In the busy heart of the forest, tiny Sarika—known by the troop as the smallest and youngest mother—struggled each day to understand how to care for her delicate newborn. She had no experience, no guidance from older mothers, and her tiny size made everything feel even more overwhelming. Still, she loved her newborn deeply, even though she often held him in awkward, unsteady ways that made the baby let out soft, confused cries.
At sunrise, Sarika sat on a low branch, her newborn resting across her arm. Instead of clinging comfortably to her chest like other babies, he slid sideways, his tiny fingers reaching desperately for something to hold onto. Sarika would panic, quickly pulling him back, but her movements were clumsy. Sometimes she held him upside-down for a brief moment, sometimes backward, and sometimes too loosely. Each mistake made the newborn squeak pitifully, but Sarika’s eyes showed nothing but worry and determination.
The troop watched silently. Some older mothers sighed, knowing how difficult first-time motherhood could be. A few youngsters peeked curiously, wondering why Sarika always looked confused. But Sarika didn’t care about their stares—her whole world was the tiny life she was trying so hard to protect.
Every time the baby struggled to latch for milk, Sarika tried repositioning him, but her inexperience made everything harder. She didn’t know the proper angle, didn’t know how to support his head, didn’t know how to calm him before feeding. The newborn would cry softly, feeling uncomfortable, and Sarika—panicked—would hug him too tightly or shift him too fast. Yet even in her mistakes, her love was clear. She never left him. She never ignored his cries.
As the day progressed, Sarika found herself adjusting again and again. Sometimes the newborn ended up lying across her lap like a tiny human baby. Other times she carried him by his belly instead of letting him cling naturally. Still, she never stopped trying. Each attempt, even the wrong ones, taught her a little more.
By afternoon, she finally managed to position him close to her chest in a way that let him drink peacefully. Sarika froze, hardly breathing, afraid to break the moment. The newborn suckled quietly, his tiny body finally relaxed. Sarika’s eyes softened with relief.
She was inexperienced. She was the smallest mother. But she was learning—mistake by mistake, day by day—how to care for her precious newborn with a heart full of love.
