Marina was a little mermaid with a sparkly tail and a very busy mind. Every night, when her mama mermaid said it was time for sleep, Marina would wiggle and giggle and wish she could just *stay* awake! She loved watching the glowing jellyfish dance and listening to the sleepy songs of the whales.
One night, Marina’s grandma, a very wise old mermaid with coral in her hair, gave Marina a special shell. It wasn’t just any shell; it was a Sleepy Shell! “Hold this shell to your ear, little one,” Grandma Mermaid said, “and imagine all your busy thoughts floating away like bubbles.”
Marina held the shell to her ear. At first, she still thought about the dancing jellyfish and the singing whales. But then, she closed her eyes and pretended each thought was a tiny bubble. She imagined the bubbles floating up, up, up, past the seaweed forests and the sandy ocean floor, until they popped gently into the dark blue water.
With each bubble that floated away, Marina felt herself getting sleepier and sleepier. The Sleepy Shell seemed to hum a quiet, calming tune. She thought about how much she loved playing with her friends, Finley the fish and Coral the crab, and how fun it was to collect shiny pebbles.
Soon, Marina wasn’t thinking about anything at all! She was just… peaceful. She realized that even though she loved playing, resting was important too. It helped her grow big and strong so she could have even *more* fun tomorrow.
The next night, Marina shared her Sleepy Shell with Finley the fish, who was having trouble sleeping too. Finley held the shell and imagined his worries floating away as bubbles. Coral the crab wanted to try, and soon all three friends were drifting off to sleep, dreaming sweet dreams of underwater adventures.
Marina learned that the Sleepy Shell wasn’t magic, really. The magic was inside *her*, in her ability to calm her mind and let go of her busy thoughts. And sharing that calmness with her friends made bedtime even more wonderful. Now, every night, Marina holds her Sleepy Shell, breathes deeply, and lets her bubbles float away to dreamland. Sweet dreams!
Close your eyes now, little one. Imagine *your* own bubbles, floating away with all your busy thoughts. Let them drift and pop, and feel yourself getting sleepier and sleepier… just like Marina the mermaid.