Dear Jameson and Addie,

Parenting advice comes at you from every direction. Some of it’s helpful, like “sleep when the baby sleeps,” and some of it is…well, less so (looking at you, “just give them a little whiskey for teething”). But if I had to boil down my approach to parenting, it’s this:

The best thing I can do for you is love your mom.

Why? Because no matter how many driveway basketball games we play, how many hockey practices I drive you to, or how many bad dad jokes I subject you to, the foundation of this family is the relationship your mom and I share. It’s the bedrock that makes everything else possible.

Let me explain.

Lesson 1: A Strong Team Wins the Game

You both know the value of teamwork from hockey. (Yes, Addie, even when someone cough Jameson cough hogs the puck.) Your mom and I are the original team around here. If we’re in sync—passing the metaphorical puck, supporting each other—it makes our family stronger. You may not realize it, but the way we work together sets the tone for how you’ll approach your own teams, friendships, and someday, relationships.

Lesson 2: Respect Isn’t Just a Buzzword

When I treat your mom with respect—listening to her, valuing her opinions, and occasionally even admitting she’s right (okay, often admitting she’s right)—I’m teaching you what respect looks like in action. Jameson, it shows you how to treat the people you care about. Addie, it shows you what to expect from someone who cares about you.

Lesson 3: Love Is More Than Just Saying “I Love You”

Sure, I say it every day. But love isn’t just a phrase; it’s an action. It’s doing the dishes when she’s had a long day. It’s showing up to cheer her on in her own goals, just like we do for you two. It’s being her partner in the little things—like deciding what’s for dinner (the eternal struggle)—and the big ones.

Lesson 4: Conflict Can Be Healthy

Let’s be real—your mom and I don’t agree on everything. (For example, she thinks “decorative throw pillows” are a necessity; I think they’re a personal attack on my back.) But when we disagree, we work through it. Respectfully. Loudly, sometimes, but respectfully. And in doing so, we’re showing you that conflict isn’t something to fear—it’s something to navigate with honesty and care.

Lesson 5: A Happy Mom = A Happy Home

Here’s a little secret: when I make an effort to make your mom feel loved, everyone benefits. The energy of our family starts with her. If she feels supported, it radiates into everything—our family dinners, our weekend adventures, even how we handle the chaos that is Crosby “playing crazy ball.”

Lesson 6: Love Is the Legacy I Want to Leave

At the end of the day, you’re going to take more from this family than memories of hikes up rices and hockey tournaments. You’re going to take the example your mom and I set. And I want that example to be one of love, partnership, and unwavering support. Because one day, when you’re building families of your own (far in the future—very far), I want you to know what it looks like to love someone well.

So, kids, when you see me sneaking a hug in the kitchen, teasing your mom about her crying during Hallmark movies, or cheering her on as loudly as I do at your games, know this: I’m not just being mushy (though I reserve the right to be mushy). I’m loving your mom for you as much as I’m loving her for me.

Because the best thing I can give you isn’t a new hockey stick or another dad joke—it’s the example of what love looks like.

Now, go clean your rooms. (Your mom told me to say that.)

Love,

Dad