HUMBLE, Texas – The first day of school can be a hectic morning in any household, but imagine the kind of chaos that can ensue when there are five 6-year-olds to get ready. That’s just a normal day in the Real-Mayorga home.
Veronica Real-Mayorga and her husband, Enrique, were blessed to welcome quintuplets Aaron, Priscilla, Matilde, Joel and Isaac into the world six years ago. On Monday, that means the morning routine involves getting five first-graders dressed, fed, packed up and to the bus on time. The bus arrives at 5:30 a.m.
"The first one that is up we go with that one, then we go with the next one," Real-Mayorga said. "It’s not the same person every time. It depends on them and how willing they are for us to work with them. That’s on a daily basis," she said.
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With a wake-up call at 4:30 a.m. this year, that is a positive change from last year. Veronica Real-Mayorga starts her job at 7 a.m., which left all of the kindergarten prep to her husband last year. Now, the bus comes early enough where the parent duo can work in tandem.
As for the kids, the morning was filled with lingering sleepiness, a bit of sibling debate, some tears, plenty of laughter, but ultimately excitement about returning to school.
“I’m going to play at my playground," Issac said. "I’m going to have a lot of fun. I’m going to write."
"I’m excited about it because I’m going to school and see my friends," Priscilla said.
Once everyone’s teeth were brushed, hairdos complete and uniforms on, each of the siblings grabbed their backpacks and headed toward the bus stop. After a bit of a first day bus delay they were on their way to school.
With the kids finally on the bus the only question remaining was how is mom feeling.
"Relief. Relief," Real-Mayorga said. "Now, I can go and continue finishing what I need to do so I can get on time to my school."