"My mother spent way more than she should have on this dance!" Lena said again looking around at the carnage left behind after the package was delivered. They had sent the four oldest to change into their new clothing to make sure it would all fit. Jude followed them sort of jealous that he was not yet old enough to join in the festivities.
"We should have the kids call tonight and thank her for all of this." Stef said picking up the plastic that had been around various clothing articles. "I think they will look fantastic. We couldn't have done this for them, that's for sure."
"I agree. Since we are not paying for any clothing for them, maybe we could take the girls to get their hair and nails done? Or get boutonnieres and corsages? She was right when she said this evening needs to be special. Next year Callie and Brandon will both be in middle school. They will be going to a real dance without us."
"That's not entirely true. You sponsor many activities, you can probably volunteer for that one, right? If Principal Sanchez says no to you, I can get on the middle school dance committee and go myself. We don't have to let them go so quickly." Stef answered looking over at her wife.
Lena giggled a little. "You are exactly what someone would want on one of those committees… Seriously, Stef?"
"If that's what it takes. I am not going to be one of those people who just releases the kids into the wild because they have entered middle school. If my kids are anything like me, that's when they will need the most watching and the most support."
"This is true, but sadly not usually the case. You might be surprised how many middle school parents have no idea what their kids are up to. At the same time, in middle school they will be involved in many more activities. Some of which we really can't be involved in. I am not saying that we are setting them free, but we will have to trust them a little bit more. Preparing them for life means preparing them to make some of their own decisions. We need to find middle ground."
"Or maybe we could just put bricks on their heads now and prevent them from growing anymore?"
Lena laughed a little again. "Yes, or that."
They heard at least one set of feet coming down the stairs and looked up to see Jesus with Jude hot on his heels. He was wearing his new pants, shoes, shirt, and vest with the tie in his hands. "Do I really have to wear a purple shirt just because Callie's dress is purple?"
"Yep, that's how it works, son. From now on your date always gets to choose." Stef answered while Lena glared a little in her direction.
"Grams wanted the two of you to match for the pictures and because we are going together. I will also look for something about the right color so that we can be together. You look very handsome." Lena carefully put the tie on him. "It looks like it all fits perfectly. Go take it off. If you hang it up properly, you may play video games until dinner. Mom will be up to check in a few minutes."
"Really? I will hang it up. Come on, Jude!" The two boys took off up the stairs.
Then they heard more feet. It was both girls this time. "Oh! You two look so beautiful! Look at them, Stef!" Tears came to Lena's eyes again as she looked at her two daughters looking so grown up.
"Look, Mama and Mommy! I asked Grams for a skirt that twirls and this one is perfect!" Mariana said spinning a little bit and reminding Lena she was still just a little girl.
"You two are going to be the best dressed girls at the whole dance." Stef said proudly. "How about you, Bug? Are you liking your dress as much as Miss Thing here?"
"It is okay. It doesn't have big flowers or bows and it is my favorite color of purple." Callie smiled just a little. "And it does make me feel a little like a princess."
"It looks like everything fits perfectly. Go hang up your clothing so it will be ready. We told Jesus that he could play video games until dinner. You two may either join him or do something else. Mom is going to make sure everything is hung up right, though, so do a good job."
Jude was soon back down with Brandon. His shirt and tie matched Mariana's dress. "Does he look handsome, Mama?" Jude asked nearly dancing around the room in the joy of seeing everyone else all dressed up.
"He does. What do you think, Mom?"
"I think Dana did a perfect job shopping for our especially attractive children. You look great, Brandon."
Brandon beamed at the compliments. "Thanks. Do you think this will still fit when I go to piano contest in March? I would like to wear it for that, too."
"These clothes should still fit by then. How about you go hang this stuff up and then you can join Jesus playing video games until dinner. Sound good?"
Brandon wrinkled his nose. "I think Callie said she was going to play. Sometimes it isn't fun to play with both of them. May I just practice my piano instead?"
"Of course." Brandon left to go back upstairs with Jude still following. "Well, if you go check on the children, I will go start dinner. I have already got the ingredients together to make lasagna."
"Ah, a favorite of our fast growing family. Which type?" Stef asked as she started to leave the room.
"Vegetarian. We made Jude eat a little beef last night. It isn't worth doing two nights in a row. Besides, many studies show that red meat should not be eaten every day. The kids will get protein from the beans and cheese in the lasagna." Lena justified.
