parenting

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Dear Jack: Your Week of Coding Camp

10 years, 7 months.

Dear Jack,

Last week you got to spend a whole week at Coding Camp, where you learned some skills in how to program computer games; from behind the scenes.

It was really cool how you were able to come home each night and log in to your laptop to show Mommy and me some of the games that you created and customized.

“Coding” wasn’t really a thing back when I was your age- at least not in a capacity where a 10 year-old could easily learn how to do it at camp.

Like I always say, you’re a very smart boy. I’m sure you’ll take what you are learning now and apply it to your future career.

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: And Now Your Summer Before Kindergarten Begins!

5 years, 1 month.

Dear Holly,

We have a very exciting summer planned, which will end with you starting Kindergarten.

In addition to going to Alabama to spend time with your cousins here on this side of the country, we will also be travelling to California; where you will be reacquainted with many of those cousins who haven’t seen you since you were a baby!

Plus, we’ll be heading to the mountains of Georgia again; this time with Nonna and Papa.

And the week before you start Kindergarten, I have a special surprise trip for our family of 4… if I can manage to keep it a secret for nearly 2 more months!

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: Papa’s New Customized Tractor Machine Car Thing

10 years, 6 months.

Dear Jack,

Last weekend when we showed up in Alabama for Memorial Day Weekend, Papa had a surprise waiting for you to enjoy. The thing is, I still don’t know what the thing is…

I don’t know what it’s called- if it has a name.

But Papa took an old riding mower and customized it to go much faster; like a heavy duty, off road go-kart.

It was just your speed- both literally and metaphorically speaking. You loved it!

I get the feeling that Papa will continue to add more to it each time we see it again.

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: Your 1st Overnight at a Friend’s House

10 years, 6 months.

Dear Jack,

Despite you spending a week at a time out at Nonna and Papa’s house 3 hours away in Alabama multiple times now, you had never spent the night at a friend’s house… until this past weekend.

With as much time as you’ve been spending with your friend Landon over the past month or so, including his entire family driving down to Alabama for my 40th birthday party, we’ve definitely got to a certain level of comfort where it made sense to say yes when you asked if you could spend the night at his house.

Needless to say, it was a success.

This is a milestone in you growing up!

 

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: Dressing Up for Wacky Day, With My Face as the Theme!

10 years, 5 months.

Dear Jack,

You had mentioned earlier this week that “Wacky Wednesday” was coming up at school. My closet happens to serve as a prop station for such an event!

For example, you considered wearing my Afro wig, but decided it would be too hot and itchy.

Yesterday as I was loading you up in the Jeep, I got a good look at your final costume:

A t-shirt that a friend made for me back in college, featuring a sketch of my face; with my name in Thai below.

And the socks were the ones with my face on them; a gift from Aunt Dana and Uncle Andrew from a few Christmases ago.

Needless to say, you were definitely wacky enough for Wacky Wednesday!

Love,

Daddy