Tiny Ronaldo was having a very determined morning. He had been playing inside his safe room when he suddenly noticed Mommy on the other side of the door. The moment he saw her walk away, his little eyes followed her carefully.
“Mommy!”
Ronaldo hurried toward the door as fast as his tiny legs could carry him.
He reached the door and immediately began making loud, excited sounds.
“Eeeee! Eeee!”
Mommy looked back and smiled. “Ronaldo, Mommy is right here.”
But Ronaldo wasn’t interested in waiting.
He wanted the door open.
He placed both tiny hands against it and began pushing. Nothing happened. He tried again, putting all his little strength into the effort. His feet shuffled against the floor as he leaned forward.
“Come on!” his expression seemed to say.
Ronaldo looked up at the handle.
Then he looked at Mommy.
Then he tried again.
“AAAAH! Eeeee!”
His loud screams echoed through the room as he worked harder. He grabbed the edge of the door and pulled, but it wouldn’t move. He changed his position and tried pushing again.
Mommy watched him carefully from nearby.
“Oh, my clever little Ronaldo,” she said. “You’re really trying, aren’t you?”
Ronaldo answered with another loud cry.
He was determined to solve the problem himself.
He reached toward the handle, stretching his tiny fingers as far as they could go. His fingertips touched it, but he couldn’t get a secure grip. He jumped slightly and tried again.
Still nothing.
Ronaldo sat down for a second, looking frustrated.
Then he suddenly stood up and started pushing again.
“Eeeeeee!”
Mommy gently approached him. “I know you want to come to Mommy, sweetheart.”
Ronaldo turned toward her immediately.
His expression said everything.
He wanted Mommy, and he wanted that door open right now.
Mommy made sure Ronaldo stayed safely away from any pinch points around the door and gently redirected him from trying to force it open. She didn’t want his fingers or tiny body to get hurt while he was excited.
“Let Mommy help you,” she whispered.
Ronaldo protested with one more dramatic squeak.
But when Mommy opened the door safely, his entire expression changed.
His eyes became bright.
He reached both arms toward her.
“There you are!” Mommy said.
Ronaldo hurried toward her and climbed into her arms. His loud screaming stopped almost instantly. He pressed his little face against Mommy and held on tightly.
Mommy laughed softly. “So that’s why you were working so hard!”
Ronaldo gave a tiny happy sound.
For several minutes, he simply enjoyed being close to her. His earlier frustration had completely disappeared. He seemed proud of himself for trying so hard, even though Mommy ultimately had to handle the door.
“You’re very determined, little Ronaldo,” Mommy whispered. “But doors are for Mommy to open.”
Ronaldo looked back at the door.
Then he looked at Mommy.
He seemed to be thinking about his next adventure.
Mommy smiled and held him a little closer.
The tiny monkey had run, shouted, pushed, pulled, and tried everything he could think of just to get closer to Mommy. His plan hadn’t quite worked, but his determination certainly had.
And in the end, all Ronaldo really wanted was to be back in Mommy’s loving arms.
