dad

Leave a comment Posted on fatherhood, Storytelling, Uncategorized

Dear Jack: You are Now Entering Your Skateboarding Phase

14 years old. 

Dear Jack,

And just like that, your football days are in the rearview mirror and now you have officially entered your skateboarding phase.

Suddenly now all your jeans are baggy skateboarding jeans and your shoes are skateboarding shoes.

To make it official, you spent your own money to buy your very own skateboard.

The very day you got it, you skated over to Uncle Andrew and Aunt Dana’s house. With their house under renovation, they temporarily have plenty of smooth concrete poured.

Perfect timing.

And for the record, about 30 years ago, I entered my skateboarding phase too.

Love,

Daddy

Leave a comment Posted on fatherhood, Storytelling, Uncategorized

Dear Holly: Our 1st Alabama Thanksgiving was a Success!

8 years, 7 months.

Dear Holly,

It’s unanimous:

Our family’s first time hosting Thanksgiving here in Alabama was a success!

We had a total of 15 people at our home- and we all actually fit in the kitchen for the Thanksgiving meal.

With it being a collaboration for the food, it wasn’t all on us to feed everyone. Hosting Thanksgiving is not bad at all. I truly enjoyed sharing our home with family.

It’s funny how not stressful Thanksgiving is when we’re not having to drive three hours to get there and then not sleep in our own beds.

So, yeah… I think we officially made Thanksgiving great again.

 

Love,

Daddy

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

Dear Holly: I Wish I Could Be Loveable Like You All the Time

8 years, 6 months.

Dear Holly,

You get to just be loveable all the time. I totally appreciate that about you.

It’s deniable. Everyone who meets you immediately loves you and finds you adorable.

You’re like a sweet little kitten. That’s your personality.

As for me, I am a grown man with so many responsibilities to fulfill and expectations to meet. I can’t just be nice and get away with it. People all around me depend on me to be more than just likeable.

Specifically, most of my roles in life require me to be the designated assertive person in the room.

It’s rare in my daily routine that I can just shut off that part of me.

When I am able to, it’s usually because I am spending time with you.

You always let me let my guard down. You make it okay.

 

Love,

Daddy

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

Dear Holly: You Went to the County Fair Here in Alabama

8 and a half years old.

Dear Holly,

Saturday morning, I received a message from Aunt Dana giving me a rundown of the expenses of the County Fair she had experienced the night before. Originally, our whole family was going to make a day out of it. But after her message, it quickly turned into, “Thank you for taking Holly to the fair so I don’t have to go!”

Lucky for you, you have an aunt you lives a few houses down from us who is faithful to assume the role of “Saturday morning hero” and take you to the fair with your cousins.

I am so happy for you that you had such a great time there! And I am almost just as happy that I didn’t have to go.

The pictures look like you had plenty of fun for the both of us though.

 

Love,

Daddy

 

 

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

Dear Jack: You Have a Football Mom

13 years, 10 months.

Dear Jack,

Well, it’s evident you have fans, as an 8th grade football player in a new school.

Not only do you have family members willing to drive an hour away during the tale end of business hours to watch you play, but you also have a mom who spent time carefully ordering several football shirts to wear to your games.

She’s got your name and number on her shirts, themed with your team colors.

You may not be able to realize it now, as you’re living it in real time, but you are surrounded by family and friends who keep showing up for you.

And we are proud of you.

It’s undeniable that playing football is bringing out a new sense of confidence in you.

You show no fear out on the field and you are always eager to be a part of the action.

This is clearly such an important part of your development as a teenage boy. I love being able to see this play out.

 

Love,

Daddy