Tiny baby monkey A Tong was having a peaceful morning, sitting comfortably in Mommy’s arms with his favorite pacifier in his mouth. His little eyes were still sleepy, and he seemed completely content as he gently sucked on it. Mommy watched him with a smile, enjoying the quiet moment before starting his morning routine.
But after a while, Mommy decided it was time to take the pacifier away.
She gently reached toward A Tong and carefully removed it.
For one second, A Tong simply stared at her.
Then his face changed dramatically.
“AAAAAAHHH!”
A Tong let out a loud, angry cry that filled the room. His tiny arms immediately reached toward Mommy, and his little face became scrunched with frustration. He couldn’t understand why his favorite comfort had suddenly disappeared.
Mommy tried to comfort him. “A Tong, sweetheart, Mommy is right here.”
But A Tong wasn’t interested in listening.
He screamed again.
“Eeeee! Aaaah!”
His little hands waved in the air while he looked around for his pacifier. Every time Mommy tried to soothe him, A Tong made another dramatic cry. It was obvious that he was not happy with Mommy’s decision.
“Oh, my goodness,” Mommy said softly. “You really wanted that pacifier, didn’t you?”
A Tong answered with another angry squeak.
Mommy stayed calm and kept him safely supported. She gently held his little hands and gave him plenty of reassurance. Instead of immediately giving the pacifier back, she tried to help him settle with cuddles and a calm voice.
“You’re okay, little A Tong. Mommy is here.”
A Tong continued protesting for a while. His cries became louder and then softer, like he was having a tiny argument with Mommy. Eventually, he paused long enough to look into her eyes.
Mommy smiled.
“There you are.”
A Tong sniffled and reached for her.
Mommy gently cuddled him against her chest and rubbed his back. Slowly, the anger disappeared from his face. His little body relaxed, and his crying became a few quiet whimpers.
After a few minutes, A Tong seemed to realize that Mommy hadn’t gone anywhere. He was still safe, warm, and loved.
Mommy gave him a gentle kiss on the head. “You don’t have to cry so loudly, sweetheart. Mommy understands.”
A Tong looked up at her with sleepy eyes, then rested his head against her shoulder.
His big tantrum was finally over.
What had started as a dramatic battle over his pacifier ended with A Tong peacefully cuddling against Mommy. Sometimes even the smallest baby can have very big feelings, and on that morning, Mommy showed him that patience, comfort, and reassurance could help him calm down again.
