Oliver sat quietly, his eyes tracing the patterns on his blanket as he tried to ignore the cold, uncomfortable feeling underneath him. The sound of footsteps in the hallway made his heart race, and he wished he could disappear before his parents entered. The air was thick with silence, broken only by the distant chirping of morning birds.
Mom crossed her arms, looking at Oliver with a sigh. "Oliver, you’re too old for this. We talked about this before. Why does this keep happening?"
Dad shook his head, his voice softer but still edged with impatience. "You need to try harder, buddy. We can’t keep washing your sheets every day." Oliver stared at his cereal, cheeks burning, wishing he could sink into the floor.
Dr. Liu, a gentle woman with kind eyes, sat beside Oliver and smiled reassuringly. "Oliver, you’re not alone. Lots of kids your age have the same problem. Sometimes, the body just needs more time to develop the hormone that keeps your bladder calm at night."
Mom looked surprised, her posture relaxing a little. "So, it’s not his fault?"
"Absolutely not," Dr. Liu said firmly. "Punishing him won’t help. Instead, let’s focus on some gentle ways to cope and train his body."
Dr. Liu handed Oliver a colorful chart with stickers. "We can try a reward chart. Every dry night, you get a sticker. Also, make sure you go to the bathroom right before bed. And remember, no big drinks after dinner."
Dad nodded thoughtfully, his voice gentle now. "We’ll work on it together, okay? No more getting angry. We’re a team." Oliver managed a small smile, hope flickering in his eyes.
Mom knelt beside Oliver, smoothing his hair. "We love you, sweetheart. No more punishments. Just remember to try your best and we’ll be here with you every step."
Oliver felt a warmth inside, comforted by the new understanding and support. He looked at the chart, determined to collect his first sticker, no longer weighed down by shame.
Oliver whispered to himself, "Tomorrow will be better. I’m not alone." The house was quiet, filled with hope and gentle breaths, as he drifted to sleep feeling understood and loved.
