No one expected Baby Yuri to react like this.
The bowl was placed gently in front of her, filled with softly mashed boiled purple potato, warm and fragrant. At first, she stared at it with suspicion, head tilted, eyes wide. New food usually meant hesitation, maybe a cry, maybe refusal. But this time was different.
Yuri leaned forward and sniffed. Her tiny nose twitched. Something sparked in her eyes.
She dipped one small finger into the mash, slowly, carefully, then brought it to her mouth. The moment she tasted it, her face froze. Then—surprise. Her eyes opened even wider, and a soft sound escaped her throat, half gasp, half delight. She smacked her lips, looking up as if to ask, Is this really for me?
Without waiting for an answer, Yuri scooped more into her mouth. She chewed eagerly, shoulders bouncing with excitement. This was completely new. Sweet, soft, comforting. Nothing like milk. Nothing like anything she had tried before. Her reaction stunned everyone watching.
She giggled, purple smudges spreading across her lips and cheeks. Each bite made her happier. She leaned closer to the bowl, guarding it with her tiny arms, afraid it might disappear. When Mom tried to help, Yuri protested with a small squeak, insisting on feeding herself.
Never before had Yuri eaten so confidently. No crying. No pushing away. Only joy.
She finished the bowl faster than expected, then licked her fingers one by one, unwilling to waste even a taste. When it was gone, she looked down sadly, then back up, hopeful.
Mom laughed softly and kissed her head, amazed. Yuri rested back, belly full, eyes glowing with satisfaction.
Sometimes healing doesn’t come only from care and patience. Sometimes it comes from one unexpected moment of happiness. That day, a simple purple potato became something more—a tiny victory, a new favorite, and a reminder that even small discoveries can light up a baby’s whole world.
