“Oh, son. It was a busy and long day. I think I have the most challenging boss on the planet.” Denise was enjoying having her children all around her. She especially liked the fact that she’d gotten home early enough for the little ones’ bath night. That meant that William wouldn’t be hiding in his room, because it was his responsibility to make sure Benjamin and Sarah were bathed every other night, because Naomi was busy with the rest of the household responsibilities.

“Mother, Naomi is too bossy,” Sarah said through the towel that William had placed over here head to dry her hair.

“Why do you say so, my beloved?” Denise furrowed her brow and feigned sincere concern. She knew exactly what Sarah was going to say.

“She makes us do homework and put away our toys and eat yucky vegetables. Right, Benjamin?” Sarah wiggled her head out of the towel and looked at Benjamin. Benjamin, always so shy and quiet looked at Sarah, then Naomi, then his mother and back to Sarah.

“The vegetables were good tonight,” he said in a quiet voice.

“See, Mother. Benjamin thinks she’s too bossy, too,” Sarah asserted as she put her hands on what would be hips one day. Denise stifled a laugh, and put on her most serious face.

“Sarah, I’m sorry you think Naomi is too bossy, but she’s only telling you to do what I told her to tell you to do. Are you doing what Naomi tells you to do?” Denise watched Sarah nod her head up and down.

“Mother, Sarah always does what I ask her to do. She’s a very good girl,” Naomi chimed in, leaving off the fact that  Sarah complained every step of the way. Naomi knew her mother already knew that part.

When Naomi had brought this complaint to Denise before, she had asked Naomi to be extremely patient with Sarah. Denise explained to Naomi that Sarah had a different personality than her other three children. Denise didn’t want Naomi to try to break Sarah’s spirits, but she did want Naomi to find a way to get Sarah to comply. Her children had to work together. They had to help Denise raise them. That was all there was to it. She didn’t like leaving her older children in charge and responsible for the little ones, but someone had to make up the income that their father just wasn’t able to provide.

As her children’s father, Emmanuel gave all he could and all the time. Even as generous as he was with his money and time, he was spread thin with taking care of his other children, as well. Denise couldn’t fault him for his career choice either. He’d taken a lower-paying job with his company that not only allowed him to meet his financial obligations to all his children, but it also afforded him the ability to make his own hours so he could attend his children’s activities and bear some of the carpooling responsibilities.

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