TanTan was having a big feelings day. His favorite banana toy was missing, breakfast was late, and his tail got stepped on by accident. He stomped around the nursery with his arms crossed and his brow furrowed deep.
“Don’t talk to me!” he huffed at the others.
Mom noticed right away. “TanTan, what’s wrong?” she asked gently.
But TanTan turned his back. He didn’t want gentle. He wanted attention—now. He wanted a hug, a kiss, a “my poor baby” moment.
Instead… something else happened.
Just as he was about to let out his angry little yell, his baby sister Marrya tripped while playing. She fell on her bottom and let out a high-pitched cry.
Mom’s eyes widened and she rushed over to Marrya.
“Marrya! Oh no, baby! Are you okay?” she said, scooping her up into a tight, warm hug.
TanTan froze. His mouth dropped open. His chest tightened.
It wasn’t that he didn’t care about Marrya—he loved her—but at that moment, his angry heart cracked just a little more. That hug was supposed to be his.
His eyes welled up with silent tears. He backed into the corner, arms still crossed, face now full of sadness more than rage.
Mom looked up and saw him, and everything clicked.
“Oh, TanTan…” she whispered.
She placed Marrya gently beside a toy, then walked over to TanTan and knelt down. “I see you now. I’m so sorry, baby.”
He didn’t say anything, but when Mom opened her arms, he dove right in.
