Mello the Bear yawned a big morning yawn. He stretched his fuzzy arms way up high. Sunlight tickled his nose, and his blanket felt warm and safe.
But something inside… felt wiggly.
Mello sat up and blinked his big, curious eyes. He didn’t feel sad. He didn’t feel mad. But he didn’t feel just happy either.
Something was moving in his belly. Something new.
He padded into the kitchen where Mama Bear was stirring warm porridge.
His voice was quiet. “Mama… I feel something, but I don’t know what it is.”
Mama Bear turned and smiled. She knelt down beside Mello and held his paws.
“Feelings are like visitors,” she said. “They knock on the door inside you. Some are loud. Some are soft. Let’s see who this one is.”
They looked at the feelings chart on the fridge — bears with big grins, scrunchy eyebrows, tiny tears, and sleepy eyes.
Mello tilted his head, thinking. Then he pointed to a yellow bear face with wide, sparkling eyes.
“I think I feel... curious?” he guessed.
Mama Bear nodded gently. “Curious feels like wiggles in your belly and sparkles in your head,” she said. “It means your heart wants to learn or try something new.”
Later, Mello built the tallest block tower ever.He was almost done when—CRASH!The blocks tumbled to the floor.
Mello’s cheeks got hot. His fists clenched. His foot stomped.“I feel… GRRR!” he roared.
Mama Bear came close and placed a soft paw on his back.
“Let’s take a breath,” she whispered. “Can you show me what your feeling looks like?”
Mello stomped again. Then he sat. He hugged his knees and breathed in... and out.
“My tummy feels tight. My chest feels hot.” “I think I feel... frustrated,” he said.
Mama Bear hugged him close. “Frustrated visits me too,” she said. “You did something powerful — you named your feeling.”
“Now it doesn’t feel so big, right?”
Mello nodded.
That night, under his blanket again, Mello thought about his day.
“I felt curious. I felt happy. I felt frustrated.” He smiled a little smile.
















