As children learn how to live, it is important for parents to allow and even encourage them to make mistakes. To punish children for making mistakes will keep them from growing. Helping them recover from mistakes will let them know that they are loved, that they are human, and that the world is a safe place. Below is a story for parents and children. Share it with your child(ren) and open up a dialog about making mistakes and messes.

Beneath the surface of the water, in the ocean dark and deep,
is an empire of magic that holds a secret fast asleep.
Within the castle walls so tall and oh so strong,
lives a royal family that allows its people to commit no wrong.

To keep the peace, in this empire so mighty,
anyone misguided is condemned as unsightly.
So each of the families stay away from the mayhem,
while life in the ocean continues without them.
They say very little and move even less,
and when emotions come up they are quickly suppressed.

Then one day a goldfish, no bigger than your thumb,
swam around and wondered why everyone was so numb.
“There must be a disease or virus around here
that makes everyone live in anger and fear.”
He swam from house to house wondering what was amiss
and n’ery a one even noticed the small fish.

He went to the king to report what he witnessed
But the king replied “Contraire, you should be impressed!”
“Why my people are perfect,” he said to the fish.
“There’s no noises, no messes, what more could you wish?”