Highschool Lovers

a what now?

The morning sun filters through the curtains, illuminating the chaos that has become our everyday life. I stand in the kitchen, a cup of lukewarm coffee in hand, watching as my husband Adrien juggles one of our twins, Chandler, while trying to calm down four-year-old Mia, who is currently in a standoff with her cereal bowl.

"Come on, Mia, just take one more bite! We need to get ready, sweetie!" Adrien urges, his voice kind but a hint of desperation creeping in.

"I don't want it!" Mia pouts, crossing her arms defiantly. "It's yucky!"

"Yucky is a strong word for cereal," I chime in, hoping to offer some mom wisdom while trying to soothe Luke, who is wailing in his crib.

"Yucky! Yucky!" Mia insists, and I swig back another gulp of coffee, knowing I'll need all the energy I can muster.

Just then, Charlie barrels into the kitchen, his little face alight with excitement. "Mom! Mom! I have a girlfriend!"

I raise an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh really? Who is this lucky lady?"

"Harper!" he replies, bouncing on the balls of his tiny feet, his curly hair bouncing along with him. "She shares stickers with me!"

Adrien chuckles, finally managing to get Chandler into her clothes. "Looks like someone's getting serious," he teases.

"Yeah! And there's another one!" Charlie's eyes grow wide as he beams at me. "She shares crayons at art time!"

"You've got two girlfriends, huh?" I ask, feigning shock. "That's quite impressive for a two-year-old!"

Charlie nods vigorously, pointing to the crayon drawer as if that's really all the proof I need. "Important!"

I laugh softly, "Important, huh? That's a big word for you!"

Chandler unexpectedly escapes Adrien's grasp and rushes over to Charlie. "My stickers!" she shouts, reaching for him.

"NO!" Charlie cries out, hugging an imaginary sticker book close to his chest. "They mine!"

"It's not a battle, buddy! Chandler, let's find you something else, okay?" Adrien interjects, glancing at me like he's juggling flaming torches and asking for a little help.

"I wanna see Harper!" Charlie insists, plopping down on the floor dramatically.

"Okay, okay!" I say, mentally adding 'playdate with Harper' to my endless to-do list. "How about you tell me all about your day with your girlfriends once we're dressed?"

"Okay!" Both twins shout in unison, their energy boundless.

Suddenly, I look down at the clock and feel a flutter of panic. "Guys! We're going to be late! Mia, one more bite of cereal, please!"

"It's yucky!" she shouts defiantly again.

In the middle of all this, Luke's cries compete with the chaos of the room, and I hurry to scoop him up. "Don't worry, little dude. Your siblings are just being... well, siblings."

I settle Luke against my shoulder and cradle him as I watch my husband navigate the entertainment of our wild children, his smile constant even amidst the turmoil.

"Are we ready, yet?" Adrien asks, glancing at Mia, who finally succumbs to the cereal with a reluctant bite, before turning to Charlie, who has made the transition from 'crying about stickers' to 'excited about girlfriends' in less time than it takes for Luke to breathe.

"I think we're getting there," I reply, kissing the top of Luke's soft head. "Just a few more minutes."

"Okay! Now I tell you more about Harper!" Charlie exclaims, eyes shining as excitement returns like a spring.

I laugh again, the sheer joy of this moment makes the chaos feel so much lighter. "Alright, buddy! Tell me everything."

And amidst the noise, the rushing, and the delightful chaos of our four crazy kids, I can't help but feel grateful for this beautiful mess we call family.