a lot

We have a lot of teenage daughters at the moment

Five to be precise

Which means we also have a lot of other things

Hair brushes full of a lot of hair

Shoe racks full of a lot of shoes

Hanging racks full of a lot of clothes

(Possibly sagging from the weight)

(You’d think they wouldn't need to come steal dad’s t-shirts)

Shampoos and conditioners

Lotions and potions

Perfumes and body sprays

Chapsticks and glosses

Three of them have a license to drive so

Three little cars in the driveway feels like a lot

A lot of ‘can you cash app me for food?’ or gas

A lot of calls from the high school about a student being absent for ‘one or more classes’

A lot of ‘where are you- who you with - and when will you be home’

A lot of ‘buckle up’ and ‘drive safe’

A lot of waiting up long past when we’d like to be sleeping

To make sure they make it home

And to hear all about it

A lot of trips up and down the stairs in the morning

On repeat: ‘It’s time to get up, It’s time to get up’

A LOT of towels, mostly used ones

A lot of negotiations about whose car to drive

Whether one can wear another’s sweatshirt

Or, How much will you give me for cleaning your room?

A lot of dad’s jokes falling flat because teens are the toughest audience

And so much more