The afternoon was calm until little Selena suddenly decided she had waited long enough.
She was sitting on a soft blanket, watching Mom prepare a small snack.
Mom had carefully washed some soft, appropriately prepared grape pieces and was getting everything ready.
Selena watched every movement with enormous curiosity.
Her eyes followed the bowl.
Then they followed Mom.
Then she noticed the grapes.
Her little face immediately lit up.
“Mama!”
Mom smiled.
“Just a moment, sweetheart.”
But Selena wasn’t interested in waiting.
She wanted her snack right now.
She stretched both tiny arms toward Mom and began making impatient little sounds.
“Eee! Eee!”
Mom laughed.
“I know you’re hungry.”
Selena shook her little hands excitedly.
Then her tiny voice suddenly became much louder.
“WAAAAAH!”
Dad looked over from across the room.
“Oh my goodness! Someone is in a hurry.”
Selena continued yelling dramatically, staring at the bowl of grapes.
She wasn’t angry at Mom.
She was simply too excited to wait.
Mom gently picked her up and settled her comfortably.
“Okay, my impatient little girl. Mommy is here.”
Selena immediately calmed down when she saw the snack coming closer.
Mom offered her a suitably soft, small piece prepared safely for her age.
Selena eagerly accepted it.
Her eyes became wide with happiness.
“Mmm!”
Mom smiled.
“See? Waiting wasn’t so bad.”
Selena seemed to disagree.
She immediately reached toward the bowl for another piece.
Dad laughed.
“I don’t think she’s planning to practice patience today.”
Mom gently chuckled.
“One piece at a time, sweetheart.”
Selena watched closely as Mom prepared another safe bite.
This time, she waited for just a few seconds.
Then another happy squeak escaped her.
Mom fed her another piece while keeping a close eye on her.
Selena happily chewed and looked up at Mom with sparkling eyes.
Her dramatic yelling had completely disappeared.
Soon, snack time became a sweet little moment between mother and daughter.
Mom talked softly to Selena while giving her small, safely prepared pieces one at a time.
Selena responded with happy little sounds after every bite.
When she had finished, Mom wiped her little face and kissed her forehead.
“All done.”
Selena looked at the empty bowl.
For a moment, she seemed shocked.
Then she rested her head against Mom’s shoulder with a tiny satisfied sigh.
Dad smiled.
“From the loudest little girl in the house to the quietest one.”
Mom laughed softly.
“All it took was a little snack and Mommy’s attention.”
Selena curled comfortably into Mom’s arms.
Her eyelids slowly became heavy.
The excitement of waiting, the dramatic cries, and the delicious snack had finally worn her out.
Mom gently rocked her and whispered, “Next time, try waiting patiently for Mommy.”
Selena gave one sleepy little squeak.
Then she closed her eyes and drifted peacefully to sleep, safely cuddled in the warm embrace of the person she had been calling for all along.
