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Morning sunlight fills the children's bedroom as Michael stands beside the bed talking with Lily, who sits on the blanket; both wear excited smiles.
Michael and Lily woke up excited. "Mother's Day is tomorrow!" said Lily. "We need to make something special," Michael agreed. They wanted to surprise Mom. But what could they make? They felt stuck.
Inside the same bedroom, Michael folds his arms and frowns while Lily waves a small blank card; late-morning light from the window highlights their disagreement.
"Let's make a card!" said Lily. "No, a painting!" said Michael. They couldn't agree on anything. Everything seemed too hard. "I'm too little," Lily sighed. Michael felt the same way.
Sunlit living room: Dad kneels beside the sofa, smiling gently at Michael and Lily who sit close together with downcast eyes, capturing the moment he offers help.
Dad saw them looking sad. "What's wrong?" he asked gently. "We can't make anything for Mom," Michael said. "I can help you," Dad smiled. The children's faces lit up. "Really?" they both asked.
At the dining table under warm afternoon light, Dad sits between Michael and Lily; open sketch paper and scattered paint bottles show their brainstorming as Lily points to her hand excitedly.
Dad sat down with them. "Let's make something together," he suggested. "We can use our handprints!" said Lily excitedly. "And paint them like flowers!" added Michael. Dad nodded happily. "Perfect idea!" he said.
In the kitchen, Michael reaches into a cabinet while Lily holds paintbrushes; Dad places bottles of red, yellow, and pink paint on the counter beneath bright ceiling lights.
They gathered paper, paint, and brushes. Dad found Mom's favorite colors. "Red, yellow, and pink," Michael remembered. Lily clapped her hands. "Mom will love it!" she said. They were ready to start.
Dad spreads newspaper over the dining table; Michael presses his red-covered palm onto paper while Lily, smiling, lifts a yellow hand above the page; afternoon sun streams through a nearby window.
Dad poured paint into dishes. Michael pressed his hand in red paint. He stamped it on the paper. Lily used yellow paint carefully. "This is fun!" she giggled. Their handprints looked like flower petals.
Evening lamp light glows in the dining room as Dad guides a green paintbrush to form stems; Michael writes "We love you Mom" while Lily surrounds the words with tiny red hearts.
Dad helped them add green stems. "Now write a message," he suggested. Michael wrote "We love you Mom." Lily drew little hearts around it. Dad smiled at their teamwork. The gift looked beautiful!
Soft hallway lighting: Dad helps Michael slide the finished picture behind a tall bookshelf while Lily watches, finger to lips, capturing their secretive anticipation.
They hid the gift carefully. "Don't tell Mom!" whispered Lily. Michael put his finger to his lips. "It's a surprise," he said quietly. Dad helped them hide it well. They could barely wait for tomorrow.
Early morning light fills the parents' bedroom; Michael and Lily, still in pajamas, bounce beside Mom's bed shouting "Happy Mother's Day!" as Mom sits up smiling warmly.
Morning came at last! The children jumped out of bed. "Happy Mother's Day!" they shouted. Mom smiled big and warm. "Thank you, my loves," she said. They brought her to the table.
In the dining room, Mom stands with eyes covered while Michael and Dad place the handprint flower picture on the table; Lily eagerly signals for her to look as sunlight pours in.
"Close your eyes, Mom!" said Lily. Michael and Dad brought the gift. "Open them now!" they all said. Mom saw the handprint flowers. Her eyes filled with happy tears. "It's beautiful!" she exclaimed.
Bright kitchen morning: Mom kneels to embrace Michael and Lily tightly, all smiling; Dad watches with gentle pride near the painted gift propped against a mug on the counter.
Mom hugged Michael and Lily tight. "This is the best gift ever!" she said. "We made it ourselves!" Lily said proudly. "Dad helped us," added Michael honestly. Mom kissed them both. "I love it so much," she whispered.
In the living room afternoon light, Mom hangs the framed handprint flower picture on the wall above the sofa while Michael and Lily stand below, grinning and pointing proudly.
They spent the day together happily. Mom hung the picture on the wall. Everyone could see their special gift. Michael and Lily felt so proud. "We did it!" they cheered. It was the best Mother's Day ever.