To my Firstborn - Version 10.0
Wow. Ten years old. Jebus, your dad feels old today.
It's not so much the fact that you've grown about a foot since we moved back east. Or the fact that your taste in clothes, music and stuff in general is on par with girls your age and older. Or even the fact that you see old guys on You Tube that you supposedly want to marry (Sting? Really? He's older than Grandpa Bob!), but I'm getting off track here...
What was my point? Oh yeah, that's right. You're getting older and Dad is getting a little antsy about it. See what happens to us Dads? We forget things easily as we get older. That and the gray hair that you and your sister have given me. Yes, you gave this to me. Don't you ever think otherwise. Gracie has given me some but you gave me most of it. Yes kiddo, you did this to me. I had a full head of thick black hair when you were born. Ten years later, it's become somewhat thinner and more gray, mostly due to the antics of your and your sister. I'll never cover it up though. This is my badge of honor in being your dad.
There's nothing I can do about you getting older and growing up. It happens to the best of us. I guess I'll just have to deal with it and ride it out. I just hope that you remember to listen to the things that me and your mom tell you as you grow up. It's my job to make sure you have the tools you need in life to survive and I may be hard on you sometimes, but it's because these things are so important and you are growing up quick. Life can be hard sometimes, but it's even harder if you're not prepared for it. Me and Mom's job is to help you prepare for life, so instead of rolling your eyes or tuning us out when we tell you something that you will eventually need to know, just listen, OK? We don't tell you these things just to listen to ourselves speak.
One of the more important things I can ever teach you is to develop your brain. You are a very pretty girl. That does have it's advantages in this world and I am always smiling when someone tells me how beautiful my girls are. However, pretty can only take you so far and if you don't have brains, it's kinda useless after a bit. Pretty wears off quick. Being smart can take you as far as you want to go. You are lucky to be both pretty and smart. Work harder to develop the smart and you will go far.
Oh yeah and boys are gross, OK? I don't care if you don't believe this, but just humor your old man for a few more years? Repeat after me: Boys. Are. Gross. Except for Dad, but you knew that. ;)
As you've gotten older and more mature, Mom and I have been giving you more responsibilities this last year. Like I told you before, with responsibilities comes rewards with a job well done. Your big one is a trip to Manhattan to see the things you wanted to without your pain in the butt sister tagging along. See, Mom and I both had pain in the butt younger siblings so we both know what it's like to have to deal with them on a daily basis, so we wanted to give you an awesome trip without the hassles of your baby sister being herself. I have to say though for the most part, you have amazing patience for Gracie. I know you love your baby sister and she loves you right back. You're far more patient with her than I was with your Nino, but he was just as big of a pain in the butt as Gracie is to you. Sometimes even more because we were closer in age, but i digress...
I hope you like your new birthday message. I'm sure you're gonna love your birthday trip to the city. It's a pretty awesome place full of excitement, danger and amazing things. You're not a baby anymore and no one is more aware of that than me. I still have dreams about holding you when you were little like Gracie though. I'll always remember and you will always be my baby in my heart.
I love you Kid. Happy Birthday.
Love,
Dad
It's not so much the fact that you've grown about a foot since we moved back east. Or the fact that your taste in clothes, music and stuff in general is on par with girls your age and older. Or even the fact that you see old guys on You Tube that you supposedly want to marry (Sting? Really? He's older than Grandpa Bob!), but I'm getting off track here...
What was my point? Oh yeah, that's right. You're getting older and Dad is getting a little antsy about it. See what happens to us Dads? We forget things easily as we get older. That and the gray hair that you and your sister have given me. Yes, you gave this to me. Don't you ever think otherwise. Gracie has given me some but you gave me most of it. Yes kiddo, you did this to me. I had a full head of thick black hair when you were born. Ten years later, it's become somewhat thinner and more gray, mostly due to the antics of your and your sister. I'll never cover it up though. This is my badge of honor in being your dad.
There's nothing I can do about you getting older and growing up. It happens to the best of us. I guess I'll just have to deal with it and ride it out. I just hope that you remember to listen to the things that me and your mom tell you as you grow up. It's my job to make sure you have the tools you need in life to survive and I may be hard on you sometimes, but it's because these things are so important and you are growing up quick. Life can be hard sometimes, but it's even harder if you're not prepared for it. Me and Mom's job is to help you prepare for life, so instead of rolling your eyes or tuning us out when we tell you something that you will eventually need to know, just listen, OK? We don't tell you these things just to listen to ourselves speak.
One of the more important things I can ever teach you is to develop your brain. You are a very pretty girl. That does have it's advantages in this world and I am always smiling when someone tells me how beautiful my girls are. However, pretty can only take you so far and if you don't have brains, it's kinda useless after a bit. Pretty wears off quick. Being smart can take you as far as you want to go. You are lucky to be both pretty and smart. Work harder to develop the smart and you will go far.
Oh yeah and boys are gross, OK? I don't care if you don't believe this, but just humor your old man for a few more years? Repeat after me: Boys. Are. Gross. Except for Dad, but you knew that. ;)
As you've gotten older and more mature, Mom and I have been giving you more responsibilities this last year. Like I told you before, with responsibilities comes rewards with a job well done. Your big one is a trip to Manhattan to see the things you wanted to without your pain in the butt sister tagging along. See, Mom and I both had pain in the butt younger siblings so we both know what it's like to have to deal with them on a daily basis, so we wanted to give you an awesome trip without the hassles of your baby sister being herself. I have to say though for the most part, you have amazing patience for Gracie. I know you love your baby sister and she loves you right back. You're far more patient with her than I was with your Nino, but he was just as big of a pain in the butt as Gracie is to you. Sometimes even more because we were closer in age, but i digress...
I hope you like your new birthday message. I'm sure you're gonna love your birthday trip to the city. It's a pretty awesome place full of excitement, danger and amazing things. You're not a baby anymore and no one is more aware of that than me. I still have dreams about holding you when you were little like Gracie though. I'll always remember and you will always be my baby in my heart.
I love you Kid. Happy Birthday.
Love,
Dad