“Oh my God! What happened to little Ronaldo?”
Mom couldn’t believe her eyes when she saw the tiny baby monkey sitting on a low, secure wall, looking completely heartbroken. His little face was scrunched up, his eyes were wet with tears, and he was making loud, angry cries.
“Eeee! Eeee! Eeee!”
Ronaldo wasn’t happy at all.
Mom had been busy for only a short while, but Ronaldo clearly felt that he had been waiting forever. He sat there with his arms crossed against his little body, refusing to look at her.
“Ronaldo, sweetheart, what are you upset about?” Mom asked gently.
The baby monkey turned his face away.
Mom smiled softly. “Are you angry with Mommy?”
Ronaldo answered with an even louder cry.
He seemed determined to make sure everyone knew exactly how unhappy he was. Every few seconds, he glanced at Mom from the corner of his eye, almost checking whether she was paying attention.
Mom slowly approached him and made sure he was sitting safely. She didn’t want him climbing or wandering from the secure area while he was upset.
“I know you’re angry,” she whispered. “You wanted Mommy to stay with you.”
Ronaldo’s lower lip seemed to tremble.
Then his emotions completely took over.
He started crying harder, reaching one tiny hand toward Mom before quickly pulling it back. It was almost as if he wanted comfort but was still too stubborn to admit it.
Mom sat nearby and remained calm.
“You don’t have to stop crying immediately,” she told him. “Mommy is here. Take your time.”
That gentle reassurance finally began to work.
Ronaldo looked at her again.
This time, he didn’t turn away.
Mom slowly offered her hand. Ronaldo stared at it for a few seconds before finally reaching out and grabbing her finger.
His crying became quieter.
“That’s my boy,” Mom whispered.
Ronaldo leaned closer, and Mom carefully brought him into a safe, comfortable position beside her. The angry expression on his face slowly disappeared.
A few minutes earlier, he had looked like the most furious little monkey in the world.
Now he was simply tired.
He rested against Mom and made a tiny, soft sound.
Mom gently stroked his back. “You can be upset, little Ronaldo. But you never have to face those big feelings alone.”
Ronaldo closed his eyes.
The tantrum was over.
Mom knew that babies couldn’t always explain what they wanted or why they were frustrated. Sometimes crying was their only way of saying, I need you. Please notice me.
And Ronaldo had certainly made sure Mom noticed him.
As the evening became peaceful, he stayed close beside her, no longer angry or crying.
Mom smiled and whispered, “Next time, just come to Mommy instead of sitting there looking so offended.”
Ronaldo opened one eye as if he had understood every word.
Then he snuggled closer.
His dramatic little tantrum had finally ended with the comfort he had been asking for all along.
