The afternoon sun cast a soft glow through the open window, filling the small, cozy home with golden warmth. It was one of those peaceful days when everything seemed calm, and Mom decided it was the perfect time to enjoy a little “beauty time” for herself.
After a long week of cooking, cleaning, and taking care of Lala, Mom thought, Why not give myself a break today? Just an hour for me. She gathered her skincare products, brushes, creams, and nail polish, then sat by the vanity. With a quiet smile, she began her little self-care ritual.
But not too far away, Lala was watching.
The little one had been playing with her stuffed monkey when she noticed Mom applying a facial mask and brushing her hair with extra care. At first, Lala tilted her head in curiosity, wondering why Mom looked so different with the creamy mask covering her face. But then, as minutes passed and Mom didn’t call her over or include her, Lala’s big round eyes began to dim.
Lala was used to being by Mom’s side all the time. Whether it was cooking, gardening, or even resting, she was always included. Today felt unusual—Mom seemed lost in her own world, humming softly while applying lotion, carefully trimming her nails, and ignoring Lala’s little glances.
“Mom…” Lala muttered softly, her lips pouting. But Mom didn’t hear.
Feeling left out, Lala dragged her stuffed monkey across the floor and plopped onto the couch with a sigh. She crossed her little arms, puffed her cheeks, and sulked. Her eyes followed Mom’s every move, and with each brush stroke through Mom’s shiny hair, Lala grew more and more convinced: Mom had forgotten about her.
It wasn’t that Mom didn’t care, of course. She just thought Lala was busy playing and wanted to give herself a few moments of quiet peace. But in a child’s heart, the absence of attention feels much bigger than it truly is.
The Sulking Grows
Lala soon decided that if Mom wasn’t going to call her, she would make her feelings known. She stomped her little feet toward the corner, sat down with her monkey, and turned her back dramatically to Mom.
“Hmm! I don’t want to play anymore,” Lala said, though mostly to herself.
She peeked over her shoulder, hoping Mom would notice her pout and rush over to comfort her. But Mom was still focused, carefully painting her nails a lovely soft pink.
Lala’s eyes welled with tiny tears. She wasn’t angry—she was sad. Mom’s beauty time felt like a wall between them.
The First Hint
Eventually, Mom glanced around the room and noticed how quiet it had become. Normally, Lala would be running, giggling, or asking questions nonstop. But now she was silent, sitting stiffly in the corner with her arms crossed.
“Lala?” Mom called softly.
No answer.
“Sweetheart, what’s wrong?”
Still nothing. Lala turned her face away, trying her best to stay upset, even though part of her wanted to run straight into Mom’s arms.
Mom set down her brush and walked over. Kneeling beside her little girl, she gently stroked Lala’s cheek.
“Why are you pouting, my love?”
Finally, Lala whispered, “Because… you didn’t play with me. You only play with… with your face stuff.” Her small voice cracked with sadness.
A Tender Conversation
Mom’s heart melted instantly. She pulled Lala onto her lap and hugged her tightly.
“Oh, my sweet Lala. I wasn’t trying to ignore you. I just wanted to take care of myself for a little while. Even moms need a bit of beauty time.”
“But I want to do it too…” Lala murmured.
Mom chuckled softly. “You want to do beauty time with me?”
Lala nodded quickly, her pout fading just a little.
The Shared Beauty Ritual
Mom smiled warmly and carried Lala over to the vanity. She sat her on the chair and said, “Alright then, let’s do beauty time together.”
Lala’s eyes lit up immediately. Mom took a soft brush and pretended to apply powder to Lala’s cheeks. “Look at that glow! You are already the prettiest girl, but now you shine even brighter.”
Lala giggled, looking in the mirror. She didn’t care about the makeup—what mattered was that Mom included her.
Next, Mom handed her a small bottle of lotion. “Rub this on your hands. It makes them soft like flower petals.”
Lala squeezed out too much lotion, but Mom laughed and helped spread it across her tiny fingers. The room filled with giggles and soft scents of lavender and rose.
When it came to nail polish, Mom carefully painted one nail on Lala’s tiny finger—a light coat of glitter, safe and gentle. Lala wiggled her fingers proudly.
“Now we match!” she exclaimed.
“Yes, we do,” Mom said, kissing the top of her head.
The Surprise Ending
Just when Lala thought the day couldn’t get any better, Mom revealed a little surprise. She reached under the vanity and pulled out a small pink headband decorated with a bow.
“This was actually for you,” Mom said with a smile. “I wanted to give it to you after my beauty time, but since you were sad, I’ll give it to you now.”
Lala gasped with delight as Mom placed the headband on her head. She looked into the mirror, her eyes wide with joy.
“Mom! I look like a princess!” she shouted, twirling around.
Mom clapped her hands. “You are my princess. Always.”
The sadness Lala had felt just moments ago disappeared completely. She hugged Mom tightly, whispering, “Thank you for sharing beauty time with me. I love you.”
“And I love you too, my lovely Lala,” Mom replied, holding her close.
From then on, beauty time was no longer just for Mom—it became their special bonding ritual. Sometimes it was face masks, other times it was painting each other’s nails, and sometimes it was simply brushing hair while telling stories. But no matter what, it was their time together.
Reflection
That evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon and the stars began to twinkle, Mom watched Lala sleep peacefully with the pink headband still on her head. She thought about how easily children can feel left out, and how simple it is to make them happy—just by including them.
Beauty, Mom realized, wasn’t only in creams or colors. True beauty was in the love between her and Lala, in the laughter they shared, and in the bond that grew stronger each day.
And so, what started as Mom’s quiet “me-time” turned into one of the loveliest memories they both would cherish forever.
