parenting

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Dear Holly: Your Last Minute Halloween Costume Change

5 years, 6 months.

Dear Holly,

It made perfect sense that you would be a unicorn for Halloween this year; because when you’re a little girl in Kindergarten… of course you would be!

And your costume was perfectly cute on you.

However, the day before Halloween, you were shopping with Mommy, and found a sleep mask to go over your eyes; like your brother uses at night.

That sleep mask evolved into you taking it upon yourself to invent a creative costume for this year:

“Sleeping Bunny”.

So when we went trick-or-treating and people would ask, “And what are you, Sweetie?”

Just about every time you were asked, you had to correct them:

“Sleeping Bunny.”

Not Sleeping Beauty.

They all loved your costume!

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: You are Now 5 and a Half Years Old

5 years, 6 months.

Dear Holly,

There are some people in life who seem to act the exact same way, every time you see them. In my life, you are definitely one of those people. You always brighten my day, whether you are trying to or not.

You have a way of making me feel more alive and grateful. You simply smile and it changes everything for me. You make me feel loved

Just simply be being here.

We have a special connection. I am so fortunate to have you as my daughter.

You are precious. You are a jewel.

Now at 5 and a half years old, your personality is well established. This is you. I am so glad it is.

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: You Asked Me, “How Can a Skeleton Believe in Heaven?”

5 years, 5 months.

Dear Holly,

To my surprise, this Halloween season has apparently sparked some theological discussions I barely feel qualified to answer.

I am assuming your recent questions have been inspired by all the Halloween decorations in our neighborhood, which include plenty of skeletons and ghosts.

My favorite question of yours:

“Daddy, how can a skeleton believe in Heaven?”

I’m pretty sure that you’ve been swapping the word “skeleton” for the word “person”, as you have asked me several times now, “Daddy, are we really just skeletons?”

The best I could explain it was that yes, we are skeletons, but the spirit inside of us makes us actually alive; that’s sort of like the ghost decorations you’ve been seeing. I went on to explain that basically, if you combine a skeleton and a ghost, that’s more like a real person.

You went along with my narrative, then followed up with, “But Daddy, how do the skeletons believe if they don’t have a brain?”

Good point. My logic involving skeletons and ghosts didn’t quite provide a reasonable enough explanation.

So I asked you, “Holly, do you believe in Heaven?”

You immediately shook your head, yes.

I responded, “Then that’s all that matters.”

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: You’re Growing Closer to My Size Now

10 years, 10 months.

Dear Jack,

As you’re now nearing your 11th birthday, Mommy and I have been noticing that you are noticeably getting bigger. For example, your new school shoes for 5th grade are a size 6; compared to my size, which is 9.5.

This past weekend when our family visited Walden Farm, as our tradition is to do each Fall, you stood against a height chart that shows you are getting closer to that 5 foot mark.

These days, I offer my old t-shirts to you first before I give them away, so you can use them as “sleep shirts”.

But before too long, you’ll be able to wear them outside of the house!

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: You Were the Flower Girl in a Wedding This Weekend

5 years, 4 months.

Dear Holly,

It’s been a year and a half in the making: Finally, this past weekend you were the flower girl of my friend Kaylie’s wedding in Arcadia, Indiana.

I’m not sure who was prouder: you, or me.

You looked like such a doll in your flower girl dress.

You loved getting to be not only part of the wedding ceremony itself, but also being able to join in all the fun at the reception.

It was a special time in your life, and even though you’re only 5 years old, I believe you will always look back at our trip to Indiana with fond memories.

 

Love,

Daddy