parenting

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Dear Holly: Your 1st Ever Slumber Party Sleepover!

3 years, 3 months.

Dear Holly,

Last Saturday while Mommy and I were out all day for my 20th high school reunion, you got to stay all day and night at your cousins’ house; along with your brother, too!

It was not only your first ever slumber party, but also your first ever sleepover.

I was so confident that you were in good hands the whole time.

And I never questioned whether you were having fun, because… how could you not?

I was so proud the next morning when Mommy and I saw you again for an early lunch.

You were happy to see Mommy and me again. But also, I could tell you were so proud of yourself for being a girl and staying up late with your cousins.

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: These are the Days of Halo Action Figures and Beyblades

8 years, 8 months.

Dear Jack,

These letters I write to you often serve as a bookmark to show you whatever you were into at that point in your life.

Therefore, I can positively tell you that these days, it’s Halo action figures and Beyblades that you’re into.

I have a rule that when you come home each day, you need to immediately find something to eat and find an activity to keep you occupied.

Here lately, you have spent much of your “during dinner prep” time has been carefully organizing your Halo action figures and ranking your Beyblades.

It seems like work to me. But to an 8 year-old boy, that translates as fun!

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: You Got to See Toy Story 4- Your 1st Movie in a Theater

3 years, 2 months.

Dear Holly,

I couldn’t have planned it this way, but your brother was your exact age, to the month, when he got to go see his first movie at a theater.

For him, it was The Lego Movie.

For you, it was Toy Story 4.

You had been telling Mommy and me, “I like Woody… I like that other guy too- what’s his name?”

The first Toy Story movie came out in November 1995; when I was in 9th grade.

Now, more than 23 years later, you were able to see the final Toy Story movie (…or is it?) as your first movie in a theater.

I am so proud of you. You had so much fun.

It was sweet because you chose to spend the first half of the movie in my lap, and the second half in Mommy’s.

And here I was thinking I was just going to put sitting on the end of the row in my own little world.

I am so glad we took you to see Toy Story 4 in the theater!

Love,

Daddy

 

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Dear Jack: Keeping Your Sister from Talking During Toy Story 4

8 years, 7 months.

Dear Jack,

I have been taking you to see movies since you were the exact same age as your sister is now:

3 years, 2 months.

I admit, that is quite the major coincidence, actually!

The first movie you saw was The Lego Movie back in 2014.

This past Sunday was a big deal for our family, as it marked the first time all 4 of us went to see a movie together.

More specifically, it was your sister’s first time to ever see a movie in a theater.

You made sure during the days leading up to seeing Toy Story 4 as a family:

“Holly, in the movie theater, you can’t talk… okay?”

She definitely listed to you.

In fact, she was so quiet during the movie, she didn’t even laugh along with the rest of the audience every time something funny happened!

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: You Get to Be the Boy in the Back Seat of a Jeep with the Top Off

8 years, 7 months.

Dear Jack,

Every father wants his son to be able to have an amazing, adventurous childhood that he will be able to think back on with gratitude.

I am aware that I am helping to create your childhood; for better or worse.

Undeniably, since we got the Jeep Wrangler about a month and a half ago, it has been obvious you have been having a good time in it.

Yes, it’s true that the Jeep is a toy for me. But it’s a toy that I can to share with you.

You get to be the boy in the back seat of a Jeep with the top off.

I’m pretty sure that leads to a childhood you will appreciate now while you’re still a kid, and for the rest of your life as an adult.

Love,

Daddy