Nurture Tales? Stories for Head, Hand and Heart.. Story 1: The Captain of the Cozy Nest

Once upon a time, in a cozy little home on the edge of a quiet forest, there lived a family of sparrows: Mama Sparrow, Papa Sparrow, and their two little ones, Tilly and Timmy. They called their home the “Cozy Nest.” It was warm, safe, and filled with love – a place where everyone could feel safe and happy.

One windy day, a big storm rolled over the forest. The tree branches shook, leaves flew everywhere, and the Cozy Nest trembled on its branch. Inside, Tilly and Timmy began to chirp nervously.

Mama and Papa Sparrow were also nervous, but they wanted to keep the little ones calm. "Everything’s going to be okay," Mama Sparrow said softly, spreading her wings protectively over Tilly and Timmy. "Let’s close our eyes, take a deep breath, and imagine we’re flying smoothly through the sky.”

The little sparrows tried this, but just as they started to feel calm, a loud thunderclap boomed across the sky. Papa Sparrow, startled, raised his wings in panic. "What should we do? Should we fly out? Stay here? I don’t know!" he shouted.

Timmy and Tilly's little hearts pounded as they looked at each other with wide eyes. They had never seen Papa Sparrow look so scared. Timmy started to hop nervously around the nest, and Tilly fluffed her feathers anxiously. They chirped and cheeped louder and louder, feeling like the storm was right inside their nest.

Mama Sparrow saw how frightened the little ones had become and took a deep, steadying breath. She gently held Papa Sparrow's wing and said, "Let’s be the calm in their storm." Then, turning to Tilly and Timmy, she said with a warm smile, “Storms come and go, but the Cozy Nest stays strong. We’re safe here together.”

Papa Sparrow realized how important it was to stay calm, too. He gently folded his wings around his family and began to hum a sweet tune. Mama Sparrow joined in, and soon, the nest was filled with a soft, comforting melody.

As the storm roared outside, Tilly and Timmy felt their fears melt away. They snuggled close to their parents, who were calm and steady like the tall, strong tree that held their nest. And soon, the thunder felt quieter, the winds gentler, and the Cozy Nest became a safe haven once more.

After a while, the storm passed, and the family peered out to see the sun shining and the forest sparkling with raindrops.

From that day on, Mama and Papa Sparrow knew that their calmness was a gift they gave their little ones, a shelter in any storm. They learned that when they stayed calm, Tilly and Timmy felt safe, no matter what happened outside.

Moral of the Story: When we stay calm, we help our children feel safe and grounded. Our emotions are like a shelter for them, especially in times of worry or fear. We can be the calm in their storm, the strong, steady place that gives them courage.