Strawberry Daifuku tastes like sweet jealousy.

It is the 1000th day since my daughter was born. Even though it should be a milestone to celebrate, I felt a little conflicted. My two-year-old daughter is right in the middle of her 'no' phase.
Her first word was always 'No way,' but lately, she has started insisting, 'I want Daddy!'
When I say, 'Let's take a bath,' she screams, 'No! I want Daddy!' and when my husband reaches out his hand, she runs to him happily. Even when reading picture books, she points and says, 'Not Mommy, Daddy!' It is as if I have become invisible.

My daughter brushes my hand away and runs to my husband. Her retreating figure felt strangely distant. 'Wait a minute, I gave birth to you and take care of you every day!' I scream in my heart, but of course, it doesn't reach her. While feeling small-minded for thinking such things, I can't help but feel unsettled.

The other day, on the way home from daycare, we passed by a Japanese confectionery shop and saw a banner with a picture of a strawberry, and my daughter said, 'I want to eat that!' A large, bright red strawberry, shining and glossy, was peeking out from inside a fluffy, pure white daifuku. This must be absolutely delicious.
Since the three-pack was sold out, I bought two two-packs of strawberry daifuku. My daughter loves strawberries. When we got home, she peered into the bag and her eyes lit up as she said, 'Wow!' She reached out with her small hands and said while jumping up and down.

'Mommy, can I eat this?'

It was the very moment I was about to answer, 'Of course.'
My husband called on a video call, and my daughter immediately peered into the screen.

'Daddy, can I eat the strawberry daifuku?'

…Huh.

My words hung in the air and vanished.

My husband's face lit up on the screen. His gentle voice echoed, 'Sure, go ahead.' Then, my daughter beamed with a huge smile, as if she had received important permission, and took a big bite of the strawberry daifuku.

That smile is indescribably cute.

But that cuteness made my heart feel even more restless.

My daughter takes a bite with a huge smile, saying, 'Yum!' My husband also smiles gently, saying, 'How cute.' Watching that, I started to feel a bit frustrated.

What is this feeling?

Yes, it is jealousy.

I feel like my husband has taken my daughter away, and I also feel like my daughter has taken my husband away, leaving me with a very complicated feeling.

Just a few months ago, she was crying, saying, 'I want Mommy!'
Back then, she would cry just because I tried to go to the bathroom, and I even felt suffocated. Yet, now that she says, 'Not Mommy, Daddy!' I feel hopelessly lonely.
Perhaps this current situation is also just a passing phase.
Even so, I still feel a bit frustrated.

'Mommy wants to eat a strawberry too.'

When I said that, my daughter thought for a moment, then offered me the last bite with her small fingertip. The sweet and sour taste of the strawberry spread in my mouth.

Sincerely, Kiki

#JealousyFestival #FeedbackRequested

I am applying with this.
I intended to write about something more messy and jealous, but it turned into a story about a mother's complex emotions.