8th grade

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Dear Jack: Smart Money

14 years, 3 months.

Dear Jack,

You are the smartest person I know. That means my life is a little bit easier, accordingly.

We never have to ask you to do your homework, because you always get it done during school. Somehow you never study for tests, yet your grades are always good.

So this week when I learned you had earned the privilege of “skipping out” of your semester tests due to your consistently high grades, I was very happy for you.

This is a reminder that I am a “fun” dad. My rule: No school? No bedtime.

I don’t care. Stay up super late playing your PlayStation 5 games. Be a 14 year-old boy.

But of course, you elected to spend one of your days off from school working for Nonna and Papa; tearing down some old playground equipment in their background and helping with the insulation process under their house.

So in review: You’re a smart kid who plays hard and works hard. I endorse this.

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: Your 1st Football Game This Week

13 years, 9 months.

Dear Jack,

There is a saying: “Well that escalated quickly!”

That is exactly how I feel about you playing football: Just a couple of weeks ago, you started a brand-new school in Alabama; to which you were quickly recruited by your new friends and the coach.

Last week, I started picking you up everyday after school from football practice.

And now, this week, you played your first game?!

Uh… what?

That’s you- number 37 out there.

I would have never guessed this. But the reality is…

You play football and you love it.

This is totally your thing. Out of nowhere, with no previous consideration before moving to Alabama.

But this is you now.

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: You’ve Decided to Play Football

13 years, 8 months.

Dear Jack,

Within the first couple of days of 8th grade at your new school in Alabama, you were approached by some of your new friends, as well as the coach, to play on the football team.

You instantly decided that is what you are going to do.

So I took you to Hibbett Sports to let you pick out some cleats and a solid mouth guard.

Naturally, for the mouth guard, you chose one that is sour watermelon Warheads flavored.

(Because that is a thing that actually exists.)

I did my best to turn you into a guitar-playing songwriter like me.

It just didn’t stick.

Sure, play football instead.

 

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: Starting 8th Grade

13 years, 8 months.

Dear Jack,

As I drove you to your first day of 8th grade this week, I reminded you:

Eight grade was one of my favorite years of being in school.

I loved being able to go to the orientation with you and see so many of the people I grew up with, who are A) teachers at the middle school now or B) have kids your age who are at the middle school with you.

Fortunately, you already know some of the boys from church; so you’re not completely “the new kid” who doesn’t no anyone yet.

Not to mention, your cousin Calla is there alongside you, since she is the same age.

And if nothing else, you definitely have the coolest boy perm in the entire 8 grade.

So at least you’ve got that going for you.

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: You Got a Perm for the 8th Grade School Year

13 years, 8 months.
Dear Jack,
Twenty-six years ago in the summer of 1998, I went to get a perm from Chalane McClung at Golden Shears; in preparation of my upcoming senior year at Fort Payne High School.
This week, you got a perm from Chalane McClung at Golden Shears; in preparation of your upcoming 8th grade year at Fort Payne Middle School.
It was all your idea. You have been refraining from getting a haircut for the past 3 months.
And now, you have confirmed it was totally worth it.
Not only do you get to be the cool new kid who transferred in from Tennessee, but you get to be the boy with the coolest hair!
Love,
Daddy