01/07/2026
Story Time:
Leo had a storm inside him. Whenever things didn’t go his way—like when his blocks toppled over or it was time to leave the park—the storm would brew.
His face would scrunch, his fists would clench, and a fiery roar would want to burst out.
Sometimes, he would hit or throw toys.
One evening, after a particularly tough afternoon, Leo sat on the floor, breathing heavily.
His mother sat beside him gently. “Leo,” she said, “big feelings are okay, but our hands and words are for helping and hugging, not for hurting.”
She handed him a squishy, soft pillow.
“Next time you feel that storm, squeeze this pillow as hard as you can.
Or, let’s practice the ‘Volcano Breath’.” 🌋 🧘🏻♂️
Leo tried it.
He breathed in deep through his nose, and let out a loud, gusty “Haaaa!” through his mouth.
The next day, when his sister accidentally knocked over his tower, the familiar anger spiked.
Leo felt his hands clenching, but he remembered his mother’s words.
Instead of lashing out, he squeezed his eyes shut, imagined a calming balloon, and did his loud Volcano Breath.
The anger didn’t vanish instantly, but the intensity shrank.
He was able to talk to his sister instead of hitting her.
He felt a sense of calm.
Leo realized that taming his inner storm didn’t mean he couldn’t feel angry, but it meant he was the captain of his own feelings.
