A/N: Thank you for everyone who has been commenting with suggestions. Your support has been great.
Stef was more than just exhausted by bedtime. She sort of wished that Callie and Jesus had been allowed to watch the movie, because she wound up having to entertain everyone the whole time it would have been playing. Brandon and Mariana had made a bold move to turn down watching a movie unless Jesus and Callie could join them. No matter how she explained it, they seemed to still not understand why they were in trouble with her. She was finishing up Brandon's bath when her phone started ringing. "It's Mama!" She shouted to the kids.
They all came running into the bathroom to have the chance to talk to Lena. Stef answered and then put the phone on speaker. "Hey Babies!"
"Hi Mama!" They answered happily.
"Did you guys have a fun day without me today?"
Her question at first was met by silence. It had been an odd day. "Sort of. Mommy doesn't do things like you, Mama." Brandon finally said. "We did get to go to McDonalds, though."
"Well, B, different is not always a bad thing. I am sure she is doing a great job. How about you, Cals? Did you have a good time with Mommy?"
"No. Mommy is mad at me, but I stopped. Jesus already had a time out, but he is still in trouble. I thought staying with Mommy would be fun, but I miss you, Mama."
Stef felt now felt a mixture of guilt, frustration, and most of all hurt. She didn't intend to make her kids feel this way, she was just trying to fix their behavior.
"I am sorry to hear that, Callie. I think tomorrow can be a better day. What do you think?"
"I might still be grounded. Then it would still be bad. Maybe you could come home now?" Callie asked with a little hope.
"No, Baby, I am sort of far from home without a car of my own. I can't just come home tonight." Lena said feeling bad about leaving her kids and sort of thinking it could never happen again. Stef recognized that tone right off.
"We did have a little trouble that we need to talk about later, but we also had a good time. Everyone is alive. Jude had a great day. I don't think he cried at all."
"What did you do today, Mariana?" Lena asked cutting Stef off a bit.
"I ate a hamburger."
"Have you been good for Mommy?"
"Yes."
"No. Mari has cried a lot. She wants to be with you. We all do." Brandon said intervening.
"I will be excited to see you when I come home, too. Jesus, you are being very quiet. Do you have anything to say?"
"No." He said grumpily.
"No? That seems unusual, Baby. Did you get to play at McDonalds? That is a fun thing Mommy does with her babies."
"I had a time out. Now I can't ever watch a movie."
"Why, Bud? What happened?"
"I don't know. Mommy said so."
"Well, how about you guys go lay down in your beds. I am going to talk to Mommy for a little while and then she will bring the phone around to say goodnight." Lena could hear the kids heading to their rooms before being taken off of speaker phone. "What happened, Babe?"
"Jesus bit someone. Like with his teeth. I put him in time out, but before he got out, Callie threatened to hit the same little girl for getting him in trouble. That was sort of the highlight, actually."
"Threatening to hit is just as bad as hitting. She should have been in time out for that. Did either of the two kids apologize to the little girl?"
"Oh, I talked to her about it and removed both kids from the area. When we were finishing up our food, Callie coped an attitude when I said she was not going to take a nap. She was quite angry and made a scene in the restaurant." Stef thought a moment. "I guess we didn't go apologize. I was just trying to make it through."
"Hmmm…." Lena said noting Stef's mistake. "When Callie showed you attitude did you give her a time out or anything then?"
"I gave her a warning pat and she basically stopped. Then we got home and did nap time."
"And did Callie refuse?"
"Not really. No, she was actually really compliant about going to sleep. I knew that biting was a particularly bad offense so I decided while the kids were sleeping that Jesus should be grounded from watching movies. Callie really had not been punished for her attitude. It just seemed right to ground both of them. What would you have done?"
"Remember, Babe they are four and five years old. Jesus has a very short attention span and even shorter memory sometimes. By the time I left this morning, he probably didn't remember what he had for breakfast. I am sure that he did not remember why he had a time out before you even let him up. That's why we talk to them at the end and have them apologize. If we determine that a time out is going to be used, there is no follow up grounding. Biting is bad, but for an impulsive four year old, it is a little typical. As for our little Callie, you were the one who pushed swatting her and it appears to me that it was successful to give her a warning. She stopped. We don't keep punishing after the behavior is over, it confuses them as they are still very young."
"Well, then later, Callie told me that she hated me. She did have to go to her room for space and did come back down on her own in a better mood." Stef said slowly realizing that she once again didn't follow up the way Lena liked it to be done.
"And did she sit on her bed to think about it or did she go and play with her toys and forget there was a conflict at all?" Lena questioned.
"I, um, didn't go check. I told her she was grounded longer and then didn't give her a cookie at dinner." Stef sighed. "Where do I go from here, Lena? I have these kids for two more days."
"Well, I am going to talk to each one just a little and then we will talk more about what to do next. Seriously, though, you love the kids and want what is best for them. Don't doubt yourself as a mother based on one incident. I had a day that I took all of them to a store and our son stole something when I wasn't watching him closely enough. We have all had days like this."
