Cleaning With a Deadline
December 26, 2025 was another day shaped by cleaning—this time was a very specific purpose. I was preparing the house for Eve and the girls to stay the night. Not just surface cleaning, but the kind where you want things to feel welcomin, calm, and ready for noise again.
While I tried to stay focused, Jaden needed my attention constantly. Every few minutes, he was asking for help finding his Nintendo Switch. When I finally stopped what I was doing to help, we still couldn't find it—though later I noticed the case sitting out, so I suspect it eventually surfaced on its own.
Then came the next request: going to the store. Or McDonald's. Immediately. Because when he has money, it must be spent right away.
A Small Moment of Growing Up
In the middle of all that, something significant happened—Isabella went to a friend's house without me for the first time. Grandma met the friend's dad halfway, and Isabella went off to play with Brandon and their friend.
It was a small thing. And also not small at all.
As I rushed around trying to stay on schedule, I walked down to pick her up later—farther than I remembered it being. While she was supposed to be getting ready, I ran Jaden to McDonald's so he could spend his money.
I jokingly asked if he was buying me lunch.
He said no.
That's fine. Truly. But it did make me laugh internally. When I was a kid, if my dad had even joked about that, I would've absolutely bought him lunch without hesitation. Different generations, I guess.
Falling Behind Schedule
When we got back, Isabella hadn't started getting ready at all. What should've been quick turned into another long stretch of patience, reminders, and resistance. By the time everything finally came together, I was running over an hour late.
I hate being late—especially when someone is waiting on me.
A Scare on the Trail
We finally picked up Eve and the girls and headed out for a nature walk at Gemini Springs. The plan was fresh air, movement, and then a playground.
Nature had other ideas.
One of the girls found a wild orange and decided to eat it. Not long after, she started feeling really sick. Eve and I were genuinely scared. When your brain goes into panic mode, logic gets fuzzy—I even caught myself looking up whether eating an orange could be dangerous.
We cut the outing short and headed home instead.
Thankfully, not long after we got back, she started feeling better. Relief doesn't even begin to cover it.
Dinner, Games, and Noise
I made spaghetti for dinner and tried a new approach to it. Unfortunately, it didn't land the way my usual version does. That one stung a bit—I really wanted the girls to experience my good cooking.
The rest of the night was what you'd expect: games, laughter, runnin around, and a house that slowly returned to chaos despite all the cleaning earlier.
Getting everyone settled for bed was a struggle. It always is. Eventually, sometime after 11, the house finally went quiet.
Adult Time and Lingering Thoughts
Eve and I watched the last few episodes of The Ranch and spent some time together once the kids were asleep. Conversations wandered. Some topics probably didn't need to be revisited. Old names and old stories surfaced—especially involving The Sister and patterns that feel uncomfortably familiar.
At a certain point, I reminded myself that not every truth needs to be confronted immediately—and not ever realization requires action tonight.
The Kind of Tired That Doesn't Sleep
When we finally laid down, sleep didn't come easily for me. Too warm. An arm falling asleep. Constant shiftin to find a comfortable position without waking her.
Eventually, I rolled over and let my body settle where it needed to.
What Today Left Me With
Today was exhausting in ways that had nothing to do with physical work alone.
It was preparation that unraveled.
Plans interrupted by fear.
Moments of joy threaded through tension.
And still, it ended with the house full, the kids safe, and the day behind us.
Some nights don't offer rest so much as they offer an ending.
And sometimes, that's enough.