life skills emotions · Ages 3-5

The Surprise Was Not the One I Wanted

A child expects one treat and gets another, feels upset, and learns to hold a surprise feeling until it softens.

The whole story

1. On Saturday morning, Maya carried a purple gift bag into the sunny kitchen.

2. Maya hoped the bag held one round chocolate cookie.

3. Maya gave the bag to Aunt Jo, who had made the surprise.

4. Maya pulled out an orange whistle, not the chocolate cookie.

5. Maya squeezed the whistle and sat down on the warm floor.

6. Aunt Jo sat nearby while Maya took three slow breaths.

7. The surprise feeling stayed, but it became smaller and quieter.

8. Maya tried the whistle, then ate one cookie beside it.

9. The surprise was not the one Maya wanted, but it softened in her hands.

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