Lena wants to help make a warm snack, but the wooden spoon keeps wobbling and splashing.
Lena stood on her little kitchen step.
Papa put a big bowl on the table.
Inside the bowl were warm oats, soft berries, and a tiny spoonful of honey.
"May I stir?" asked Lena.
"Yes," said Papa.
"Two careful hands."
Lena held the wooden spoon.
The spoon was long.
The bowl was round.
Lena was excited.
She stirred fast.
Tap, tap, tap went the spoon.
Round, round, round went the oats.
Then plop!
A purple berry spot landed on the table.
Lena stopped.
"Oh no," she said.
The spoon wobbled in her hand.
Papa did not look angry.
He gave Lena a small cloth.
"We can clean it," said Papa.
Lena wiped the purple spot.
Wipe, wipe.
The table was clean again.
Papa put his hand near Lena's hand.
"Try slow circles," he said.
Lena looked into the bowl.
She moved the spoon slowly.
Slow circle.
Slow circle.
The oats went soft and smooth.
No splash came out.
The wooden spoon did not wobble so much.
"I am doing it," said Lena.
Papa smiled.
Lena added three banana slices.
One.
Two.
Three.
She stirred again.
Slow circle.
Slow circle.
Her little brother Ben came to the table.
"Snack?" asked Ben.
"Yes," said Lena.
"I made slow circles."
Papa gave Lena a small bowl.
Lena scooped carefully.
No plop.
No splash.
Ben took one bite.
"Warm," said Ben.
Lena took one bite too.
The snack was soft and sweet.
The wooden spoon rested beside the bowl.
It was not wobbly now.
It was just right.
Lena patted the spoon.
"Slow circles help," she said.
Papa nodded.
Then they all ate together at the clean kitchen table.
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