parenting

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Dear Jack: A Dad’s Letter to His Son on His 8th Birthday

8 years old today!

Dear Jack,

There’s a page in the children’s book Love You Forever where it shows the son in his teenage years, as he’s dancing around knocking things over, while a slice of pizza lies there on the floor.

Yes, you’re still 5 years away from being a teenager, but here lately, I have been telling Mommy how I feel like we’re catching glimpses of you as a teenager already.

Something that clearly defines you is your confidence. You know what you’re good at and you also know what your weaknesses are.

And therefore, you base your identity off of that.

I am so proud to see that in you.

You clearly have a mind of your own. That’s something I value greatly.

And I am here to help you become more and more of who you are.

Happy 8th Birthday!

Love,

Daddy

Dear Jack: A Dad’s Letter to His Son on His 2nd Birthday

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Dear Jack: A Dad’s Letter to His Son on His 5th Birthday

Dear Jack: A Dad’s Letter to His Son on His 6th Birthday

Dear Jack: A Dad’s Letter to His Son on His 7th Birthday

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Dear Holly: You Now Only Sleep in Your Mermaid Tail Blanket

2 and a half years.

Dear Holly,

The new norm now is that while Mommy is finishing up the dishes downstairs after dinner, I walk you upstairs and give you your bath.

Mommy steps in to get you dressed and read you a story, but then it’s back to me to read you a 2nd story and then actually put you to bed.

For the past couple of weeks now, you have insisted on crawling into your mermaid tale blanket that Aunt Jenny got for you last Christmas.

It’s basically a sleeping bag- and not that I have any issues at this point getting you to agree to go to sleep, but the mermaid tale blanket definitely serves as extra assurance.

Needless to say, the mermaid tale blanket is now on the “must pack” list for all upcoming overnight road trips.

 

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: You are Clearly Fearless and Daring

2 and a half years old.

Dear Holly,

I’m pretty sure I’ll never have to convince you to try new things. As you have been watching your brother speed down the cul-de-sac, you have correctly assumed that you could successfully do the same, on your little school bus.

As you can see in the video above, you amazingly are able to not only use your legs to scoot your way up the hill, but you also confidently use your legs as brakes to slow down.

While I admit I feel that this seems dangerous, I also don’t want to stop you from having fun outside; knowing that you have yet to get hurt doing it.

I think it’s so cool that you loving scooting up and down on your little bus!

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: Teaching Your Sister to Say “Bad Words”, But Not in Context

7 years, 11 months.

Dear Jack,

I’ve recently discovered that when Mommy and I aren’t closely paying attention, like while we are doing the dishes, you discreetly teach your sister “bad words”, as if it’s your obligation as her older brother.

“Holly… butt cheek.”

She will then repeat it and confirm she knows it’s a new word she shouldn’t say:

“Butt cheek.”

Then she grins with gratitude.

However, she doesn’t quite understand the context of most of the Disney-approved bad words you have been teaching her.

That’s why it’s not out of the ordinary for her to casually say, “I want a cheese stick… butt cheek.”

I’m sure in time, though, you’ll be able to teach her how to say these inappropriate phrases a little more appropriately.

 

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: You are Trying So Hard to Have Legitimate Conversations But…

2 and a half years old.

Dear Holly,

Last Sunday while you were playing with your brother’s toys in his bedroom while Mommy sorted out his closet, you took it upon yourself to create a story line.

You swung your purse over your shoulder then grabbed your brother’s poop emoji stuffed animal, then enthusiastically yet routinely announced, “Hey Poop, want to go to church?… Yeah?… Okay, let’s go!”

From there, you pretended to load up Poop in the car for the ride to church.

And yesterday as I was driving you to school, I said, “Look Holly! Those men are putting a new roof on that house!”

Seeing the apparent fun of being able to walk on top of a house, you proclaimed, “I want to walk on the roof for my Christmas.”

In your mind, these scenarios are completely realistic.

That’s good enough for me.

Love,

Daddy