Tiny Ronaldo was sitting on his soft mat when Mommy told him she needed to prepare his food. He had been happily watching her nearby, but the moment she stood up and walked toward the kitchen, Ronaldo’s little face changed.
He didn’t like that at all.
“Ronaldo, Mommy is going to prepare your food. I’ll be right back,” she said gently.
Ronaldo stared at her.
Then he began screaming.
“AAAAAH! Eeeee! Eeeee!”
Mommy turned around and saw the tiny monkey sitting on the mat with his arms stretched toward her. His face was scrunched up with frustration, and his little voice echoed through the room.
“Oh, Ronaldo,” Mommy said softly. “You’re upset because Mommy walked away?”
Ronaldo answered with an even louder scream.
He rocked forward on the mat and reached toward her again. He clearly wanted Mommy to stay beside him instead of preparing his meal. Every time Mommy took another step away, Ronaldo made another dramatic cry.
“Eeeeeee!”
Mommy smiled gently but didn’t rush away from her task. She made sure Ronaldo was in a secure, supervised area where he couldn’t climb somewhere unsafe or hurt himself. Then she continued preparing the food appropriate for his age, species, and care plan.
“I know you’re hungry, sweetheart,” she called softly. “Mommy is making your food now.”
Ronaldo didn’t seem impressed.
He sat there with the most offended expression imaginable.
His tiny arms folded awkwardly against his body before he stretched them toward Mommy again. His cries became louder, almost as if he were trying to convince her that preparing food was far less important than staying with him.
Mommy laughed softly.
“My little drama king really doesn’t like waiting.”
Ronaldo gave another angry squeak.
But Mommy stayed calm. She continued speaking to him from nearby so he could hear her familiar voice.
“Mommy hasn’t left you. I’m right here.”
That seemed to help a little.
Ronaldo’s screaming became less intense. He still looked annoyed, but he began listening to Mommy’s voice. He watched her carefully while she finished preparing his meal.
Finally, Mommy returned.
The moment Ronaldo saw her coming, his expression changed.
His angry face disappeared.
His arms stretched forward immediately.
“There you are!” Mommy said.
Ronaldo made a tiny excited sound and leaned toward her. Mommy gently comforted him before giving him his appropriately prepared meal according to his feeding plan.
As soon as he began eating, the dramatic screaming stopped.
Silence.
Mommy smiled.
“Oh, so that’s what all that screaming was about!”
Ronaldo looked up at her while eating, as if he had no idea what she was talking about.
His little body relaxed, and the angry expression disappeared completely. The tiny monkey who had been protesting only minutes earlier was now peaceful and focused on his meal.
Mommy gently stroked his head.
“Next time, little Ronaldo, let Mommy prepare your food without such a big performance.”
Ronaldo simply continued eating.
His morning tantrum was finally over. He had been hungry, impatient, and upset that Mommy walked away—but once his food arrived and he knew she was still nearby, his big emotions quickly turned into contentment.
Mommy smiled at her little drama king.
Sometimes, even the smallest baby monkey has a very loud way of saying, “Mommy, I’m hungry!”
