My daughter Julia came to live with me a year ago for school. It isn't easy for me to raise someone who is practically my 9-year-old clone, but that is exactly what I find I am doing with Julia. Through our judo and soccer practices, reading, writing and arithmetic, Girl Scouts, and Japanese language classes, we occasionally have a conversation that connects us both in a sometimes deep and usually humorous way. Hopefully, you will be as entertained as we are.

You Need the Exercise

The weather has been warm, hot and then really cold over the past few weeks. Julia’s bedroom windows have been closed, but the weather has finally returned to warm. Julia is tucked in bed.

Daddy: Julia, do you want me to open a window?

Julia: Yes, I want them all open.

Daddy: Would you like to open them? 

Julia: No, you go ahead and do it. You need the exercise.