The Mergenthaler Family

 Way back when Emily was in 6th grade, her teacher, Ms. Grey, asked parents to write about thier children in a million words or less. I posted what I wrote about Emily on our blog. I wish I were more organized and tech-savvy to find the link to that post and put it here, but I'm not. It's a nice idea that maybe I'll do later. Anyway, you get to read what I wrote to Gavin's fifth grade teacher who made the same requests of parents: Gavin is the youngest of seven children. His three oldest siblings have flown the nest, so he talks to them on the phone and looks forward to holiday visits. This summer, his oldest sister had a baby, so he’s an Uncle! He has three older brothers, who sometimes make life tricky for him, but are also sources of wisdom, rides to the store to get candy, and annoying TikTok phrases. He sometimes wants to be more grown up than he actually is. This little guy is academically oriented. He loves to read BIG books. He rarely reads a standalone nove...

 Letter From the Nest August 15, 2025 https://open.substack.com/pub/lettersfromthenest/p/back-to-school?r=48qui&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web One August, more than twenty years ago, at an evening book club discussion, my “older” friends (now I look back and know those women were the age I am now), were discussing the woes and triumphs of back-to-school season. One woman was anticipating her youngest child’s senior year of high school. She said, “For more than two decades, our lives have revolved around the school district’s academic calendar. I don’t know how I will plan my life without knowing about school breaks or holidays.” I remember her bittersweet tone as she anticipated freedom from school schedule constraints but also mourned how those constraints guided her choices. What would she do? Other women joined the discussion, wondering if their kids would have good teachers, if they’d be able to balance volunteering in the classroom, how to streamline school supply pu...

At first, I called this post, "Midsummer Dump," but I don't like where my mind goes with the word Dump. Life with teens, eh? Anyway, it is a photo dump, as the kids say, but let's just call it a check-in instead. So, checking in, how's your summer going? Around here, we're just starting to get tired of the daily humdrum. We have worked out a good incentive system for getting chores done and keeping engaged in good things, but it really is only working for Gavin. Of course, I get stuff done and work hard every day, but I am tired of using up my brain space and energy looking for ways to motivate the kids. Maybe they will get so bored that they'll self-motivate. I keep hoping. Until then, we're looking forward to next week's trip to California and Utah. When we get home, we'll have a few weeks to prepare ourselves for the daily school grind, which I'm dreading because I really don't want to fight Sean to school every day. I was released a...

 Letters from the Nest https://lettersfromthenest.substack.com/p/my-legacy-stinks Lately, I have been asking you, “What will you do to make Sunday special?” This is me encouraging you in your worship without giving you a prescribed list of things to do. One thing I do differently on Sundays is that I read a Sunday book that’s “different” than the fiction I read during the week. Usually, it’s a religious book, but sometimes it’s an inspiring biography or narrative nonfiction with an uplifting theme. My Sunday book for the past few months has been “Both Things Are True,” by Kate Holbrook. This collection of essays explores a range of topics, including faith, forgiveness, women’s roles, trials, history, and more. Each chapter contains a dichotomy that fuels the discussion. For example, the chapter on forgiveness explores both the concepts of forgetting and remembering. Last Sunday, I began reading the chapter entitled "The Weight of Legacy," in which she discusses the dichotomy ...

 Letters From the Nest https://open.substack.com/pub/lettersfromthenest/p/fear-and-courage?r=48qui&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web Within the last month, our family has had a new addition, and this sweet baby boy is the first in the next generation. Sometimes I feel too young to be a grandmother, especially since we still have young children at home. Other times, I feel very grandmotherly, like when I’m climbing the stairs and my joints pop and crackle more than a bowl of Rice Krispies. I felt very grateful to be a part of helping our oldest daughter welcome her firstborn into the world, but it was also surprisingly traumatic. I say, surprisingly, because when people talk about becoming grandparents, they’re full of joy and wonder. Rightly so. The miracle of birth is both joyful and wonderful, but it’s also incredibly difficult and scary. Why did I forget that? Bringing children into the world is not for the faint of heart. It’s demanding in every way you can think of--phy...