"I wanted to show you that I could do this…" Stef said in frustration sounding much like her five year old daughter.
"I know, and you can. And, Babe, Callie doesn't hate you. She was just angry. Callie could never hate her mommy."
"She called me, Stef… Even after her spankings she has never said she hated me."
"And did you get onto her for it?" Lena asked.
"Not really. I was so angry myself that I didn't think it would be good to go deal with her. I am just not a child expert like you. I couldn't really even handle them for long when we just had three… Remember the reindeer shirt at the doctor's office?"
Lena laughed. "I will never forget. You don't need to be a child expert. Just be an expert on our children. You love them and you know them better than I do sometimes. Now, let's start with Jude. He is probably already asleep."
Stef carried her phone into the nursery where their nearly one year old baby was sleeping. "He is asleep, but he still wants to hear from you, I think."
"Night, night, Jude! Mama loves you, Little Man." Lena cooed. Stef thought she saw a little smile flicker on the baby's face before she walked back out of the room. "Next, I want to talk to my boys."
Stef carried the phone to the boys' room. Brandon and Jesus jumped back into their beds when they saw her coming. "Mama wants to talk to each of you." Stef said handing the phone to Brandon first.
"Hi, Mama… No, I am okay. I miss you, too." Brandon giggled as he blew a kiss to Lena. "I got yours and I am sending you one, too. I love you, Mama."
Next, Stef handed to the phone to Jesus. "Mama! Yes…. Yes, Mama. No more bite….."
While Jesus kept talking to Lena, Stef took her chance to say good night to Brandon. "I love you, B. Tomorrow will be a better day, I promise." She reached over to smooth his hair and kiss his forehead.
Brandon put his arms around her neck and gave her a kiss back. "I love you, too, Mommy."
Stef smiled and then looked back down at Jesus who was nodding like Lena would be able to see him. He suddenly launched himself at Stef. "I love you, Mommy!" He said holding onto her tight.
"I love you, too, Buddy. Good night." Stef gave him a kiss and he laid back down. Stef turned out their light and shut their door. "Did you tell my son to jump on me?" Stef said with a little laugh.
"Not exactly. I told him to be sure that he told you that he loved you. The rest was all him. Now for my girls… Callie first, please. I don't want her thinking about all of this while I talk to Mariana."
Stef walked into the girls' room. Unlike the boys, they really had been waiting in their beds. As soon as she entered both girls looked up expectantly and reached toward the phone. "Mama is going to talk to Callie first and then to Mariana." Stef said handing the phone to Callie and seeing Mariana tear up a little again.
"Hi, Mama! But she said Jesus was not supposed to live here. Mommy says that saying someone doesn't belong is bad. She said he didn't look like my brother… Yes, Mama. No…. Really? Okay. I got it. I love you, too!"
Stef went over and got the phone and took it to Mariana. Callie looked at her nervously so she went over and sat down on Callie's bed. "Mama said she gave you a kiss to give to me instead of sending it over the phone."
Stef grinned and kissed Callie a few times on the cheek. "Is that it?"
Callie giggled. "No, Mommy, those were Mommy kisses. Mama kisses me just once on the forehead and it is soft."
Stef kissed Callie's stomach and then the top of her head. "Were any of those the kiss Mama sent you?"
This got a few more giggles. "No, Mommy, those were from you." Stef then kissed Callie in the middle of her forehead much like she had seen Lena do so many times. "That one was from Mama." Callie said sleepily climbing onto Stef's lap.
"Yep. Do you know how much I love you, Baby?" Callie shook her head because she knew this game. "I love you more than I love Brussel sprouts."
Callie made a face. "That one was silly, Mommy. I love you more than icky vegetables and time outs."
"I love you more than vegetables, giving you time outs," Stef said with a wink, "and coffee."
Callie looked at her with large eyes. She knew how much her mommy loved coffee especially first thing in the morning. "I love you more than those things and more than my milk with coffee and chocolate."
"That's good, Baby Bug, because that's all you are getting in the morning is time with me, right?" Stef said tickling her a little again.
"I want to sleep in the big bed with you tonight, Mommy. Mama said if I asked you might say yes since you would be lonely."
"You want to stay with me? The mean Mommy that you hate and call, Stef?"
"I don't hate you!"
"That's what you said earlier. It hurt my heart some, Bug. We are tight. Even if you are in trouble sometimes, I still love you, but you said you hated me. Hate is not a kind word."
"Oh. I didn't mean it." Callie said in a small serious voice. "I was just upset."
"I know that is true. I have said things I didn't mean when I was angry, too. I am sorry that I just yelled at you up the stairs instead of going upstairs and talking to you just like we are now." Stef said giving Callie another kiss.
"I am sorry that I was not nice today. Tomorrow can be better, right?" Callie said repeating what Lena had told her.
