Highschool Lovers

long day

The sun bursts through the curtains, casting light across our small chaos of a bedroom. "Mia, can you please put on your shirt?" I call from downstairs, where I've already set a small disaster in motion.

"Mommy, it's too scratchy!" Mia whines from her room.

"Then let's find a soft one!" I shout back, glancing at the clock. We have ten minutes before we need to leave.

Suddenly, I hear Charlie's giggles. "Chandler, come on! Let's go! Let's go!"

"Charlie, wear your pants!" I yell back, barely keeping my sanity.

"But I wanna wear my superheroes!" he protests, hopping from one foot to another, balancing on the edge of the madness.

"Okay, superheroes are fine! Just put them on!"

Adrien appears, his hair tousled from sleep, but he smiles. "Anything I can help with?"

"Everything!" I declare, gesturing to the whirlwind around us.

"I got Mia, you get the twins?"

"Deal!" I rush upstairs, where Chandler is busy trying to pull Charlie's pajama top off him.

"Chandler!" I laugh, swooping in to assist. "Okay, let's get you both dressed." I manage to wrestle them into clothes, but they wiggle and squirm like little eels.

After what feels like a small eternity, we finally get everyone situated. "Shoes! Everyone needs shoes!" I shout, panic creeping into my voice as I gather diaper bags and baby Luke, who has just started to fuss from his crib.

"Luke, buddy, can you hold on for just a second?" I mumble, cradling him.

Mia rushes past me, now dressed—thank goodness! "Mommy, I'm ready!"

"Yes! You're amazing!" I grin at her.

"Okay, team cape on," Adrien says with a smirk as he finishes rescuing shoes from under the couch.

"Let's get in the car!" I chant like a cheerleader. The little ones rush past me, almost tumbling down the stairs in their excitement.

When I pull up to preschool, it feels like chaos but organized chaos. I manage to herd the kids out of the car and into the building, waving goodbye as they scamper off to their classrooms.

"See you after school, little munchkins!"

*after school*

Once I finally return home, I kick off my shoes and head to the kitchen. "Alright, snacks time!" The kids tumble back in, grumbling about their day while I hand them their favorite fruit.

"Mommy, I don't want this!" Charlie complains, folding his arms stubbornly.

"Mia, what do you want for dinner?" I ask, dodging the tantrum as best I can.

"Mac and cheese!" she chirps, beaming.

"Got it," I answer, shuffling over to the pantry, starting to prepare dinner.

Before I know it, Adrien walks through the door, looking tired but still strikingly handsome. "Hey, beautiful," he says, pulling me into a quick kiss.

"Long day?" I ask as I try not to burn the pasta.

"Just a shoot. You know how it goes," he replies through a yawn. "How's everyone holding up?"

"They're fine. Just crazy as always. I'm so glad you're here."

That evening, after an exhausting dinner and an epic battle to get the kids cleaned up, it's finally bedtime. "Alright, little ones, let's brush those teeth!" I call, leading the parade of tiny humans to the bathroom.

"Do I have to?" Charlie whines, pulling at my shirt.

"Yes! And you get a story afterward!"

With some coaxing, we settle down for the night. I read a quiet bedtime story, and a sense of calm washes over the room as they drift off into dreamland. "Goodnight, my little superheroes," I whisper, kissing each of their foreheads.

I tiptoe out, relieved, and finally take a moment to breathe. I glance at the clock—it's only 10:00.

In the middle of the night, I am jolted awake by the sound of giggles and chatter. Surely my tired brain is playing tricks on me. I tiptoe to the kids' rooms, but my worst fears are confirmed.

"Mia! What are you doing?" I gasp, walking into her room.

They've somehow managed to pull Luke from his crib and he's laughing, surrounded by his big siblings. "We're playing!" Mia beams, while Charlie and Chandler bounce around with uncontainable energy.

"Mommy, look!" Chandler squeals, as if they're about to perform the greatest act of rebellion ever.

"Back to bed, all of you!" I say, trying to maintain authority while suppressing a laugh at the sight of our giggling, bedraggled bunch.

"Mommy, it's a sleepover!" Charlie insists, still clutching Luke.

"No sleepovers tonight!" I say firmly, my patience hanging by a thread.

As I gather them back to their beds, I sigh, but I can't help the smile creeping up. "One day, I'll laugh about this," I murmur to myself, tucking them all in again.

"Goodnight, Mommy," they chorus, their eyes closing again.

As I watch them settle, I think about how crazy life is—and how I wouldn't trade them for anything. In the quiet afterward, I finally allow a huge grin to break free as I walk toward my bedroom, where an exhausted but wonderful husband awaits.