Little Minea sat on the floor, looking around the room with wide eyes. Mom had stepped away for just a moment, but to Minea, it felt like a very long time. The moment she realized Mom wasn’t beside her anymore, her tiny face suddenly changed.
Her lips twisted, her nose scrunched up, and she made the funniest, craziest face anyone had ever seen. Her eyes looked dramatic and exaggerated, almost as if she was acting in a little baby performance. Minea stuck out her tongue slightly and puffed her cheeks, making a silly expression that was both adorable and full of emotion.
But behind that funny face was a small feeling of loneliness.
Minea didn’t like being by herself. She loved when Mom stayed close, talking softly and touching her gently. When Mom left the room, even for a short moment, Minea’s heart felt unsure. Her strange face expressions were her way of showing that she wanted attention again.
She made another silly face, then looked toward the doorway, hoping Mom would come back soon. Her tiny fingers tapped the floor impatiently, and she let out a small complaining sound, almost like she was saying, “Where did you go?”
A few seconds later, footsteps finally approached.
The moment Mom returned, Minea’s dramatic expression melted instantly. Her face brightened, eyes sparkling with excitement. She reached both arms forward, body leaning toward Mom as if nothing else mattered anymore.
Mom laughed softly at Minea’s funny face and lifted her up into a warm hug. Minea pressed her cheek against Mom’s shoulder, calm again, the silly expression gone.
Sometimes babies don’t cry loudly to show their feelings.
Sometimes they make the funniest faces instead.
And Minea’s crazy little expression was simply her way of saying one thing:
“I just want Mom beside me.”
