My 6th-grade eldest son, who took charge of the housework for me, had already acquired the skills necessary for a working adult.

Children can grow significantly when their parents aren't looking.

It was early afternoon a few days ago.

My sons came home from elementary school. However, I was bedridden due to feeling unwell. The children peered at me as I lay on the living room sofa with worried expressions.

I'm home. Mom, are you okay?

I'm... not okay.

My body felt so heavy that answering the question was all I could manage. Seeing how much pain I was in, my eldest son made a declaration.

Got it! Mom, just keep resting like that. Once we finish our homework, we'll take care of the house!

With that, my eldest son began working on his homework in silence. Usually, he would eat a snack before doing his homework, but today he showed no signs of doing so. My second son, swept up in his older brother's momentum, opened his kanji workbook as if to follow his brother's lead. He looked like he wanted a snack, but perhaps he read the room, as he didn't try to eat one. My second son also faced his homework with a serious expression.

Wow, this is amazing. They're actually being diligent.

I couldn't help but gasp at the sight of my sons acting so differently than usual. Normally, they would list all sorts of reasons why they didn't want to do their work, and starting their homework would be delayed. It seems they take after me, as I'm not good at studying. Even their slowness in getting started is just like me.

Even through my hazy consciousness, I was moved by how sharply they finished their homework. Then, my eldest son stood up.

Then, I'll go bring in the laundry.

Still looking sharp, my eldest son headed to the balcony.

I'm coming too!

My second son hurriedly followed behind him. He was desperate not to be left behind.

The two of them worked together to bring in the laundry. Once they finished the task, they carried the laundry basket into the living room.

We're going to fold it together now.

My eldest son told me. My second son looked dissatisfied, perhaps because he wanted to play by now. However, my eldest son ignored him and began folding the laundry calmly. Reluctantly, my second son followed his brother's lead.

Hey, your hands have stopped.

Every now and then, my eldest son would call out to my second son. My second son would hurriedly move his hands, folding the laundry in a crumpled, clumsy way. Seeing this, I felt uneasy and tried to get up to help them fold, but my eldest son stopped me.

Mom, you're not feeling well, so you should be resting. Don't sleep on the sofa; go sleep in your bed in the bedroom.

His tone was so sharp. I thought to myself that it was hard to tell who the parent was, but I headed to the bedroom as I was told. Even while I was there, I could hear my sons' voices.

Big brother, I'm starting to get hungry for a snack.
You can have one after we finish the laundry.
But I really want to eat it right now.
I know. But you have to be patient for now.
Big brother! There's so much laundry, it's never going to end! I'm going to run out of time to eat my snack.
It's okay. I'll make time for a snack later. Please, just help me for now.

My second son, who was raised being spoiled by everyone, thinks that if he insists strongly enough, he can get whatever he wants. At first, he tried to plead with his older brother using a strategic, sweet voice, but when he realized his opinion wouldn't prevail, he couldn't hide his growing irritation. I was concerned, so I couldn't help but stop in my tracks.

Big brother, even if you say that! I can't fold all this laundry! There's too much of it!
Mom always folds it by herself. Since she's not feeling well today, we're going to do it. There's a lot, so let's do our best together.
No! The laundry is never going to disappear!

—Oh, the older one is about to get angry and they're going to start fighting.

Anticipating the trouble that was about to happen, I started to head back to the living room. However, contrary to my expectations, my eldest son began to gently and calmly reason with my second son.

Second son, you know we have to let Mom rest, right? We have to help with the things Mom can't do.

If it were the usual eldest son, he would be venting his anger at the second son for not listening. But no matter how much the second son vented his frustration, the eldest son didn't just stay calm; he continued on coolly.

If we work together, we can finish quickly. Once we're done, you can have your snack. So let's finish it quickly.

The eldest son was folding the laundry efficiently. Seeing that, the second son gave in and followed his brother, folding the laundry in a crumpled mess.

I was impressed.

If it were me, let alone when I'm in a good mood, if someone were being selfish while I was already irritated, I would probably just scold them firmly and put pressure on them. My way of doing things is to choose short but highly effective words to shut down the second son's behavior.

But my eldest son patiently listened to him and reasoned with him. I'm sure he was irritated deep down, but he didn't show it at all and just kept on with the mission.

He is so patient that it's hard to believe he was born to a short-tempered person like me. Above all, my eldest son managed to do what I, his mother, could not. Well done, my eldest son.

Impressed, I entered the bedroom and let myself rest, taking them up on their offer.

A few hours later, my husband came home looking flustered.
Apparently, my eldest son had called him.

Dad! It's an emergency! Mom can't prepare dinner, so go buy some bento boxes!

My eldest son had actually given my husband specific instructions to go buy bento boxes. He didn't say, 'Mom isn't feeling well, what should I do?' nor did he just ask him to 'come home early.' Perhaps he realized that he had to do something about dinner. Both my husband and I were surprised by this.

He's still just a 6th-grade elementary school student, so it wouldn't have been strange if he had panicked. Plus, he has a spoiled younger brother. Yet, my eldest son grasped the situation calmly and contacted my husband. He handled the housework as much as he could, and identified what he couldn't do and asked someone who could to help.

──Wait? This is a skill I don't have!

In my case, if I think it's more efficient to do it myself, I'll turn down offers of help and finish it alone. Even if I'm in a tight spot, I'll push myself too hard. I've lived my life that way, being terrible at relying on others. It's fatal as a working adult. I'm the type least suited to be a leader in an organization.

Where did my eldest son learn this skill? Was it at school? Before I knew it, my eldest son had acquired skills that a working adult should have, somewhere I didn't know about.

──I have to praise him a lot for this.

So, I spoke to my eldest son at dinner.

“Thank you for today. You were a big help.”
“No problem, you're welcome.”
“You've become able to do so many things. I can really rely on you.”

Then my eldest son beamed and looked shy.

“It's not that big of a deal.”

Although his tone was blunt, his voice was cheerful.
Smiles burst out at the dining table.

Except for one person.

“Mom! I worked hard too!”

My second son started asserting his own contribution.
He was sulking because only his older brother was being praised.

“Thank you too, [Name].”

I hurriedly expressed my gratitude to my second son as well. Then, perhaps his mood improved, he smiled brightly. This time, a cheerful atmosphere filled the room.

In the midst of that, my eldest son muttered quietly.

“Hey, Mom. When you get better, there's something I want you to make...”
“Oh, what is it? What could it be?”

“I want to eat gyoza. Store-bought is fine, but if possible, I'd like the kind where you make the filling and we all wrap them together.”

My eldest son looks at me hesitantly.
When he asks with such a cute face, I can't say no.

“O-okay. Then, I have to get better soon.”