"You always do the right thing for our family, Babe. I am not questioning you, I was just wondering what I should be getting hungry for. It sounds delicious."
Lena went into the kitchen to work on dinner. Pretty soon Jude joined her to be the helper. "When Jesus done with the purple shirt will it be mine?"
"Of course. Just like your favorite Spiderman shirt was his first."
"I think it is really pretty." Jude sighed. "What about Mari's green dress?"
"Usually we give those to a teacher at school who has a little girl in preschool. This might be one of the things she will want to hang on to, though." Lena answered looking at Jude quizzically. "Why?"
"It is even more pretty that Jesus's shirt. Did you see all of the sparkles on it?"
"I did." Lena said making a mental note to talk to Stef about this later, but for now decided another topic was in order. "I was thinking about calling Conner's mom and seeing if the two of you could have a sleepover at his house the night of the dance."
"Really, Mama?" Jude asked with excitement. "I have never stayed at his house all night! It will be so fun! I hope she says yes!"
"Me too."
XXXX
By the time dinner was ready, Lena had already had to stop a small fight between Jesus and Callie over their game. Jude had disappeared up the stairs on the pretense of washing his hands and getting Brandon from upstairs. Stef started putting food on the plates and was finished by the time Lena came in with Jesus and Callie. "No video games for either one of you for two days." She said sternly.
Callie knew the voice and as much as she feared Stef, she feared that tone even more. Jesus barely let it register in his fast moving brain. "Really just Callie, right? I mean I wasn't the one who started it."
Lena glared him down. "No, I also mean you. We do not call anyone else stupid and we do not threaten to kill anyone." Callie smirked a bit, but remained silent. Lena saw the look at turned to her daughter. "And you, young lady, we also do not shove the other person's character off of a cliff on purpose or unplug the game system like you did. That could damage the cord where you could never play again. I think two days might be enough, but keep this up and we can have more."
Jude then appeared looking oddly disheveled with Brandon. He sensed the tension and was unsure if he was in trouble or not so he crept into the room quietly. "There's our oldest and youngest. Now we can eat."
After dinner, Lena left Mariana and Jude wash dishes while Callie cleared the table. Stef stuck around to supervise and help. Brandon wandered back into his room. Lena noticed a light on in the girls' room and peeked in only to see Mariana's dress on the floor. She took it downstairs feeling a mixture between anger and disappointment. She saw Stef first. "I though you said this was hanging in the closet. I found it crumpled on the floor."
"I swear I checked on everyone's clothes and everything was hanging in the closet. Did you find anyone else's stuff on the floor?" Stef asked surprised.
"No. Do you think Mariana put it back on after she hung it up then?"
"That's my only guess."
Lena walked in the kitchen with dress still in her hands. "Mariana, when you are done, I need to hang this back up. Remember how I told you that these clothes were expensive and we have to treat them well? Leaving them on the floor does not work for me. If I find it like this again, you will not wear it to the dance. Do you understand?"
Mariana looked up at Lena with tears. "I did hang it up, Mama. I would never leave my special dress on the floor. I promise."
"You say that, but I know where I found it. What really happened, Mariana?"
Jude started crying. "It wasn't Mari, it was me. I really wanted to try on her sparkly dress with the twirling skirt. So, I got it out of her closet and put it on. Then I remembered dinner and I didn't get it put back right. I am sorry, Mama." Jude hung is head low.
"In that case, you and not your sister needs to come hang it back in the closet properly." Lena looked over to where Mariana had perked up some. "I am sorry that I jumped to the conclusion so quickly. I should have known you would be more careful with your things."
Lena took Jude back into the girls' room to put the dress away. "Are you mad at me, Mama? Brandon said it was bad that I put on girl clothes."
"I am a little irritated, but not mad. I have said before that you may wear anything you want inside the house. That dress, though, is special to Mariana. When you touch other people's things you must be more careful. So, I am not upset that you wanted to wear a dress, that doesn't matter to me. It just matters that you came into someone else's room and didn't take care of their things."
"Oh. Will you tell Brandon that?" Jude asked putting the dress on a hanger.
"I will. Right now, though, you need to go sit on your bed for a time out." Lena said taking the hanger and hanging it in the closet. "Remember it has nothing to do with your choice in clothing, only your choice to not take care of Mari's things."
XXXX
"I just can't believe you gave Jude a time out." Stef said again when they started a movie after the kids were all in bed.
"Why? I discipline the kids all the time. It was also me who took away video games from Jesus and Callie today. Did that surprise you?"
