The sun rose gently over the quiet town, painting the sky with shades of pink and gold. In their small but warm home, little Lala opened her eyes slowly, rubbing them as she yawned. Normally, she would hear Mom calling her for breakfast, but this morning was strangely quiet.
Lala stretched her arms and whispered, “Mom? Are you awake?” She tiptoed out of her room, her tiny footsteps making soft sounds on the wooden floor. She peeked into the kitchen and noticed that the table was still empty. No steaming bowl of porridge, no warm bread, no clinking sounds of dishes. Then she found Mom sitting in a chair, holding her head in her hands.
Mom looked pale and tired. “Oh, Lala,” she said softly, “I’m not feeling well today. My stomach hurts, and I don’t have much strength.”
Lala’s eyes widened with concern. She wanted to run and hug her Mom tightly, but she remembered what Mom always told her: When something goes wrong, don’t panic. Stay calm and think carefully. Lala nodded seriously.
“Don’t worry, Mom,” she said in her gentle voice. “I’ll be good. You just rest.”
And so, Lala’s day of obedience and patience began.
Preparing breakfast on her own
Lala went back into the kitchen and stood on her toes to see what was in the cupboard. She wasn’t big enough to cook rice or use the stove, but she could do small things. She spotted bananas, a loaf of bread, and a small jar of honey.
She carefully peeled a banana and placed it on a plate. Then, she took two slices of bread and spread honey on them with a spoon. It was a little messy—honey dripped on the table—but she cleaned it with a cloth, just like Mom always showed her.
Carrying the plate carefully with both hands, Lala walked to Mom. “Here, Mom, you should eat a little. Bananas make you strong, and honey is sweet like me!”
Mom smiled weakly and kissed Lala’s forehead. “You are such a thoughtful girl. Thank you, my darling.”
Taking care of herself
After making sure Mom had something to eat, Lala remembered her own routine. Mom always said, “A smart girl knows how to take care of herself.” So, Lala went to brush her teeth. She squeezed the toothpaste carefully, brushed up and down, then rinsed her mouth.
She washed her face with cool water, feeling refreshed. Then she chose her favorite yellow dress and put it on by herself. It took a little effort to button the back, but she managed after twisting her arms a few times.
Standing in front of the mirror, she giggled. “Look at me! I’m ready for the day!”
Keeping the house quiet
Since Mom needed rest, Lala decided to keep the house peaceful. She quietly gathered her toys and sat on the floor with her dolls. Instead of making loud noises, she whispered to them, pretending they were patients in a hospital.
“Shhh,” she told her dolls, “Mommy is resting, so we must be quiet.”
She covered them with a small blanket, just like Mom covered her at night, and hummed a soft tune.
Helping with little chores
While playing, Lala noticed the laundry basket full of clothes. She remembered Mom often asking her to help sort the laundry. So, she walked over and began separating shirts, pants, and socks into neat piles. She was too small to wash them, but sorting them made her feel proud.
Next, she took a damp cloth and wiped the table where she had spilled honey earlier. She also gathered her storybooks and stacked them nicely on the shelf.
“Mom will be so happy when she sees this,” she whispered to herself.
Checking on Mom
Every little while, Lala tiptoed back to the bedroom to check on Mom. Sometimes, she would bring a glass of water. Other times, she would gently stroke Mom’s hair and whisper, “Don’t worry, I’m here. You can rest.”
Mom felt comforted by her daughter’s kindness. Even though she was in pain, her heart was warmed by Lala’s obedience and thoughtfulness.
Lunchtime decision
Around noon, Lala’s stomach began to growl. She went back to the kitchen and thought hard. She wasn’t allowed to use the stove, but she remembered that Mom sometimes gave her yogurt and fruit for lunch. She opened the fridge and found exactly that.
With careful hands, she carried out a cup of yogurt, a small spoon, and an apple. She couldn’t cut the apple into slices, but she could bite it whole. So she sat by the table, eating quietly while glancing at Mom’s room.
After eating, she placed her empty cup in the sink.
Waiting patiently
The afternoon felt long. Sometimes Lala wanted to cry because she missed Mom’s laughter and her warm hugs. But she remembered her promise—to be good and wait.
So, she decided to draw pictures. She took her crayons and drew herself holding Mom’s hand in a big garden full of flowers. Underneath, she scribbled in her uneven handwriting: I love you, Mom.
Then, she left the picture on Mom’s bedside table, so she would see it when she woke up.
Evening surprise
As the sun set, Mom slowly woke from her nap. She felt a little better. Her stomach pain was lighter, and she had gained strength from resting. When she opened her eyes, she was surprised to see the neat piles of laundry, the clean table, and the sweet drawing by her bed.
And there was Lala, sitting quietly beside her, holding her doll and smiling.
“Mom! You’re awake!” Lala said softly, hugging her. “I waited, just like I promised.”
Tears of love filled Mom’s eyes. “My precious girl, you have been so obedient, patient, and kind. You took care of yourself, and you even helped me. I’m so proud of you.”
Lala grinned. “I wanted to make you happy. I didn’t cry or make noise. I ate by myself and cleaned up, too!”
Mom kissed her again and again. “You are my little sunshine, Lala. Today, you showed me how strong and caring you are.”
A lesson remembered
That night, as Mom and Lala cuddled in bed, Mom whispered, “Sometimes in life, we face troubles or sickness. But when we stay calm, take care of ourselves, and think of others, everything becomes easier.”
Lala nodded sleepily. “I understand, Mom. Next time, I’ll be obedient again.”
Mom hugged her tighter, smiling through the dim light. “You are my greatest gift. Thank you for waiting so patiently and being such a good girl today.”
And with that, little Lala drifted into dreams, knowing she had done something very special—she had proven that even a child could be responsible, caring, and brave when her Mom needed her the most.
