The morning light slipped through the tall trees surrounding Angkor Wat, warming the ancient stones beneath my feet. I had been watching a small troop settle near the outer temple wall when I noticed Brandi.
She was perched on a low branch, her baby shifting restlessly against her chest.
At first, it seemed like a typical nursing moment. The infant nudged forward, tiny hands pressing into her fur, searching instinctively for milk. But Brandi didn’t immediately respond.
Instead, she turned her head, scanning the forest. Her body stayed alert even as the baby stretched and twisted beneath her chin.
The little one seemed determined. It adjusted its position again, almost sliding sideways in its effort to latch. For a moment, it looked awkward—tiny legs kicking slightly as it tried to find balance.
Watching from a distance, I caught myself wondering, What is the baby doing like that?
But then I saw what Brandi saw.
Two juveniles were roughhousing nearby. An older female shifted positions just a few feet away. The troop wasn’t fully settled.
Brandi gently repositioned her baby, lifting it slightly before allowing it to nurse. The infant immediately relaxed, small fingers uncurling as it found what it had been seeking.
The shift in energy was subtle but powerful.
Brandi’s posture softened once the baby latched securely. She continued scanning her surroundings, but her breathing slowed.
It struck me how easy it is to misread a moment in the wild. From a human perspective, hesitation can look like distance. But in the Angkor forest, hesitation often means awareness.
As an American observer, I thought about how often parenting involves split-second decisions. Balancing safety and comfort. Choosing the right moment.
The baby eventually drifted into a calm stillness, pressed against Brandi’s chest. And she, despite her alert posture, looked peaceful.
The forest hummed quietly around them. Sunlight filtered across ancient carvings behind her.
It wasn’t dramatic.
It was real.
A mother weighing her surroundings. A baby trusting completely.
And in that quiet exchange, beneath centuries-old temple towers, the bond between them felt timeless.