"Not really. You do a great job with the kids, it isn't that. It's just the fact it was Jude. The one of our children I have never swatted. The one who has only had time outs a handful of times in six years rather than almost daily like the other four. He is amazing good for how little discipline he has had. Did he cry?"
"No, he understood. We talked at the end again about staying out of other people's rooms. I also told Brandon that it was okay for Jude to try on girl clothing sometimes."
"Do you really think that is okay, Lena? Yes, Jesus even had his fingernails painted when he was small. Jude, though, still does. Jude likes many things that are traditionally female. He has always liked playing dress up. I agree that we should allow our children to express their own selves, but he is much different than the other two boys."
"That he is. Remember, though, sweetheart, liking certain colors and certain things does not determine sexual preference. He is just free to be whoever he is. We are just here to guide him. Besides, if he likes boys instead of girls would it change how you feel about him at all?"
"Of course not. Actually it would be kind of nice when I think about it. You know how hard it was for me to tell my dad. He already knows that we accept him. Jude would be one of the fortunate ones."
"You're right. That's why I love you." Lena snuggled in closer and kissed Stef passionately.
XXXX
The Saturday of the dance was cloudy, nevertheless all four of the kids going to the dance were up before six hanging out by the door in front of their moms' room. "You knock, Callie." Mariana whispered loudly. "Mom never gets upset when it is you."
"That's not true." Callie protested a little louder. "I am always in more trouble than you. I think Jesus should knock."
"Mom said I would be grounded forever woke her up again." Jesus said remembering a few days earlier when he had been throwing a ball against the wall around three am and woke Stef.
"That was because it was the middle of the night. She didn't mean that and you know it." Callie answered. "If you won't, I think you should, Brandon. You are the oldest."
"And I have the most responsibility already. No way. Mom hates being woken up…" He was interrupted by the door opening to a very sleepy and grouchy looking Stef.
"Go back to bed all of you." She said starting to shut the door again.
"But Mom…" Callie started.
"No. It is a weekend and Mama and I want to sleep. If you are no longer tired, go clean your rooms or something." Jesus nudged Callie and they started for the stairs. "No video games. Go back to your rooms."
"Stef, is that our babies you are talking to? They are probably just excited. Tell them I will be up in just a few minutes to make them breakfast." Lena called from her cozy place in bed.
"I am sure you all heard Mama. Until she gets up, go back to your rooms." Stef repeated again.
"Someone must have had a late night…" Jesus muttered under his breath.
"You better believe it. Mama and I had a very late night and before you start saying TMI, remember that you brought it up." The kids gave Stef a disgusted look before turning back towards their rooms. Stef closed her own door back and went to crawl back into bed.
"You know we have to get up now, right?" Lena asked already sitting up.
"Hmmmm, I think you said you were getting up with them. Me, not so much. I told them to go back to bed. You know as well as me that they will be super tired and cranky before bedtime tonight if they don't sleep a little more."
"Yes, that is why we are going to have quiet lay down time this afternoon. They won't be able to sleep anymore right now." Lena said getting up. "Well, my babies and I are going to get up and have a big breakfast. When you care to join us you should come down stairs."
Lena left the room and went down to the kitchen with the four biggest. Jude soon joined Stef in her room. "Everyone left us, Mommy. I thought maybe we could sleep more."
"Sounds good, Bud, just lay down."
"Okay… Do you want to hear about my dream last night?"
"Not really."
Jude giggled. "Well, I was riding on a dragon and we were flying in the sky. Then Jesus came and he was on his own dragon and then we were at Disneyland like we are going to this summer…."
Stef sat up a little realizing this wasn't going to work. "You know, I think Mama was right. I think it is time for breakfast after all."
Lena was pleasantly surprised to see Jude and Stef come down together a few minutes later. "Why did you all even want us to get up this early? You know that you could have come down stairs watched TV or something. You all are big kids." Stef commented pouring some coffee into her cup and feeling a little better after a few sips.
"We wanted breakfast. Mama doesn't like us using stuff in the kitchen if she isn't there." Callie answered.
"We have cereal. You could have eaten that."
"That's not the same. We needed a good breakfast so that we would have the energy to do all the things that need to be done today. Mama always says that breakfast is important." Mariana said this time.
"You know what I think?" The kids shook their heads. "I think you just wanted to be with us. That's okay, too, you know. I like being with you also. I just wanted to be with you later in the day, that's all." Stef said looking at all of them.
