You Get It

Saturdays

"Callie Elizabeth James, get in here!" Olivia yelled out from her bathroom in the master bedroom. A few moments later she heard tiny footsteps running towards the room seconds before a little person with wild curls and a guilty look appeared in front her.

"Yes, mama?" The five year old asked sweetly, doing her best to feign innocence.

"What have I told you about putting glue in your brother's hair?" She questioned sternly, nodding her head towards her other five year old and Callie's twin. She stared the little girl down, adding an eyebrow raise for extra emphasis. Truth be told, she found it hilarious when her son came in, crying and freaking out about how his sister had put glue in his hair. Again.

"Callie." She said, doing her best to remain straight faced and serious towards the still quiet child.

"It wasn't me" Callie lied, avoiding eye contact. It wasn't the first time it had happened or the first time she claimed that she had nothing to do with it.

"Yes it was!" Noah said, his voice raising through his sniffles.

"Not uh!"

"Yes huh!"

"Hey, both of you- knock it off. Callie, if I called Maddy and Zay in here, would they tell me the same thing? Or are you telling me something different than what happened?" She questioned, trying to give her another chance.

"It wasn't me, mama" She shook her head and continued to deny, wide eyed and hoping that her mom didn't follow through on that question. No such luck.

"Madelyn! Isaiah! Come here, please!"

Her two eldest came rushing in, equally as guilt faced and nervous. "I'm going to ask once and once only. Why does your brother have glue in his hair? Again?" The two older kids looked at each other before turning their attention to their little siblings and landing their eyes on their mom. They knew better than to try to lie but also didn't want to take blame for the antics of the younger two.

"It was Callie!" Maddy blurted out.

"No it wasn't! It was Maddy! Her and Callie were fighting over the glue because the twins were arguing!" Isaiah said with wide eyes, pointing to his sister and avoiding the glare she threw his way.

"What! It was Zay, he tried grabbing it from me to squeeze more because he thought it was funny that it got on my shirt!" The twelve year old defended.

"No it was Callie!" "Not me! It was Noah's fault!" "Liar it was Zay!" the kids started yelling at the same time. Normally, the patient mother was more than willing to give her kids the time to explain themselves or sort through the sibling antics themselves, but after a weekend of non-stop fighting  and Spencer conveniently having "conditioning" this morning- her patience had worn thin.

"Alright, that's enough" putting her hand up, Olivia looked at all four in the eyes and then shut her eyes to take a breath. "Maddy, you're going to help Noah wash his hair and get the glue out. I asked you to keep an eye on them, not argue with them."

"But, Mom" Maddy tried to argue. "But mom, nothing. Hair, no questions." She said, crossing her arms and raising her eyebrows at her.

Turning to Noah, "And as for you little man, I've told you a million times to stop messing with your sister. So you get to help clean up when Bubby is all done getting that glue out of your hair."

"Ha" Isaiah chuckled lightly at his siblings pain before meeting his mom's unamused gaze and immediately looking down. "Oh don't worry. You'll be helping clean it. And taking out the trash I asked you to take out before you started your video game. Same for you, Miss Callie."

"Mom! I didn't even do anything" he tried to argue before the others joined in. Olivia put her hands to her temple, the sounds of them arguing and them talking over each other taking over the room.

Not even able to hear his footsteps, she didn't notice Spencer was now home and had come into the room, until she saw his figure appear to her right.

"Hey, hey, hey what is going on in here?" he said, meeting Olivia's wide eyes and immediately sensing he messed up in even asking. "Your children got glue in Noah's hair. Again. And now keep arguing about having to clean it up." She said, throwing her hands up in frustration.

"Why are they just my kids when they mess up?" he said with a light laugh. His wife's death stare made his laugh stop. He cleared his throat and turned back to the kids "My bad. Alright, James 1-4, living room. Now. I don't wanna hear the excuses, just get it done."

All four looked at each other and when they saw both parents stone faced, straightened their backs.

"Yes, Dad." They all said in unison before retreating to the living room, the great glue explosion waiting on them.

"Why is it they don't listen to me when I tell them something? I'm just as firm with them as you are. I haven't lost my touch, right? I haven't lost my touch. Have I lost my touch?" she rambled as Spencer made his way over and wrapped his arms around her waist.

"Of course not, baby. They do listen to you. I just think they know they can push a little more. Especially since you baby, Noah" her armed hit his chest playfully, "I do not!" "Liv" he said, raising an eyebrow.

"Okay, maybe I do but he's my baby. And he's a good boy, they just mess with him a lot. Especially Callie. She's a menace."

"Really? Because I remember a certain someone telling me that she was totally innocent, three days ago when I found my trophy covered in glitter."

"It is totally believable that it spilled from across the room, babe. Cmon." She attempted to get out without laughing

"Yeah, okay" he said, smiling and wrapping his arms tighter around her. "Plus, they're siblings. They're gonna get into it. You're a great mom, they just get wild. Kids do that"

"I guess" she said, resting her chin on his chest, "I do however, tap out and release them to Daddy duty for the rest of the night before I sell them on Etsy."

He let out a loud laugh and pecked her forehead, "I got you."

She shook her head and pecked his lips before pulling away, "Now please go because I need at least ten minutes of Real Housewives to bring me back to reality."

He smirked, "Not quite sure how that works but okay". He laughed as Liv made her way out.

"But by the way, would it be too soon to say that I heard straight from Jordan that you were a menace to him? Maybe that's where she gets it from"

He ducked as a pillow made its way to his head.

"Okay yeah, too soon" he mumbled before making his way to the living room.