You Get It

The Notorious OBJ

Olivia finished putting the last little bit of water in her son's water bottle and closed the top tightly before moving over to give the pancakes she was making a final flip. It was a typical Saturday morning in the James household which meant some sort of sports practice, game, or recital. She was used to it by now and was proud of her husband and kids for their athletic accomplishments. The idea that the kids got their athleticism from both her and her husband did fill her with a certain pride. She hadn't danced in a long time but it didn't make her feel any less responsible for her kids ability to join sports and do well.

Never one to really take the whole sports star thing seriously, it wasn't until her kids started excelling at their respective sports that she could see why it could cause some parents to go overboard. Some parents. Definitely not her though.

"Mama, can I have strawberries with my pancakes?" her five year old's little voice called out, knocking her out of her thoughts.

"Sure, baby. I think we have some on the bottom shelf of the fridge if you want to grab them for me. I'll cut them in a second when these are all done." She smiled down to her son. The charming grin she knew he got from his father making her smile even harder before pausing as her instincts kicked in. "Wait a second. You're asking for fruit? Are you okay? You feeling light headed?" she joked, placing a hand on his forehead making him laugh.

"No, just wanna keep my energy up for the game. Daddy says that I'm a James man and that James men are kick-ass and that means we have to eat healthy."

Scrunching her eyebrows and biting her lip to not show her annoyance at her husband for his choice of words with their very impressionable youngest, she just turned her head and said "Kick-butt to you, mister. But okay, strawberries coming up. Are you so excited for your first game? Daddy was telling me that you're doing great at practice. I can't wait to cheer you on, bud."

"I'm excited. I'm really fast just like Daddy." He may have gotten his mom's curls, but Isaiah was his father's biggest fan. A mini-me down to the daily sneaker choice, he wanted to be the best at football despite how big of a heart attack it originally gave his very protective mother.

"Doesn't mean that you don't have to try or listen, Zay. I know you'll do great. Plus mom will be there and that means you'll at least have one really loud person yelling for you" His sister interrupted. At eight years old, Maddy was as uninterested in football as her mom. Though not quite as quiet about her disinterest, she still tried to be supportive of her little brother.

"She's right son. Make sure you're paying attention to what me and Coach Tyson are telling you. Keep your head in the game." Spencer added as he walked in and kissed his daughter's cheek before ruffling Isaiah's curls and making his way over to Olivia's side.

"They're both right baby. Listen but also have fun. And um, exactly what did you mean Miss Madelyn Grace? I'm the best quiet support ever." Liv arched her eyebrow as she looked at her kids.

"Sure you are, mom." Maddy said with the scrunched look she definitely inherited from her mom.

"What's that supposed to mean? I'm not loud or crazy. I'm a normal level of supportive" she defended. "Am I loud?" she asked, turning to Spencer. He struggled to hold in a laugh and when the back of his wife's hand met his chest, he quickly stopped and added "Yeah, yeah. You're not loud at all, babe"

The kids looked at each other and couldn't hold in their laughter.

"I will have you know, I am a totally normal level of support. I'm not some crazy stage mom, right Maddy?"

"Uh....do you remember my first solo recital a couple months ago?"

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"And for our juniors division, we have Madelyn James coming to the stage with a contemporary piece." The announcer boomed over the loud speaker.

"There's our girl" Spencer whispered as Maddy made her way onto the stage. "Don't cry"

"That's your specialty, thank you very much. But no promises. This is my baby's first solo and she's worked so hard on it."

They watched in amazement as the little girl came on with complete confidence and a wide smile. As soon as the first beats of the song came on, Olivia's sign saying "Maddy's Mom" came out and a loud "That's my baby" continuously shot through the auditorium from her seated position.

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"I don't know what you're talking about. That is totally normal mom level support. I was just trying to show support to my favorite dancer in the world and I regret nothing, thank you." She said straight faced. The looks of her family making her crack. "Okay, fine. Maybe I was a little extra but my baby did amazingly and she deserved to hear it. Plus, it's not like I'm like that at your games, babe. I've seen enough football to last me a lifetime."

"Oh, really? So we just gonna ignore how just six months ago you about got locked up when someone said I was a ---"

"Language, Spencer! And that person was an asshole." She cut him off with a shrug. "Don't repeat that" she said sharply to her snickering kids.

"Baby, it's okay. Everyone is well aware of the Notorious OBJ." he said pecking her cheek.

"Notorious OBJ? What is that?"

"Notorious Olivia Baker-James" the three of them said at the same time.

"What does that even mean?" she said with a puzzled look. "It means, that everyone on our teams know that you're the loud, supportive mom and wife." Spencer replied with a nod.

"Yeah, mom. My whole dance team has a bet going about if we make regionals. I put 20 on you having a shirt and poster, but I think daughter advantage helps a little." Maddy said to a now wide eyed Liv.

"I am not that bad! I promise, Zay, I won't embarrass you. I'm totally chill. If anything, I'd be more worried about your Dad. He's a crier."

"Aye, I am not. Your moms is just proud man. We all are. But we also gonna be late if you guys don't get a move on, so let's go James. Get your bag and get to the car." He told a bouncing Isaiah. He and Maddy cleared their dishes and walked out to grab their things and get in the car.

Once both kids were out of sight, he turned to Olivia. "Really, babe? I'm a crier? When have I cried?"

"So we're just not gonna talk about Bringston? Fashion show ring a bell?" She replied with a smirk.

"Imma kill Jordan." He said, shaking his head before he interlaced their hands to lead them to the door.

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They arrived at the field and the game started with just a bit of action. Isaiah was playing well and Liv was trying to contain herself, not wanting to give her family the satisfaction of being right. She was a totally normal level of supportive mom. Until she saw her once tiny baby boy, now a young kid, sprinting down the field with a ball in his hand and a clear shot to the end zone.

"GO BABY! GO, GO, GO!" she yelled, jumping up and down.

It wasn't until she heard an even louder, "THAT'S MY BROTHER! LET'S GO JAMES! YOU GOT THIS!" from her daughter that she was brought back to reality.

Once Isaiah got through and the touchdown was cleared, she ran over to join a cheering Spencer on the sideline. The "THAT'S MY BOY! WOO! LET'S GO!" he let out even louder than his wife and daughter's cheers. As she took her place next to him, the sniffle she heard made her bite her lip to suppress a grin.

"Not a crier, huh?"

"Me? Nah, I'm not crying. Just had a little something in my eye."

"Sure. Not like your son just got his first touchdown and now you have to eat your words about the embarrassing one being all me. Who's the Notorious OBJ now?" she said as she bumped his hip.

"I am a totally normal level of supportive dad." He said, turning to her with a wink.

She just blushed and shook her head as Isaiah ran up to them, running into Spencer's arms with Maddy not far behind.

This was her why. She'd embarrass them any day for them to just get a glimpse of the love and pride she had for them. Her family. Her forever.