fatherhood

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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: 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 Jack: Your Voice is Noticeably Changing

13 years, 4 months.

Dear Jack,

In the same way I have been discreet with you about how you are now shaving your mustache, I refuse to openly acknowledge with you that you are currently experiencing your voice changing.

There are definitely those “Peter Brady moments”, where your voice squeaks/cracks in the middle of a sentence. I never mention it. I never want you to feel embarrassed as it happens.

Undeniably, you are now transitioning from having a boy’s voice to a young man’s voice.

But that is not a conversation either you nor I feel like having.

Instead, you’d rather just keep advancing your baseball skills.

“Sounds” good to me!

 

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: You are Now Shaving

13 years, 3 months.

Dear Jack,

I had been noticing your subtle, yet undeniable mustache; which seemed to just suddenly appear one day.

So the last time Mommy and I were at Marshalls, I picked up a very basic $10 electric razor for you that charges using a USB.

It was important to me that I didn’t make it seem dramatic- or to potentially embarrass you in any way.

I simply handed you the razor and mentioned that I can show you how to use it when you are ready. Then I forgot about it.

This week, in consistence with the casual, non-dramatic tone I had established, it came out in conversation that you have actually been using the razor ever since I got it for you.

No “shaving lessons” required.

It makes me think of a quote from our family’s favorite movie, Mrs. Doubtfire:

“That’s cool. It’s a guy thing.”

 

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: Home Alone? Risky Business?

13 years, 2 months.

Dear Jack,

Last Friday night while Mommy and I were out at your sister’s school dance, there was virtually no discussion about the fact that you would just stay home.

Because, you’re 13 years old. You’re a teenager now.

To my knowledge, you simply stayed in your room; playing a racing game on your phone or binge-watching Young Sheldon.

But for all I know, you may have slid on the hardwood floor, lip-synching to “Old Time Rock and Roll” or maybe you had a big party with all your friends.

If so, you did a good job of hiding all the evidence!

 

Love,

Daddy