The Funny Tummy
Mia woke up with a funny feeling in her tummy. It wasn't a sick feeling. It was a fluttery, wobbly feeling. Today was her first day at a new school. Mum said it would be fun. But Mia's tummy still felt all flippy and strange, and she didn't know why. (Feeling words: Worried · Nervous)
Mia felt nervous. Nervous is that fluttery, wobbly feeling we get before something new or a bit scary. It isn't a bad feeling, and it doesn't mean anything is wrong. It just means something matters. Lots of people feel it — even grown-ups, before something new. Mia didn't have the word for it yet, and not knowing what a feeling is can make it feel even bigger.
When you have a funny feeling, it helps to give it a name. You can say, "I think I feel nervous." Naming a feeling makes it feel smaller and easier to carry. And nervous feelings often melt away once the new thing begins.
Mum knelt down and said, "I think your tummy feels nervous. That's okay." Mia nodded — that was the right word. She held Mum's hand at the door and took one big breath. Inside, a girl with red shoes waved at her. Mia waved back. By snack time, the wobbly feeling was gone, and she'd almost forgotten it was ever there.
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