Meal was finally full. A Tong leaned back with a round belly, milk dribbling slightly from the corner of his mouth. His eyes looked heavy, satisfied, and lazy in the sweetest way. Normally, this was the moment he would flop down and demand rest. But today, mom had a different plan.
She placed him gently on the mat and stepped back just a little. A Tong blinked in surprise. He looked down at his feet, then up at mom, confused and slightly offended. His hands lifted, asking to be picked up. Mom smiled but didn’t move. Instead, she clapped softly and encouraged him with a calm voice.
A Tong frowned. Standing felt hard. His legs wobbled like leaves in the wind. He whined once, complaining about the unfairness of effort after eating so well. Mom stayed patient. She knelt close, arms open, but not close enough to carry him. This was training, not punishment.
Slowly, A Tong pushed himself upright. His knees shook. He froze, panic flickering across his face. Mom spoke gently, reminding him he was safe. He took a breath. One tiny step forward. Then another. Each step was messy, unbalanced, and full of determination.
Halfway, he almost gave up. He plopped down, angry, slapping the floor. Mom didn’t scold. She waited. After a moment, A Tong tried again, driven by pride more than instruction. This time, he made it.
Mom caught him in her arms, praising softly. A Tong squeaked, half proud, half exhausted. His body relaxed instantly. Training was over. Love returned full force.
Today wasn’t about walking perfectly. It was about trying. A full meal gave him strength, but patience gave him courage. Even the laziest baby needs a push sometimes, and the safest push comes from love.
A Tong rested against mom’s chest, tired but accomplished. One small walk. One big step forward.
