Ep 7. Little Mother

In the Diff'rent Strokes season 3 episode called "Little Mother," Arnold and Willis find themselves taking care of their new baby sister, played by Dana Plato. Kimberly is away on a trip with her school choir, and Mr. Drummond is called away on an emergency business trip. Left alone to care for their new sibling, Arnold and Willis soon realize they're in over their heads.

The episode opens with Arnold and Willis bickering like typical brothers. Mr. Drummond reminds them that they need to be on their best behavior because they'll be home alone with their baby sister while he's away. They don't think much of it, until Mr. Drummond is called away unexpectedly and Kimberly is already out of town. Suddenly, the boys are left in charge of the baby.

At first, the boys think that taking care of a baby will be easy. They've seen Kimberly do it dozens of times, and they figure they can handle it. They quickly learn that taking care of a baby is a lot harder than it looks. The baby cries constantly, needs to be fed and changed, and won't go to sleep. Arnold and Willis are exhausted and frustrated.

To make matters worse, their friend Dudley shows up and makes things even more difficult. Dudley is jealous of the new baby and thinks he's being pushed out of Arnold and Willis's lives. He acts out, makes messes, and even threatens to hurt the baby. Arnold and Willis struggle to deal with Dudley's behavior while also trying to take care of the baby.

Things come to a head when the boys realize they've forgotten to buy baby formula. They have to go to the store to get some, but they can't take the baby with them. They leave the baby with Mrs. Garrett, the Drummond's housekeeper, but Dudley sneaks back in and causes chaos. Mrs. Garrett and the boys rush back home to find Dudley holding the baby upside down. They're all terrified, but thankfully the baby is okay.

Mr. Drummond returns home to find that everyone is safe, but he's disappointed in Arnold and Willis's behavior. He scolds them for not putting the baby's needs first and for letting Dudley cause so much trouble. He also praises them for doing their best and taking on a difficult task. The episode ends with the boys promising to be better caregivers in the future.

Overall, "Little Mother" is a lighthearted episode that deals with the challenges of caring for a new baby. It's funny and heartwarming, but it also has some serious moments that show the importance of putting a child's needs first. The performances are excellent, and the chemistry between the actors is strong. Fans of Diff'rent Strokes will definitely enjoy this episode.