Libby knelt on the soft rug of the living room, her hands outstretched, her face lit with the kind of smile that only a mother can give. “Come on, Leo,” she cooed, her voice soft and encouraging. “You can do it, my little champ.”
Leo, her tiny 11-month-old, sat a few feet away on wobbly legs. His chubby hands clutched the edge of the coffee table for dear life. His big, curious eyes darted from his mother’s glowing face to the intimidating stretch of carpet between them.
For weeks now, Libby had been working with Leo, trying to coax him to take those magical first steps. He had mastered crawling and could pull himself up with ease, but walking? That was a whole new challenge. Tiny Leo was still building the confidence to let go.
“Come on, sweetheart,” Libby said again, blowing a playful kiss in his direction. “Mommy’s right here.” She tapped her knees to encourage him, her warmth radiating across the room.
Leo grinned, his two little teeth peeking out in delight. He let out a happy squeal, as if to say, I hear you, Mom!
Slowly, he let one hand slip off the coffee table. Then the other. His balance wavered, and for a split second, he stood there on his own. Libby gasped, her heart swelling with pride. “That’s it! You’re so brave!” she said, clapping her hands.
But Leo wasn’t quite ready. With a small plop, he landed on his diapered bottom, giggling as if the fall was all part of the game.
Undeterred, Libby scooped him up and peppered his rosy cheeks with kisses. “You’re doing so great, my little Leo. We’ll get there together,” she whispered.
Leo nestled into her embrace, resting his head on her shoulder. The journey to walking might be slow, but with a mom like Libby, every stumble was met with love, every attempt celebrated, and every little step forward was a sweet triumph.
And in that moment, Libby realized that these days—full of tiny milestones and endless cuddles—were the ones she’d cherish forever.
