Maya sits on her blue carpet. She is playing with her teddy bear. Mommy comes in and smiles.
“Maya, let's tidy up now,” Mommy says.
Maya looks at all her blocks. She feels busy. But she wants to keep playing. She shakes her head. “Not now, Mommy.”
Mommy picks up a book and leaves. Maya feels funny inside. Her tummy feels small. Her smile goes away.
“I should help Mommy,” Maya whispers to Teddy. Teddy looks quiet too.
Maya thinks about Mommy. She remembers Mommy's happy face. Now, Mommy is not happy.
Maya sits very still. She touches her tummy. “I feel sad, Teddy. Did I make Mommy sad?”
She looks at the blocks. She picks up one block. Then another. She puts them in the box.
Maya feels a little better. She stands up and finds Mommy in the kitchen. Mommy is washing dishes.
Maya holds Teddy. “Mommy, I feel sorry. I did not help you.”
Mommy kneels down. She hugs Maya. “Thank you for telling me. Thank you for helping now. That is kind, Maya.”
Maya smiles. She feels warm.
“I feel better now, Mommy,” Maya says.
Mommy smiles big. “Feelings are okay. When we feel sorry, we can help or say sorry. That helps our heart.”
Maya hugs Teddy. She feels happy again. She remembers: it is good to talk about feelings and to help.
