Prompt: Solider Verse: Regina feels like a stranger to Henry and it gets worse when something happens and she doesn't know how to help him or herself
The rational part of her mind knew that she was going to have to adjust to being a full time mother to Henry. That it wouldn't come naturally to her and that she was facing a learning curve. She knew she would be able to overcome it, even as it felt like she was handling a friend's child rather than her own her first few days back with him.
Searching for landmines now seemed easier than trying to learn how to parent her own child.
Regina felt like a complete failure. Henry stood in the middle of their living room, tears running down his cheek and snot running from his nose as he screamed at the top of his lungs. Regina pleaded with her son to tell her what he needed, but his vocabulary was severely limited. All he could do was point at the TV and sob: "Lio. Lio."
Out of options, Regina swallowed her pride and called her husband. The moment he picked up, she started crying. "I'm an awful mother. Henry is having a tantrum and I can't help him. What the hell is a Lio?"
"Calm down," Robin said, voice soothing. "He has difficulty with the 'n' sound. He's trying to say lion. It's his favorite toy and he tends to toss Lion around. He's probably stuck behind something."
It all made sense to Regina and she sniffled, knowing what she had to do. "Thanks, Robin. One day, I promise I won't be so useless."
"You're not useless, lovely. And you're a good mum. Don't be so hard on yourself. I love you." Robin ended the call.
Within minutes, Lion was retrieved from behind the TV and Henry looked at her like she was a superhero. It made her heart soar as she cleaned him up and they cuddled on the couch after, Lion tucked safely between their bodies.
