Highschool Lovers

the nap time battle

"Ugh, Mia! It's nap time! We've talked about this!" I call out, my voice strained but still playful as I chase after our spirited four-year-old daughter.

"Mommy, no! It's not nap time, it's fun time!" Mia shouts back, her little feet pounding across the living room floor. Her pigtails bounce energetically as she dashes from one giggling sibling to the other.

"Fun time," echoes Charlie, the older of the twin two-year-olds, his big green eyes gleaming with mischief. He then turns to his sister Chandler, "Let's run!"

"Run!" Chandler squeals, and soon, they're both off, giggling and mimicking Mia.

"Mia, I can't believe you're convincing them!" I call after her, trying to keep my tone light despite the rising chaos.

"They're my best friends, and friends don't let friends nap!" she declares, spinning dramatically before her brothers, who mimic her actions like tiny echoes.

"Best friends! No nap!" Charlie shouts, bouncing on the couch.

I glance over to see Adrien, who had just stepped into the room, a bemused smile on his face. "Well, looks like someone is having a party, and I didn't get the invitation," he says, raising an eyebrow at the joyful chaos.

"Daddy! Join us!" Mia shouts, her enthusiasm infectious. "We're having fun!"

"Fun, huh?" Adrien tilts his head, his charm and natural playfulness coming out as he kneels down. "What's all this 'fun' about?"

"Mia says no naps!" Chandler exclaims, throwing his arms up in a dramatic gesture.

"Yeah, it's time for dance party!" Mia adds, wiggling her hips in a way that can only be described as adorable, her words a jumble of phrases she's snatched from the TV shows she loves. "If you take a nap, you miss the fun!"

"Nap time is just boring," Charlie chimes in, looking up at Adrien with those big innocent eyes.

Adrien arches an eyebrow, pretending to consider their argument. "Boring, you say? But what if there's a secret 'nap party' just for Dad and Mommy? Think of all the fun snacks they might have!"

The twins share a collective gasp. "N-Not snacks!" they whine in unison, their expressions exaggeratedly horrified.

Mia stomps her foot, a mini whirlwind of protest. "No snacks in nap time! Only fun! Only dance!" Her little hands shoot up into the air, as if testing out her latest dance moves, and her brothers imitate her without hesitation.

"Dance party it is, then!" Adrien declares, jumping to his feet with playful energy. "Mia, show us your best moves!"

With that, the living room transforms into a wild dance floor. Mia leads the charge, spinning and twirling, with Charlie and Chandler right behind her, their giggles echoing through the room.

"Look at me! I'm a star!" Mia sings, her voice high and sweet, swirling around like she owns the stage.

"Star!" Chandler mimics, trying to spin just like her, but ending up in a dizzy wobble that has him laughing uncontrollably.

"More! More!" Charlie squeaks, clapping his hands together, his laughter infectious.

"What do we call this dance move?" I ask, joining them on the outskirts of their fun dance party.

"It's the no-nap cha cha slide!" Mia announces boldly, and I can't help but chuckle at her cuteness.

"Let's show Mommy our best cha cha!" Adrien chimes in, diving into the dance with them, his every move exaggerated and silly, causing all three kids to explode into fits of laughter.

The chaos settles into joyful noise, laughter ringing against the walls and all thoughts of naps forgotten.

"Okay, how about we have a deal?" I suggest amid their fun, "If you dance for five more minutes, then we can all cuddle for a story. How does that sound?"

"Deal!" Mia squeals, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Count the five!" Charlie chirps, and I can see them all starting to wiggle in anticipation.

As I watch my little family, the world outside falls away. Dance parties might not include naptime, but they fill our home with laughter and love. In that moment, I realize that sometimes letting go of the schedule and joining in on the chaos is the best form of parenting.

So, we dance, laugh, and embrace the wildness of these precious moments, letting the notion of nap time drift away on the wings of giggles.