Under the warm afternoon light, baby monkey Leo sat near his mom, Libby, hoping for his usual comfort — warm milk. It was their daily routine; every time he felt sleepy or lonely, he’d crawl up to her chest and drink peacefully. But today, something felt different.
When Leo reached out, Libby turned away. At first, he thought it was a game, so he squeaked playfully and tried again. But Mom pushed him gently aside and moved away, her eyes firm yet sad. Leo froze, confused. His tiny hands trembled as he looked up at her. Why wasn’t she letting him drink?
He tried again, crying louder this time. His voice was filled with desperation — that painful sound only a baby can make when comfort is suddenly taken away. “Eeee! Eeee!” he screamed, tugging at her fur, begging her to feed him. But Libby stayed firm, trying to teach him to be strong — it was time for him to start weaning.
To little Leo, though, it didn’t feel like learning. It felt like rejection. He rolled on the ground, crying loudly, his face red with tears and frustration. His emotions spiraled out of control — he threw tiny tantrums, hit the ground with his hands, and even bit his tail out of anger. His cries echoed across the yard, heartbreaking and raw.
Libby watched, torn between love and patience. Every mother knows the pain of weaning — it’s not easy for her either. She walked closer and placed a gentle hand on his back, grooming him softly to calm him down. But each time he tried to latch on again, she had to turn him away.
Finally, after what felt like forever, Leo’s crying softened into quiet whimpers. Exhausted, he curled up beside her leg, pressing his little face against her fur even though he couldn’t nurse. Libby wrapped her arm around him, pulling him close. Her eyes showed silent love — she wasn’t rejecting him, only teaching him to grow.
Soon, Leo’s sobs faded into soft hiccups. His eyes slowly closed, and he drifted into sleep, his tiny hand still clutching his mother’s fur.
Even in his tears, he knew one thing: no matter how hard the lesson, Mom still loves him most.
