Carl the caterpillar was a very busy little guy. All day long, he munched on bright green leaves. He wiggled and jiggled, and crawled and climbed. He loved being a caterpillar! But as the sun began to set, Carl felt very, very sleepy.
He found a cozy little branch on a big oak tree. It was the perfect spot for a good night’s rest. He curled up into a little ‘C’ shape and yawned a big caterpillar yawn. “Oh,” he sighed, “being a caterpillar is tiring work!”
Mama Caterpillar came to tuck him in. “Are you ready for sleep, little one?” she asked gently. Carl nodded. “But Mama,” he said, “will I *always* be a caterpillar?” Mama Caterpillar smiled. “Everything changes, Carl. Sometimes slowly, sometimes quickly. And change is a wonderful thing.”
Carl thought about that. He didn’t quite understand, but he trusted his mama. He closed his eyes and started to dream. He dreamed of bright colors and fluttering wings. He dreamed of soaring through the air!
He slept and slept, and while he slept, something amazing began to happen. He spun a silky, cozy little house around himself. It wasn’t itchy or uncomfortable, just… snug. It was called a chrysalis. He was safe and warm inside.
Days turned into nights, and Carl rested. He didn’t munch on leaves anymore. He didn’t wiggle or jiggle. He just… waited. It took a lot of patience, but Carl knew, deep down, that something special was happening.
Finally, one sunny morning, Carl felt a little tickle. And then… a stretch! He pushed and wiggled, and slowly, slowly, the chrysalis opened. Carl wasn’t a caterpillar anymore! He was a beautiful butterfly, with bright orange and yellow wings.
He stretched his new wings and took a deep breath. He fluttered up, up, up into the sky! He wasn’t sad to be a caterpillar anymore. He was happy to be a butterfly, and he remembered his mama’s words: change *is* a wonderful thing. And now, it was time for a new adventure. Sweet dreams!
Remember, little one, just like Carl, you are wonderful exactly as you are, and it’s okay to grow and change. Now close your eyes and have sweet dreams.