Dear Sam, As I write this, you’re sitting next to me, sweating through AP History notes. Maybe this is the theme of your junior year—sweat. That certainly has been the theme of the past few months. You sweat so much every day. Yes, of course from all the running you’re doing, but it’s more than...Continue Reading
Dear Elisabeth, You have more character, more integrity, more deep strength than anyone I know. You are never shallow. You prefer fresh-faced to make-up, your ancient iPhone to the 15, talking to your grandparents to TikTok, baking bread to fast food. Most of all, you show undying loyalty and vicious protection of those you love. ...Continue Reading
Dear Sam (on your first day of high school), Here we are—fifteen years old, freshman in high school, and learning to drive. It feels exactly right for you to be tackling these milestones, and also a bit startling. To see you in the halls of high school, with boys who are 6’2 and girls who...Continue Reading
Has there ever been a weirder start to a school year? On your first day of high school, you went to bed at 2 a.m. This was after saying goodbye to your big sister—and then driving 900 miles from Nebraska, smashed in the backseat with your brothers. This is a metaphor for your place in...Continue Reading
The other day a memory popped up of you on your first day of Preschool. I was struck by how your first-day grin has not changed. Back then—and on the first day of eighth grade—your smile looks the same: excited, silly, anxious, and grinning like you have a secret. That was twelve years ago and,...Continue Reading
1. Seven-year-old twins are just starting to assign identities. “You’re the tall one.” “He’s the older twin.” “She’s good at reading and I’m good at math.” They only see themselves as a twosome so they have to even it out. They can’t both be the funny one. 2. They’re still proud of their twinniness. They make...Continue Reading
Today’s Fraudulently Asked Questions is with Sam and Elisabeth. As six-year-olds, they are in that delightful stage of both hating and loving hobbies. They hate stopping their play to attend ballet and Tae Kwon Do lessons. But they love every other sport they aren’t a part of. They’re old enough to have opinions, but still...Continue Reading
Dear Sam, You hesitated to hold that sign in this picture. Is that because you were confused about today being your first real day of Kindergarten? I know, it’s a little weird since that was last year. Today is actually your first day of Kindergarten Part II. Or, did you hesitate because you thought it...Continue Reading
Yesterday I was all cheeky about how we are so over this summer, about how we are so ready for school. After I wrote that entry, we went on to have another typical summer day. This included a long, leisurely visit to the animal shelter, a Costco shopping trip, where the kids piled lunch-box necessities...Continue Reading
In our family, we give our kids a choice: for your birthday you either get a party or a gift. Because the Hergenrader kids have always chosen the party, I’ve never actually given any of our kids a birthday present. This year, though, I want to give the twins a gift. I want to give...Continue Reading
