The unscheduled Devotion

Table for four

Episode 3

With my hands planted firmly on my hips, I stood in the doorway, staring at the chaos before me. The room was far from the word messy it was an absolute battlefield of scattered toys, clothes, and papers.

After a long, draining day at the hospital, this was not exactly the welcome I had hoped for. My shoulders slumped, and I sighed deeply, feeling the weight of fatigue settle into every muscle.

To make matters worse, the kitchen shelves were bare not a grain of rice, not even a tomato in sight. Dinner wasn’t going to make itself, and neither was this mess going to disappear magically.

I stood there, lost in thought, debating which disaster to tackle first. Should I head to the nearest shop to grab groceries, or should I start organizing the house before it completely swallowed me alive?

Then, it hit me a small, familiar thought that melted away my irritation.

My little angels would be home any minute now. I could already imagine their tiny footsteps rushing through the hallway, their voices chiming like music:

“Mummy, we’re famished!”

The image made me smile despite the exhaustion. Somehow, that single thought gave me strength because no matter how messy the house or how tired I was, those little voices always made everything worth it.

I decided it was wiser to use the time to tidy up the room first and later treat the kids to dinner outside. A little break would do all of us some good.

As expected, they came home though a bit earlier than usual. The moment they stepped through the door, I could tell how tired they were. Their little backpacks dropped to the floor, and before I could even greet them properly, they flopped onto the sofa with tired sighs, kicking off their shoes like tiny whirlwinds finally out of energy.

Within minutes, they were snuggled up against each other, fast asleep their soft breaths filling the room with peace. I smiled at the sight; even after the longest days, they looked like angels when they slept.

Their nap bought me just enough time to finish organizing the house. I folded the last blanket, arranged the cushions, and gave the room one final approving glance. Everything looked neat again, calm like my world was finally back in order.

Then, quietly, I tiptoed to their room and laid out their clothes for the evening neat little outfits for our dinner outing. Tonight would be special, just the four of us.

Even at just three years old, my little ones Jin, Jinny, and Jinelle were surprisingly independent. They could bathe, dress, and do almost everything on their own. But honestly, I still found joy in helping them in brushing Jinny’s hair, buttoning up Jin’s shirt, and tying Jinelle’s ribbon just right. Those small moments made me feel like the luckiest mother alive.

By 6:05 p.m., we were finally ready to head out. The house that had been filled with chaos earlier now echoed with laughter as we locked the door behind us.

“Mummy, which restaurant are we going to tonight?” Jinny asked, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.

Before I could answer, Jin and Jinelle chimed in together, “Westline Restaurant!”

I chuckled. “Guessed it right, my loves,” I said, giving them a playful wink.

When we arrived, the warm lights of Westline Restaurant welcomed us like an old friend. We took our usual spot Jin sitting across from me, while Jinny and Jinelle cuddled close on either side. The triplet giggled over the menu, pretending to read, while Jin proudly announced everyone’s order like a little gentleman.

Soon, plates of colorful dishes arrived, the aroma filling the air. They dug in eagerly, their tiny hands and bright smiles lighting up the evening. Watching them laugh and eat, I felt my heart swell these three were my world, my reason, my everything.After dinner, we treated ourselves to dessert a sweet ending to a perfect meal. The kids couldn’t stop giggling as they shared spoonfuls of ice cream, smearing chocolate on their lips and pretending not to notice. Their laughter filled the restaurant, drawing smiles from nearby tables.

On our way home, we made a quick stop at the grocery store. I grabbed a cart while the three of them toddled along beside me, helping in their own adorable way Jin insisting on picking the apples, Jinny carefully selecting cereal boxes, and little Jinelle proudly holding the basket of eggs as if it were treasure. By the time we checked out, our bags were filled with food and other essentials for the week.

When we finally got home, the night felt calm and soft. Since it was Saturday tomorrow, there was no rush, no homework, no alarms just peace. We all curled up together on the sofa, the living room bathed in the gentle glow of the television. A family series played in the background, but I was more focused on the way my children’s eyelids grew heavier with every passing minute.

Before long, they were fast asleep Jin’s head resting on my lap, Jinny leaning against my shoulder, and Jinelle curled up like a kitten beside me. My heart melted at the sight.

One by one, I carried them to their room, tucking them under their little blankets. I kissed each of them on the forehead and whispered, “Goodnight, my angels.”

Then, with a tired but contented smile, I headed to my room, letting the quiet of the night wrap around me. It had been a long day but a beautiful one.

I was awakened by the sound of laughter tiny feet bouncing on my bed and little voices shouting, “Mummy, wake up!” Before I could even open my eyes, I felt soft kisses all over my face and small hands tugging at the blanket.

Their joy was contagious. Jin, Jinny, and Jinelle were giggling like little bells, their energy lighting up the whole room. I couldn’t help but laugh too, wrapping my arms around them and pulling them in for a warm morning cuddle.

It was one of those rare days no school for them, no hospital duties for me. Just us. We stayed tangled in the sheets, playing silly games, tickling each other, and laughing until our sides hurt. Pillows flew, giggles echoed, and for a moment, it felt like the world outside didn’t exist.

When we were finally out of breath from all the fun, I sat up and said, “Alright, my little warriors bath time!” They squealed and raced to the bathroom, their laughter trailing behind them.

After freshening up, we headed downstairs to make breakfast together. The sun streamed softly through the kitchen window as we prepared our little morning feast a perfect start to a peaceful Saturday.

The kids insisted on helping with breakfast and by helping, I mean turning the kitchen into a mini playground. Jin tried flipping pancakes, Jinny stirred the milk a little too enthusiastically, and Jinelle proudly carried plates to the table, her tiny steps careful and determined. Despite the playful chaos, we somehow managed to make a perfect whole-wheat meal, laughing through every moment.

After eating, we spent the rest of the day doing what we loved most playing video games, singing along to silly songs, and curling up together to watch our favorite movies. The living room echoed with laughter, soft chatter, and the sound of happiness.

By evening, the day’s energy began to fade. We had dinner something simple yet delicious and shared quiet smiles as we talked about our favorite parts of the day. When bedtime came, my little angels kissed me goodnight, whispering “We love you, Mummy,” before running off to their rooms.

As the house grew silent, I sat back for a moment, a warm smile on my face. Tired, yes but deeply content. Days like this reminded me what true peace felt like