Dear Reader: A Pause for Love and Rest

Taking Time to Be Present and Reflect on What Matters Most

18 Months

Dear Reader,

Yes, this letter is for you.  

I have been writing a letter to Myles every week since he was born. As of now, these letters are going to an email I created for him when he was born and reaching over 3,500 of you across 50 states and 95 countries. I say this often: but until Myles is able to read these letters himself, your support, love, and warmth have kept me going. Simply saying "thank you" doesn’t feel like enough.

He’s growing faster than I can type. Would you believe me if I told you that the same baby who couldn’t even hold his head up now knows how to count to ten and name his colors—most of them, at least? Even for me, it’s hard to tell the difference between blue and purple sometimes. I mean, he even knows his farm animal sounds!

Sometimes, in a world where everything seems to be going wrong, children remind us that we have done something right. I hope that one day our world will do right by them.

I want to keep writing from a place of love and never let these letters become a form of labor; I have enough of that with work. While I strive to be an example for Myles and show him what it means to persevere, I also want to teach both him and myself the value of leaning into rest. Rest is not something we earn—it is something we inherently deserve. My wildest dream for him is that he will rest more easily than I ever could. My dream for all of us is to take hold of rest in a world that would hate to see us prioritize it.

With that being said, I am going to take some time to be more present with my family. I will be back soon—February, to be exact. I think some time away will be good for all of us, especially since my wife has forbidden me from bringing my laptop on trips. When I return, I hope to pick up right where I left off—with the same love and passion for telling stories about a father who loves being a dad so much that he just had to share it with the world. I hope to also bring you voices from the fathers I admire as well.

I love what we have created here, and I cannot wait to share more letters with you next year.

If you're a paying subscriber, I understand if this feels like a change from what you anticipated, especially if you've recently subscribed or if a break in the newsletter doesn't align with your budget. (If you choose to unsubscribe, do not worry—I do not receive notifications when it happens.)Your financial contribution to Raising Myles is helping my family get a head start on a college plan for Myles. For that, I offer an extra thank you.

Before you go, though, I hope take a moment to revisit some of the letters that have resonated most deeply with many of you.

[Myles, if you are reading this—I love you, and there is nothing you can do about it.

Love,
Daddy]

• How I Met Your Mother

• Am I a Good Dad, Or is the Bar Just Really Low?

• How do Single Parents Poop in Peace?

• A Letter From Your Mother

• Pictures Can’t Hold Full Stories

• Tell Them Where You’re From

• I Never Knew Grief Could be a Place

• Your Mother’s Love Affair

• A Letter From You Mother

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Special thanks to my friends

Rachel Leeke

,

Claire Zulkey

,

Robert the contemplative

, and

Noha Beshir

who really modeled and encouraged me lean into this rest.

I appreciate you.

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If you can’t commit to a monthly subscription, but still want to support Myles’ college plan, here is my Buy Me a Coffee page.