the dance floor!

About an hour into it, you told me you needed to take a break. In the gift bags we received, we both got a Hershey’s chocolate bar.

We wolfed those down to use as fuel to keep the party going. People were depending on us out there.

And we didn’t let them down.

Love,

Daddy