Tiny Chamroeun was having one of those unbelievably moody mornings. He had been sitting quietly in his little space, looking around with a grumpy expression, when Mommy came toward him carrying his prepared meal. She smiled warmly, expecting him to become excited the moment he saw the food.
But Chamroeun had other plans.
The moment he noticed Mommy approaching, his little face changed. His eyebrows tightened, his mouth opened wide, and suddenly he let out a loud scream.
“EEEEEE! AAAAAH!”
Mommy stopped and looked at him.
“Oh, Chamroeun! What’s wrong, sweetheart?”
Instead of reaching for the food, Chamroeun turned his head away and screamed again. He waved his tiny hands dramatically as if he were telling Mommy, “Don’t come any closer!”
Mommy couldn’t help smiling.
“You’re hungry, but you’re angry at Mommy too?”
Chamroeun answered with another furious little squeal.
Mommy stayed calm and gave him a moment. She made sure he was sitting safely and that nothing around him could hurt him. She didn’t force the food toward him. Instead, she kept his meal nearby and spoke gently.
“I know you’re upset. Mommy is here to feed you when you’re ready.”
Chamroeun continued his dramatic protest.
He looked at the food.
Then at Mommy.
Then away again.
It was almost as though he couldn’t decide whether he wanted to eat or continue being angry.
Mommy waited patiently.
After a few moments, Chamroeun’s screaming became quieter. His eyes slowly returned to the food.
Mommy smiled.
“Are you ready now?”
Chamroeun reached one tiny hand toward her.
Mommy carefully offered his appropriate food according to his feeding plan, keeping him safely positioned and supervised while he ate.
The transformation was almost unbelievable.
The angry little monkey who had been screaming only moments earlier suddenly became quiet.
He began eating.
Mommy laughed softly.
“Oh! So you really were hungry!”
Chamroeun paused and looked at her with a serious expression, almost as if he didn’t want to admit it.
Then he continued eating.
His little body gradually relaxed, and the grumpy expression disappeared. Mommy gently spoke to him while making sure he was comfortable.
“You don’t have to scream at Mommy, little one. You can tell me when you’re hungry.”
Chamroeun gave a tiny squeak.
Mommy smiled.
“There you go.”
After finishing, Chamroeun looked much happier. He leaned toward Mommy and rested against her hand, apparently forgetting all about his earlier tantrum.
Mommy gently stroked his head.
“What a dramatic little boy you are!”
Chamroeun simply blinked at her.
The morning had started with loud screams, angry gestures, and a very stubborn Chamroeun. But once his hunger was satisfied and he felt comfortable again, his whole mood changed.
Mommy smiled at her little troublemaker.
“Next time, sweetheart, let’s skip the screaming and go straight to breakfast.”
Chamroeun gave one tiny satisfied sound—as if he completely agreed, even though Mommy knew another dramatic tantrum could probably happen tomorrow.
