Max, an energetic 8-year-old with a mop of unruly hair and a mischievous grin, sat cross-legged on the carpet. He was surrounded by dinosaur figurines and a sketchbook filled with colorful drawings of prehistoric creatures. "Mom, are you really sure the new baby isn't a dinosaur?" he asked, his eyes wide with a mix of curiosity and concern.
Mom, a kind-hearted woman with a round belly and an even rounder smile, paused her cookie-baking to answer. "Max, I promise, you're going to be a big brother to a human baby," she assured him, laughter dancing in her eyes. "But you'll still be the expert on everything dinosaur-related in this house."
Max sat at his small desk, surrounded by rolls of bubble wrap and half a dozen rolls of tape. "I'll make sure the baby is safe and sound," he muttered to himself, wrapping his favorite dino plush in bubble wrap. "And if it turns out to be a dinosaur, well, I've got that covered too."
Max donned a makeshift professor's hat, a construction paper creation held together by tape and determination. He placed a small chair in the middle of the room, ready for his sibling's first lesson. "Now, if you're a dinosaur, you'll need to know how to roar properly," he announced to the empty chair with a serious nod.
Mom entered, her face a mixture of amusement and admiration. "Max, what's going on here?" she asked, trying to suppress a smile. Max looked up, a hint of sheepishness in his eyes. "Just getting ready, in case the baby is a dinosaur," he confessed. "But I guess, even if it's not, it'll still like my Dino Academy, right?"
Mom and Max sat together on the sofa, a warm blanket wrapped around them. "You know, Max, being a big brother is a big adventure all on its own," Mom said gently. "Whether the baby is a dinosaur or not, they'll be lucky to have you." Max nodded, his eyes shining with newfound understanding. "Yeah, I guess you're right. But just in case, I'll keep the bubble wrap handy," he replied with a grin.
