Brave in the doctor's room

Vaccination day. Baby Mo saw the needle and clung to Umi. I didn't say "don't be scared" — because he had every right to be, and denying it only makes him feel alone.

I said: "It hurts for a moment, then it's done. Umi will hold you tight." I hugged him, whispered the du'a for protection softly in his ear. He still cried at the jab. But crying while held is different from crying while left alone.

Brave doesn't mean unafraid; brave means afraid but getting through it with someone alongside. Umi wants Baby Mo to grow up knowing he doesn't have to fake being strong — he just needs to know Umi always holds him when the hard thing comes.

O Allah, Lord of mankind, remove the harm and heal.

Five minutes later he was laughing again, clutching a sticker. But what Umi hopes he remembers for life: when scared, there's a hand that holds.