Little Lala had been looking forward to the trip to the market all week. She loved the sights, the colorful fruits, the smell of fresh bread, and the way people smiled at her as she skipped happily alongside Mom. So when she heard Mom say, “Not today, Lala. You have to stay home,” her face fell instantly.
At first, she thought Mom was joking. But when Mom picked up her shopping bag and headed to the door alone, Lala’s heart sank. Tears welled up in her eyes, and then the sadness turned into frustration. She stomped her little feet and crossed her arms tightly, pouting. “It’s not fair!” she cried. “I want to go too!”
But Mom had her reasons. The market was going to be crowded that day, and she didn’t want Lala to get overwhelmed or lost in the busy crowd. Still, explaining that to a disappointed little one was no easy task. Lala sniffled, wiped her tears with the back of her hand, and sat by the window, watching as Mom disappeared down the street.
Her anger bubbled up—she kicked her toy basket, hugged her stuffed bunny tightly, and muttered to herself, “I’m big enough to go!” But after a while, the sadness crept back in. She missed Mom already, and the house felt too quiet without the excitement of an outing.
When Mom returned later with a bag full of groceries, she saw Lala’s tear-streaked cheeks. She knelt down, hugged her tight, and explained gently, “I know you wanted to come, sweetheart. But today was too busy. Next time, I promise, you’ll help me pick the apples.”
Lala’s frown slowly softened into a smile. She peeked inside the grocery bag and gasped—Mom had bought her favorite treat, a little bag of sweet cookies. Her anger melted away as she munched happily, cuddled in Mom’s lap.
In that moment, she understood: sometimes Mom says “no” not to be mean, but because she cares.
