The Worry Monster

Once upon a time, there was a little girl named Lucy. Lucy loved playing with her toys and drawing pictures. But sometimes, Lucy felt a little worried. At night, when it was time to sleep, Lucy imagined everything going wrong at school. She thought about forgetting her homework or losing her lunch. These thoughts made her feel scared, and she called them the Worry Monster. The Worry Monster seemed to grow bigger every night. Lucy wished she knew how to make it go away.

One morning, Lucy decided to talk to her mom about the Worry Monster. She told her mom how it made her feel scared at night. Her mom listened carefully and gave her a big hug. "Worries are normal, Lucy," her mom said gently. "Everyone has them, even grown-ups." Lucy felt a little better knowing she wasn't alone. Her mom promised to help her make the Worry Monster shrink. Lucy was curious to learn how.

Lucy's mom had a special trick to share. She told Lucy to think of happy thoughts whenever the Worry Monster appeared. "Happy thoughts can make the Worry Monster shrink," her mom explained. Lucy thought about her favorite ice cream and playing in the park. She imagined her friends laughing and having fun. Lucy practiced thinking of these happy thoughts. She hoped it would help her feel less scared at night. Lucy was ready to try it out.

That night, Lucy lay in bed and closed her eyes. The Worry Monster tried to creep in with scary thoughts. But Lucy remembered her mom's trick. She started thinking about her birthday party and the fun games they played. Slowly, the Worry Monster began to shrink. Lucy felt a warm feeling inside her heart. She realized she was in control of her worries. Lucy fell asleep with a smile on her face.

The next morning, Lucy woke up feeling brave. She remembered the happy thoughts that helped her sleep. At school, she felt a little nervous, but she knew what to do. When the Worry Monster tried to scare her, Lucy thought about her favorite storybook. She imagined the characters going on exciting adventures. The Worry Monster became smaller and smaller. Lucy felt proud of herself for being so brave. She was ready to have a good day.

During recess, Lucy played with her friends. They noticed she seemed happier and asked her why. Lucy told them about the Worry Monster and her mom's trick. Her friends thought it was a great idea. They decided to try it too whenever they felt worried. Lucy felt happy to share her secret. She realized that everyone has worries sometimes. Together, they imagined happy thoughts and laughed. The Worry Monster didn't stand a chance.

After school, Lucy and her mom went to the park. Lucy felt the sun on her face and the wind in her hair. She ran around, feeling free and joyful. The Worry Monster was nowhere to be found. Lucy's mom smiled and said, "See how brave you are, Lucy?" Lucy nodded, feeling proud of herself. She knew she could handle her worries. The park was filled with laughter and happy thoughts.

That night, Lucy lay in bed with a peaceful heart. The Worry Monster tried to visit, but it was tiny now. Lucy thought about her adventures at the park. She imagined flying with the birds and dancing with the flowers. The Worry Monster disappeared completely. Lucy drifted off to sleep, feeling calm and happy. She knew she could always make the Worry Monster shrink. And from that day on, Lucy's nights were filled with sweet dreams.