Confidence

Today Chloe turns 14. Yesterday, she was walking towards me in the kitchen and on her approach said, “hug it out dad.” I got so excited because if you know her, you know, hugging isn’t really her thing. I looked around to make sure there were witnesses and spread my arms wide. The world slowed

Of Chicken Parm and Penne

Today Julianna turns 15. Last year, for the annual birthday post, I wrote about how Julianna was prepping herself, and us, for the beginning of High School. Now, on the back-9 of her freshman year in high school, it’s safe to give her a resounding: so far, so good. Actually, that’s not fair. She’s doing

The Path

Today Chloe turns 13. We officially have 2 teenaged daughters. Julianna, as I’m sure you know, turned 14 a few weeks ago. For her birthday, in 2019, I wrote a “flashforward” set of predictions for how her life might turn out. It is now 3 years later and it’s Chloe’s turn. Here’s what I said

High School Julianna

Today Julianna turns 14. Oh wait, I’m sorry. Today, High School Julianna turns 14. She’s not even in High School yet but has recently taken to referring to herself, not only in the 3rd person, but with the “High School” qualifier. “High School Julianna is going to get to keep her phone in her bedroom

For The Win

“Some day soon though, things will get back to the normal we all crave.” Me. Exactly 1 year ago. Today Chloe turns 12. It feels like just yesterday that I wrote last year’s birthday post. How is that even possible? Have you ever been to summer camp? As I reflect back on the past year,

Her Teen

Today, Julianna turns 13. I am fah-reaking out. She’s a teenager, like, officially. I mean, now we are going to have to have puberty and relationships and…and…MAKEUP. I’m not equipped for this sort of thing. What am I going to do when she brings home some person she wants to date, introduces me followed by

Making the Best

Today Chloe turns 11. Now, both her and Julianna have had to celebrate their birthdays during the Great Quarantine of 2020. I find myself feeling a bit conflicted about how to handle the emotional ups and downs both girls have felt about their birthdays happening during this time. For Julianna’s birthday, we asked a bunch

Et Cetera

Today, Julianna turns 12. Every year, since she was 3, I’ve been publishing a post on this day. You can read them here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here. These birthday posts have gotten harder and harder to write each year. I generally start thinking about them a few days in advance

Counting to 10

Today Chloe turns 10. I know what you’re thinking: Another exciting look into the future! I thought about doing that for Chloe like I did for Julianna but Chloe deserves her own thing, not some derivative nonsense. And so I’ve been thinking back to all that’s happened since her last birthday; all the moments of

11.

Today Julianna turned 11. This year’s birthday post might have ended up looking like this: This year, we talked to Julianna about sex. The end. That would have been a big enough event to cover the whole year. I then thought about what I did last year. Last year, I did a very clever “flashback”