fatherhood

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Dear Holly: Your Brother Now Tolerates Your Affection?

8 years, 2 months.

Dear Holly,

I took nearly 500 pictures of our family on vacation this past week in Oregon.

Surprisingly, in one of them, I was able to capture a glimpse of your brother tolerating your affection, in the form of you hanging onto his arm.

Though his body language appeared somewhat detached, the fact that he allowed you to cling onto him was basically the equivalent of him actually saying out loud:

“I love you, too.”

I have watched for the past few years how you have officially longed for his approval.

Looks like you’re getting there.

 

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: Your Drawing of Monkey Baby Bon Bon

13 years, 7 months.

Dear Jack,

This past month or so has certainly been a blur, but somewhere between your last day of 7th grade and our move to Alabama, I came across a drawing you did of a monkey wearing a diaper and a Superman t-shirt. I took a picture of your drawing and then I completely forgot about it.

You have always been creative, so I just figured it was a random character you created for an assignment in your art class.

A few weeks after discovering your drawing, you happened to introduce our family to Monkey Baby Bon Bon, a YouTube star.

So now I understand you did not create this character of a baby monkey in a diaper and a Superman t-shirt.

But it totally seems like something you would think of yourself!

 

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: Helping Papa Build Bird Houses

13 years, 6 months.

Dear Jack,

At our church in Alabama you are now the age where instead of going to your own class for Vacation Bible School, your role is to help teachers with the younger grades.

It just so happens that Papa is the one appointed to build all the bird houses that they use for the 5th and 6th grade groups. That meant your job was to help Papa him build them… from scratch.

Another activity you have absolutely enjoyed this week has been helping out with leading the sports and games.

You are like me in that you need a creative, challenging project to focus on at all times.

Well, you’ve got one for the week, at least.

 

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: Starting Off Your Summer with Another Birthday Party for a Doll

8 years, 1 month.

Dear Holly,

Monday morning, I learned that you and your cousin Darla have an app on your tablets that allows you to send instant messages to each other.

It was a bit of a surreal moment when I realized I have a daughter who is old enough to legitimately send text messages.

You and your cousin were planning a birthday party for her doll, April.

On Wednesday morning, you informed me: “Daddy, April’s birthday party is tonight at 5:30.”

Your Aunt Dana even stopped by the store to pick up some food for the party.

And the birthday party perfectly aligned with the dolls getting their yearbooks back that you and Darla made for them.

A great time was had by all!

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: A Little Girl’s Bedroom Inside of a Little Girl’s Bedroom

8 years.

Dear Holly,

Your big birthday gift from Mommy and me was an Our Generation bedroom for your dolls; which you specifically asked for.

I laughed out loud the first morning I walked into your bedroom after you set it up and broke it in, by having your dolls arrange some of their accessories in it.

The thought is hilarious, absurd, and yet completely logical for an 8 year-old girl:

That a little girl’s bedroom is now inside of a little girl’s bedroom.

When I asked you how old your newest Our Generation doll Jenny is, you responded, “She’s 8, like me.”

So it is confirmed: In my house, I have an 8 year-old girl with a bedroom that hosts its own bedroom for another 8 year-old girl.

It is quite the frame-in-frame situation.

Love,

Daddy