Mia: Don’t think that you are off the hook, Lex. How am I going to have time to pack four bags for the kids?
Tate: It better be somewhere warm, you know how I hate the cold.
Tilly: You are such a child, Tate. But seriously, Lex, are we packing for hot or cold weather?
Grayson: I’m working up to Christmas Eve and on call for the few days before we leave. How the hell am I organizing the kids?
Bella: Can you all just stop, and can we go back to this is an adult-friendly trip? Drinking, relaxing, and lots of uninterrupted sex.
Tate: Yeah, Tink! That’s my girl.
Lex: Seriously, Bella, you had to go there. We nearly made it without the word sex being mentioned.
Bella: Have you met my husband?
Lex: And he has rubbed off on you.
My sides are hurting from laughing so hard at the speed with which the messages are rolling up the screen in front of me.
Lex: We are seven days away from our flight, where you and your children will be boarding the plane. Pack for warm weather. That is all you get. Enjoy your day.
Grayson: You suck.
Tate: What he said!
Bella: This time I agree.
Paige: Me too.
Mia: No comment.
Tilly: Sorry, Lex, I’m with them.
Mason: Well, aren’t you all going to be eating your words next week.
Mason did try to warn me that there would be mutiny when I started to prepare them for the trip, but he also thought it was a brilliant plan.
Lex: I can’t wait!
The alarm on my phone starts ringing to tell me it’s time to leave to pick Kayla and the twins up from Jonathan and Beth’s house where they have spent the afternoon. I’m sure they’ve had a great time with their grandparents doing Christmas activities. Jack has been at a music workshop with some friends, so Mia will grab him on her way home.
The moment I’m in the car and driving down the road, my phone starts ringing, and it’s Mia.
“Hi, baby, how’s your day going?”
“Don’t you ‘hi, baby’ me. What are you up to? Why are we taking the kids with us? I don’t get enough time with you as it is, I didn’t want to share you. I mean, I love the kids, you know that, but I’m so confused.”
I can’t help but burst out laughing at her. My wife was such a shy, uncertain woman when I met her, but it didn’t take long for her true self to shine through. She is a confident, intelligent, and strong woman now, and even in the bedroom, she’s happy to take what she wants. Which I’m certainly not complaining about.
“Mia, trust me, you will still have plenty of Sexy Lexy time. And you don’t have to worry, I will pack for the kids and myself.You just need to pack for yourself.” I hate hearing her sigh with disappointment, but it will be worth it.
“When you asked me to clear our calendars for ten days, I’m not going to lie, I got a little excited at the thought of getting so much time without the kids. But you’ve never let me down before, so I’ll trust you. Just please tell me that I’m not going to have to listen to Tate or all the other children complain for ten days straight because they aren’t happy with your choice.”
“I love how you included Tate in with the kids.” That has her letting out a little giggle. “And you don’t have to worry; this is going to be the New Year’s Eve of all New Year’s Eves so far. You and the kids will love it, and I’m just going to say one more thing. I did ask for your help, and you told me I was on my own, so…”
“Ughh, I hate that you remembered that. I have to go, I have a Zoom meeting before I pick up Jack. Say thanks to Dad and Mom for having the kids. I’m sure they have had a great day with Nanny Beth spoiling them rotten.” I love hearing Mia refer to Jonathan and Beth as Mom and Dad. She deserves the love of a big family who wrap their arms around her and help her flourish.
“Will do. Message if you get stuck on your call and I’ll grab Jack too.” When I was growing up, I had a driver, a nanny, butler, and cook, and I could do that for our kids too, but that’s not how we want them growing up. There are times we use our nanny, drivers, and sadly security at times, which comes with the territory of being wealthy, but we love the chaos of a household that’s just two working parents and four crazy kids. Mia laughs at me when I often tell her how much I longed for this as a child. My childhood was lonely, and I vowed never to let that be the case for our kids.
