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I place my hand on Tillie’s arm. “We don’t say junk punch. We also don’t threaten to punch someone. That’s not polite.”
“Auntie Wendy told me if a boy messes with me to junk punch them.”
Ryan releases a sigh and pinches the bridge of his nose. “My sister is a menace.”
“What’s a menace, Daddy?”
“Did you have your spelling test today?” I ask, changing the subject. Being parents is like being a professional wrestling tag team.
“It’s tomorrow.”
“Finish up your dinner and we can go over your words a few times.”
“I already know how to spell them all,” she states confidently.
“That’s great, but we’re still going to review them.”
Tillie doesn’t look happy, but I’m trying to make sure she forms solid work habits at a young age. My parents didn’t do that for me. They were both busy with their own careers, especially my father, who traveled a lot—and still does.
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned the importance of having a strong work ethic, and, out of necessity, I’ve learned how to best manage my time.
“Do I have to?” Tillie whines.
“You heard Mom,” Ryan backs me up.
“Okay,” she agrees, her lips puckering into a pout.
We finish dinner and Ryan cleans up while I head upstairs with Tillie. I set her pajamas on the bathroom counter while she showers. Moving on to her bedroom, I choose her school clothes for tomorrow and set them out on top of her dresser.
Tugging my phone free from my pocket, I sink down onto her bed and find the screenshot I took of her spelling list.
Tillie walks into the room and my eyes raise from my phone. “Mommy, will you please do my hair?” She hands me a bright pink comb.
“Of course I will. And I love those manners you’re using. Keep it up, sweetie.” I set my phone down and carefully begin to untangle the knots in her wet locks. I try to be as gentle as possible. When I’m finished, her blonde hair lies in a smooth, straight sheet to the middle of her back. Dividing it into sections, I fasten them into a braid, securing the end with an elastic.
“Did you brush your teeth already?”
“Yep. I just did.” She blows her fresh breath in my face to prove it.
Smiling, I shake my head. “Come here.” I pull her onto my lap, wrapping my arms around her. I press a kiss to her cheek. “I love you so much.”
“I love you too, Mommy.”
I rub my cheek against hers. “Hmm, you smell so clean.” Pressing my nose to her neck, I repeatedly sniff like a dog, and she giggles.
Ryan comes into the room. “How’s the spelling word studying going?”
“Daddy! Why did you remind Mommy? I think she forgot about them.”
I tickle her side with my fingertips, and she laughs. “I didn’t forget.” Picking up my phone, I show her the screenshot of the list. “But your dad is right. We need to run through them.”
“Aww.” She pouts.
“If you get every one correct on the first try, you’ll be done,” I say.
She nods eagerly. “Okay.”
Every single word I read from the list, she spells right, and we’re finished in less than five minutes.
