It was a sunny morning, and Mama Monkey had picked out the prettiest little pink dress for Lyly. The dress had ruffles at the hem, tiny white polka dots, and a matching bow for her hair. Mama imagined how adorable Lyly would look for their afternoon visit to the park.
But when Mama held up the dress, Lyly shook her head furiously.
“No! No dress today!” she chattered, crossing her arms and turning away.
Mama blinked, surprised. “Lyly, you love this dress. What’s wrong?”
Lyly stomped her little feet and clung to her comfy T-shirt. She simply didn’t want to wear anything fancy. Mama sighed—there was no point in forcing her. “Alright, little one, wear what you like,” she said, letting her pick her own outfit.
To Mama’s surprise, Lyly returned not just in her T-shirt, but also wearing a pair of bright yellow shorts… and the matching pink bow from the dress on her head! She had even found a tiny scarf to wrap around her shoulders.
“See, Mama? Pretty AND comfy!” Lyly announced proudly.
Mama couldn’t help but laugh. Her daughter had turned the situation into a creative fashion choice. Instead of the frilly dress, Lyly had put together an outfit that showed her personality—playful, bold, and completely her own.
When they reached the park, the other young monkeys ran up to admire her colorful look. “Lyly, I love your bow!” one of them squealed. Another pointed to her scarf and asked if they could borrow it for a game of dress-up.
Mama watched as Lyly beamed with pride, running and playing freely without the dress holding her back. She realized that her little one wasn’t being stubborn—she was learning to express herself.
On the way home, Mama smiled and said, “You know, Lyly, you looked perfect today.”
Lyly grinned. “I know, Mama… because I chose it myself.”
Sometimes, Mama thought, letting a child be themselves was the most beautiful thing of all.
