Luna the firefly was SO excited! It was the night of the Glowbug Jamboree, a big party where all the fireflies danced and blinked their lights. But after all the fun, Luna couldn’t seem to settle down for bedtime. She wiggled her bottom, blinked her light extra fast, and zoomed around her dandelion puffball bed.
“I can’t sleep!” she buzzed to Mama Firefly. “My light feels too bright, and my wings feel like they want to fly forever!” Mama Firefly smiled gently. “Luna, sometimes when we’re full of energy, we need to help our bodies calm down. Let’s try a little bedtime breathing.”
“Breathing?” Luna tilted her head. “But I breathe all the time!” Mama Firefly chuckled. “Yes, you do! But we can breathe *specially* to help us relax. Let’s pretend you’re smelling a beautiful flower. Take a deep breath in, filling your tummy like a balloon.” Luna took a big breath, and her tummy puffed out.
“Now, slowly blow out the air, like you’re gently blowing bubbles.” Luna blew out slowly, and her light dimmed a little. “Good! Let’s do that again. Smell the flower… and blow out the bubbles.” They did it three more times. With each breath, Luna felt her wiggles getting smaller.
“Now, let’s imagine your light is a little star. As you breathe in, your star shines brighter. As you breathe out, your star glows softer and softer.” Luna followed her mama’s instructions, breathing in and out, watching her light gently pulse.
She imagined her light becoming a cozy, sleepy star. It wasn’t trying to be the brightest, or the fastest, it was just… peaceful. Her wings felt less fluttery, and her bottom stopped wiggling.
“I feel… sleepy,” Luna whispered. Mama Firefly tucked a dewdrop blanket around Luna. “That’s because you helped your body calm down with your breath. Whenever you feel wiggly or excited, remember to smell the flower and blow out the bubbles.”
Luna closed her eyes, her light glowing softly like a sleepy star. She took one last deep breath, and then another. Soon, Luna was fast asleep, dreaming of dancing at the Glowbug Jamboree and the peaceful feeling of her bedtime breathing. Sweet dreams, little one. Now, you try smelling the flower and blowing out the bubbles… and drift off to sleep too.