parenting

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Dear Holly: Your First Week Away at Summer Camp

9 years, 2 months.

Dear Holly,

Last week as you left for your first time away to summer camp, I was so sad to see you go… and I was so sad all week while you were gone.

But… you didn’t seem sad at all! And that definitely makes me happy.

I am so proud of you for showing confidence and displaying your natural need for independence.

Granted, it helped that your cousin Darla was there with you the whole time and that Aunt Dana was there as a chaperone.

And it helped me on my end that Aunt Dana was able to send me pictures of you each day so I could see how much fun you were having, in real time.

You have now been away at summer camp for the first time!

Love,

Daddy

 

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Dear Jack: Reciprocating Your Sister’s Need for Affection

14 years, 9 months.

Dear Jack,

I feel like one of the themes of this summer is that you continue to reciprocate your sister’s efforts in wanting to be buddies.

What I am seeing is that now, instead of you seeing her as some sort of competition as your only sibling, you have begun to see her as an equal member of our family.

I see the way that the two of you now mutually choose to hang out around each other, like when we were at Lowe’s this past weekend.

Or when as a family, we were watching TV in the living room this week and I noticed that you both were sort of cuddled up together on the bean bag.

I love this!

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: Ramen for Lunch During the Summer

9 years, 2 months.

Dear Holly,

During these couple of summer months, it’s never a mystery what you are having for lunch each day. While I rarely ever take a full lunch hour for myself as I work from home, I do stop long enough to prepare your daily ramen noodles on the stove top.

Once I place your bowl of hot Ramen noodles on the counter of our breakfast nook, it is tradition that I pour a cup of milk for you to drink. Next, you fill up a cup of ice and use some tongs to place the ice cubes one by one in the ramen, until it is cool enough for you to eat without burning your mouth.

You then are able to enjoy your ramen lunch while watching SpongeBob on your phone. I love that you have your little lunch tradition everyday.

 

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: Playing with Your Dolls This Summer

9 years, 2 months.

Dear Holly,

My office is my bedroom. Most of the day, the door is shut and it’s actually pretty rare that I come out; even for food.

But when I do, I love it when I see you out on the living room floor playing with your dolls.

You easily spend hours at a time in your own little world; carefully feeding them, entertaining them, and helping them fall asleep to take their naps.

This is what I want to see from my 9 year-old little girl when I step out of my office.

It’s just perfect.

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: Serving Ice Cream to Your Sister

14 years, 8 months.

Dear Jack,

As I was finishing up washing the dishes in the kitchen, I heard you and your sister laughing in the dining room.

You took it upon yourself to make ice cream sundaes for the two of you. Apparently what caused the laughter was that you accidently gave her way too much whipped cream; to the point there was more of it than there was ice cream.

This really is becoming the norm: That you find ways to help and serve your sister, which often leads to the two of you laughing together and having fun.

It is such a reward as a parent for me to see this development.

Love,

Daddy