Lily was a little girl who loved to play! She loved building towers of blocks, drawing colorful pictures, and pretending to be a brave explorer. But when nighttime came, Lily didn't feel so brave. Sometimes, shadows looked like monsters, and quiet creaks sounded like footsteps.
Tonight was one of those nights. Lily snuggled with her favorite stuffed bunny, Cottontail, but her tummy still felt fluttery. “I don’t want to go to sleep,” she whispered to Cottontail. “It’s too dark!”
Mommy came into the room and sat beside Lily. “What’s making you feel a little scared, sweetie?” she asked, gently stroking Lily’s hair. Lily pointed to the shadows dancing on the wall. “Those look like…like grumpy goblins!”
Mommy smiled. “Those are just the branches of the old oak tree outside your window, swaying in the breeze. They’re saying goodnight to the world.” She then started Lily’s bedtime routine. First, a warm bath with bubbly soap. Then, brushing teeth with sparkly toothpaste. Next, putting on cozy pajamas with little stars on them.
As Mommy read Lily’s favorite story about a little firefly who wasn’t afraid of the dark, Lily started to feel calmer. The firefly in the story learned that even though it was small, it could shine brightly. Lily realized she could be brave too, just like the firefly.
Mommy tucked Lily in tight. “Remember, Lily,” she said, “even when you feel a little scared, you have a loving heart inside you, and that’s the bravest thing of all. And we always have our bedtime routine to help us feel safe and cozy.”
Lily closed her eyes, hugging Cottontail close. She thought about the firefly, the warm bath, and Mommy’s gentle voice. The shadows didn’t seem so scary anymore. They were just part of the night, and the night was peaceful.
Lily took a deep breath and whispered, “Goodnight, Mommy.” Mommy kissed her forehead. “Goodnight, my sweet Lily. Sweet dreams.” And as Lily drifted off to sleep, she knew that even a little girl could be brave, especially with a little love and a cozy bedtime routine.