Dear Jack: You Earned Money from Pet Sitting, Then Bought New Nike Shoes!

11 years, 9 months.

Dear Jack,

Last week, I drove you early each morning and later each afternoon to take care of your pet sitting duties in the next neighborhood over.

Your responsibilities included letting two dogs in and out of the house and checking on the two cats; as well as feeding them, along with the dozen or so fish in the aquarium.

Just like last time, you took your job extremely seriously. And you were paid well for your hard work!

Fortunately, your job payment was just in time for you to buy your new 6th grade shoes.

You are now the age where shoes are apparently a big deal- and very expensive.

But you didn’t complain at all, in learning that Mommy and I would pay for most of the expense of your new Nike shoes, but that you would have to take care of the rest.

You have asked me a couple of times now since, “Daddy, how can I get more pet sitting jobs?”

Love,

Daddy

Dear Holly: You Love Your New Mirabel Doll

6 years, 3 months.

Dear Holly,

After watching your brother spend some big money this week on his new 6th grade shoes, you decided it was time for you to spend some of your own money as well.

Your favorite thing to watch right now is a YouTube channel where a lady plays with Encanto dolls. That convinced you that it was vital to buy your very own Mirabel doll.

Apparently, this doll is in demand, because after looking it up online, Mommy had to drive to the next town over to take you to buy it.

For the past week, Mirabel has never left your side.

You treat her like a baby… even though technically, she’s 15 years old.

 

Love,

Daddy

Dear Holly: I Love Watching You Play When You Think I’m Not Watching

6 years, 2 months.

Dear Holly,

The summer is coming to an end, as the new school year is beginning in a couple weeks now.

And I’m going to miss watching you play with your toys, while I’m working from the kitchen table.

You spend hours at a time, carefully driving around your toy animal figurines in your brother’s Fortnite cars.

A few days ago, I watched you discover a pair of purple medical gloves that were for some reason in the art supplies cubby.

From there, you enjoyed making lunch for your dolls… while proudly wearing purple medical gloves.

I’m definitely going to miss this!

Love,

Daddy

Dear Jack: It’s Obvious You Got the Mechanical Gene from Papa

11 years, 8 months.

Dear Jack,

There is definitely some irony in me having so little skills in anything mechanical, since Papa raised me. I should be able to rebuild cars, build a treehouse, or do pretty much any kind of handyman work around the house.

However, I’m pretty much useless when it comes to all the amazing skills that I grew up seeing Papa do my while life.

The good news? While that gene completely bypassed me, it went straight to you!

That is evident in this picture that Nonna sent me from this week when you and Papa were building birdhouses.

You speak that language completely. Your life will definitely be easier than mine in that regard!

Love,

Daddy

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