fatherhood

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Dear Holly: What Will Really Matter a Year from Now?

6 years, 4 months.

Dear Holly,

For nearly a month, I had an event on the calendar:

I had been invited to a men’s breakfast for last Saturday, that I heard about through my F3 group.

In my mind, I had really built up this event; it was announced there was be Texas beef brisket.

However, the day before, you learned that Mommy would not be available to take you to your classmate’s Chuck E. Cheese birthday party; which just happened to be taking place during the same time as the men’s breakfast.

You began crying.

But not for long. Because I decided to take you to the birthday party instead.

And as for breakfast, I took you and your brother to a perfect Greek bakery near our house.

It was a no-brainer, choosing you over my own plans.

I just simply thought, “A year from now, what will really matter?”

The answer: Memories with you.

 

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: I’m the Parent Who Takes You to the Birthday Parties

11 years, 10 months.

Dear Jack,

In our household, there are certain responsibilities that Mommy and I have assigned to ourselves:

She handles the budget, the scheduling, the travel plans, and the school details.

I handle cleaning the bathrooms, taking out the garbage, vacuuming the floors, half of the grocery shopping, killing the bugs, doing my own laundry, most of my own meals, and… taking you and your sister to kids’ birthday parties.

Last Saturday, you and your sister had a 10 AM Chuck E. Cheese party 20 miles north of us that lasted 3 hours, to be followed by another 3 hour party at your friend’s house about 10 miles south of us.

And the thing is, all 3 of us had fun all day.

Even me. For some reason, I enjoy shuttling you and your sister to your friends’ birthday parties.

Whereas if I was running around town having to do shopping and other errands, I would be exhausted and angry.

But for some reason, I enjoy being involved taking you to these parties.

I suppose it’s a way I feel like I bond with you; while in some way, reliving my own childhood; 30 years later.

 

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: You are an Amazing Sculptor!

11 years, 8 months.

Dear Jack,

In the sporadic weeks of this summer like this one, when you’re not doing a camp or on vacation, it’s up to you to find fun creative ways to keep yourself entertained; as Mommy and I work full-time from home.

You took it upon yourself to train with some YouTube videos on how to carve clay sculptures, and then with my assistance, to put them in the oven to preserve them.

I am so amazed at your talent. And again, you taught yourself how to do this!

You are seriously considering my idea of making a small business out of this for your upcoming school year.

I could see your classmates wanting to buy these hand-carved sculptures as keychains to put on their backpacks!

 

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: Your New Day Bed!

6 years, 2 months.

Dear Holly,

You have been very excited this week because you now have a brand-new day bed, to replace your smaller older one that we got you two years ago when you started Pre-K.

So now, you have an even bigger bed, and one that has another roll-out bed underneath it!

It took Mommy and me three days to put it to together- and when I say “Mommy and me”, what I really should say is “mostly Mommy”… because I am not mechanical-minded at all!

Your new bed is so comfortable. I look forward to taking a nap on it sometime soon!

 

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: Turns Out, I Do Have FOMO After All…

11 years, 8 months.

Dear Jack,

When it comes to “FOMO” (fear of missing out), I typically can’t relate. In most cases, I have JOMO instead: I have joy of missing out.

I usually am so relieved when plans get cancelled. Most people have major trouble believing me when I say I truly am an introvert, but it’s true: I love not having to go do the thing, whatever the thing is- if it involves driving more than 5 minutes, waiting in line, or being in a crowd of people.

But when it comes to being involved in your life and your sister’s, I totally have fear of missing out. I just realized that this week.

It makes sense now why I have faithfully written you and your sister every week of your lives. I see now that it’s my way of being involved as I can in your lives; to always have a souvenir of what we experienced together that week.

 

Love,

Daddy