Motherhood was a strange thing. No lesson in life would ever prepare a woman for whatever she had to face while raising her children. Tessy learnt that quickly.

It was her first child, a son and she had no idea what she was doing or what she was supposed to do. She had bought and studied books about a baby's one year development. That still didn't prepare her.

Her lesson started when her baby was two weeks old. She had left him with her sister in law in her room. She was cleaning when she heard an excited scream.

“Tessy! He rolled over!”

He what?! Tessy dashed to her room. To prove it was not a joke, her son rolled again, right in front of her. She was shocked! She took out a book to see if it was possible for a two weeks old. Sure enough, it wasn't. Which meant…

“Your child is very special.” Commented an elderly woman.

Tessy couldn't be more proud of her son. Infact, she was so proud that she would always brag about it to other first time mothers in her group. It was fun until she met her match.

A mother had given the same comments about her son in the group and she was about to brag when another mother, Emily 'innocently' said something that shook her.

“My daughter can sit up straight with no help. And she's only five months old.”

Her son couldn't do that. Not yet. But she thought if Emily's child could, then so could hers. But she was wrong. Her son couldn't sit up without cushions and it took weeks and falling many times before he could. Tessy thought that was over. But her eyes widened when she saw Emily's daughter crawling. She was only six months old! 

Tessy wasn't going to accept defeat. She read many books on how to make babies crawl. She stood at the end of the room so that he would try to reach her, would mimick crawling (she got her husband to join her) and even put him on his knees. But instead, he would roll, cry and fall. He eventually crawled but it was backwards. Tessy went to many doctors and they told her the same thing: he was fine.

All the while, Emily had no idea that she was competing with her fellow woman. Her daughter had learned to walk by holding walls, which was a step closer to walking. Although she didn't brag about it, it still saddened Tessy to the point that she had given up. Her child was indeed special. He was not like other babies. She didn't know what was wrong with him or what she was doing wrong. Emily's daughter had won and Tessy stopped attending the group. 

She was sulking when Emily surprisedly and unexpectedly visited her home. She wondered why Tessy had stopped attending the group. With sorrow, Tessy told her everything and how she felt like a failed mother. Emily listened and then revealed that she was a mother of three. Emily knew more about children, which meant that Tessy fought an already lost battle. But Emily told her something.

“It is alright if your child can't do what other children can. Every child has his own race. Always remember, you are his mother and you are doing well.”

Tears ran down Tessy's face as she hugged her former rival. Now, she understood. She would allow him to run his race. And she did. She celebrated his little efforts and didn't rush him into doing what he wasn't ready for. 

Eventually, she was rewarded.

Time passed. Tessy's son was a year and three months old. She was in the kitchen washing dishes when she heard a small cry behind her. She turned back, only to see that her son had stood up (with the help of a small table) was walking towards her. Her mouth went wide as she gasped. She knelt down to receive him. He finally reached her open arms. As she hugged him tightly, tears of joy streaming down her cheeks, she had a thought.

Why had he chosen the kitchen of all places to walk?

The warm light from the sun shone on them. It was a beautiful moment.

It seemed she would never know.