Dear Jackrabbit,
I’ll let you in on a little secret.
I apologize if this is going to embarrass you later on in life, but you’re just barely seven months old now and in no position to stop me. Sorry.
The secret…
I hug you… like… a lot.
From the time I pick you up in the morning out of your crib to when I hand you over to your mother for the last time at night, I take advantage of the opportunity to wrap my arms around you and hug you close.
Soppy, right?
Well, it’s not all my fault. You hug back, too. That delights me to no end.
Sure, it may not be a conscious decision on your part. It might be just a reflex to being picked up. But you do hold your arms out when you know you’re about to be picked up… so maybe it’s on purpose after all. To be honest, I don’t care. I’ll take the hugs regardless of reason.
Mind you, I could do without the grabbing of my hair or beard… but, again… not going to be picky. I’ll take the hugs regardless.
Daddy’s little de-stresser.
Dad gets stressed from time to time… especially lately. Work, bills, chores, various projects, national and world events, and so forth can make me pretty tense and down. Usually, the Teehan method for coping with stress is to repress it for as long as possible until it explodes at some inappropriate time and place. I’m not saying it’s a healthy method. It’s just what we do. It could be worse. At least I’m not drinking.
Your mother is great about keeping my stress at bay. She’s great like that and I love her for it. You’re my secret weapon against stress as well. Hugging you always, always, always makes me feel better.
So keep it up.
I know you will eventually come to an age when hugging your old man is not high on your list of priorities. I understand. I was the same way. I kind of regret that period. It didn’t really go away until I was old enough to get over myself. So I’ll understand it if, years from now, you don’t clutch at me like you do now.
But if you could do me a favor… from time to time… when no one is looking… give the old man another hug. Your mother, too.
It’ll be our little secret.
All my love,
–Dad
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