"Absolutely. And yes, you may stay in my room with me tonight if you want to, but first I am going to talk to Mama a little bit again. You may go ahead and get in the big bed now if you want and wait." Stef saw that Mariana's lengthy conversation with Lena was wrapping up.
Callie happily skipped off to her moms' room. Stef stood up and walked over to Mariana's bed and sat down ready to say good night to her when Lena was done. "I love you, Mama. Good night."
Stef took the phone back before giving Mariana a light kiss to her forehead and tucking her in tightly like she liked. "I love you, Miss Thing. Sleep well."
"Mommy?"
"Yes, Mari."
"I love you. I want to sleep in the big bed, too."
"Okay, Callie is already in there. Go lay down in Mama's spot." Stef knew that the smell of Lena would help Mariana sleep a little better and that's where she wanted to be. Mariana went to join Callie and Stef resumed her conversation with Lena. "It looks like I have both girls tonight, so I won't be lonely."
"Don't worry, I am positive you will end up with at least two boys also. The third boy just can't get himself out of his crib yet. When he can he will join. There is really nothing quite as special as going to sleep with your babies all around you…"
"I can think of something I consider more special…" Stef said suggestively. "My mom almost had Brandon and Callie broken of this habit when she stayed with us after Jude's birth…. Since the twins, though, we have had a bit more co sleeping. I think it is okay. It isn't every night… Callie and I talked. I think we are good now."
"I knew you would be. I trust your judgment with the grounding. If you are going to stick with it, though, you will need to remind them both several times that you love them and do not want them to bite or be disrespectful again."
"Well, I think I will tell both of them in the morning that their grounding is over. This parenting thing isn't easy… I am not sure how you do it by yourself so often. I wish I could be home more." Stef said.
"It is not for the faint of heart, that's for sure and I never do all of this alone. You know how many calls and texts you get from me every day. We are in this together, Babe. They are our children, not just mine or just yours. You remember that day that Callie ran off and hid at school? All I wanted you to do is just come home and spank her. It would have been her first. You reminded me that you couldn't be the one to discipline when you were not here. You trust me to make those choices and I trust you. Five kids is a lot; some would say too many. I know, though, you will be fine. You are a fantastic mother to our children."
"Thanks, Love. I know it is early, but I have at least two kids waiting for me. I understand now why you are so tired in the summers… So, I love you, Mrs. Adams Foster. Sweet dreams!"
"I love you, too, Stef."
XXX
Indeed, Stef ended up with four children as Lena predicted. It always did make her feel good to have at least one baby with her. To know that all four of the big ones still wanted to stay with her was also big. Stef gave Callie a little good morning kiss when she saw her stirring. She carefully picked up her little girl and left the room.
"Everyone else is sleeping, Bug. Let's go have breakfast before they get up so we can talk a little more. What do you say?"
"Are we going to eat our cereal?" Callie asked when Stef placed her on the counter.
"Yes, but no coffee in your milk today, only chocolate. After we are done, you can help me make some pancakes for the others." Callie handed the cereal down to Stef and then the chocolate syrup.
"If Jesus is up, he can help, too right, Mommy? He is a good helper." Stef lifted Callie from the counter and set her on a stool. She poured some cereal into a bowl and put some milk in it before placing it in front of Callie.
"Yep. I could use two helpers." Stef sat down with her own bowl. "Anyway, Bug, I wanted to let you know that you are no longer grounded or in trouble with me. We are going to go by Mama's routine from the refrigerator schedule that she made for the summer today. I think that will make the day go a little better than yesterday."
"I want to watch a movie today. That isn't on Mama's schedule. I also want to go swimming. We never get to swim anymore. I don't think Jesus even knows how yet."
"Hmm, I wonder if my dad is up. I bet he wouldn't mind coming with us. Then we could probably go. Let's put the cereal and chocolate syrup away and then I will give him a call." Stef put Callie back on the counter and she got the stuff put back in their secret spot.
Stef came back a few minutes later with an odd look on her face. "Grandpa is not available for this afternoon, but he did give me another idea I had not considered. When I was little, we got a little pool and put it in the backyard. It wouldn't be very deep, but we could find one everyone could use. Would that be okay?"
"Then we could go swimming every day! Yes, Mommy! How do we get a pool?" Callie said hopping with her excitement.
"Well, when everyone is up and has breakfast, we will all get dressed and go to Target. We will pick out a pool and then I will get it ready during naptime. After naps, everyone can swim." Stef suggested making sure it was realized that naps were going to happen even starting this early in the morning.
"We can do it together while everyone sleeps! That is a great idea, Mommy. You are so smart." Callie said not really getting the idea that she would also have to nap.
"I was definitely meaning something like that… Actually, I was thinking everyone younger than ten would take at least a little nap or rest time today. It is on Mama's schedule."
"Even B this time?"
"Even B. Mommy will need time to set up the pool without any helpers. And if we are going to go swimming, you will all need lots of energy. Sleeping should help."
Stef heard some fast footsteps coming from the stairs. "I think I hear Jesus up. We better get started on the pancakes because everyone will be up soon."
