A short message for grown-ups.
As parents, we know how quickly family time can slip into scrolling time.
Everyone on their own devices after a long day.
Wouldn't it be great to share something active and fun instead?
Meet Next Playground, an active game system powered by your body.
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Join Bluey and Keepy Uppy.
Fly with How to Train Your Dragon.
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No ads, no in-app purchases, no mature content.
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Want to learn more?
Visit nexplayground.com.
That's nexplayground.com to explore active family gaming today.
A short message for grown-ups.
If your little one loves Bluey, here's something new that might spark hours of joyful imaginative play.
Bluey Chatmates.
With just a press of the nose, these beloved characters come to life.
Chatting with 10 fan-favorite phrases, including some of the most iconic lines from the show.
There's Bluey, Bingo, and Muffin.
Plus some extra fun versions like Bingo with her scooter and helmet and Rita with her Granny, Mobile glasses and grabber.
Each chatmate is six inches tall just the right size for little hands and comes with movable arms and legs for easy posing and storytelling.
Whether they're recreating favorite scenes or dreaming up new ones, kids will love growing their own Bluey world, one giggle at a time.
Bluey Chatmates is available at all major retailers.
Hello friends and welcome to Sleep Tight Stories.
Each week we share a few shout outs and birthday wishes for listeners who help support the show.
It's a small way we say thank you and it always makes us smile.
Hello to Carter from Southern Australia.
Happy belated birthday, Elmarie.
You light up our world with your big ideas and bigger heart.
We're so proud of you and love you to the moon.
Mama, Papa, and Lou.
Happy belated 10th birthday to our amazing Eloise.
We love you so much.
Love, Mom, Dad, your brothers, and your sweet poochies, Margot.
Happy ninth birthday to the most awesome kid around, Bennett Shady Morgan, in Kingston, Ontario.
May your day be as cool and amazing as you are.
Love, Mom, Dad, and Ginny.
A happy belated sixth birthday to our amazing Emerson.
We love your big heart, your passion for horses, and your feisty spirit on the soccer field.
Love, Mom, Dad, Lady, Uncle Josh, Grammy, G-Pa, and G-Ma.
Happy ninth birthday to Olivia in North Carolina.
Love and hugs from Mom, Dad, and Joss the dog.
Happy birthday to our dear Coco Bean.
We are all so proud of the hardworking, smart, and caring young lady you have become.
Mommy, Daddy, and Juju love you to the moon and back.
Happy birthday, sweet girl.
Happy birthday, Mila.
We can't believe how big you are.
A kindergartner at school with the big kids.
We all love you so much.
Ima, Daddy, Ari, and Leora.
Happy 11th birthday to our amazing son, Axel.
We are so proud of you and love you very much.
Mom and Dad.
Happy 6th birthday to our wonderful daughter, Grace, from Dublin, Ireland, on October 5th.
We are so incredibly proud of the brave, kind, amazing person you are growing into.
We love you more than words can say.
Lots of love from Mommy and Daddy.
Happy birthday, Noah Bedoa, your 7.
We love your crazy, loving, stubborn, and happy personality and wish you the best birthday ever. will always be our joke joke love mama papa mateo and lolo happy ninth birthday to omari from vancouver british columbia on october 13th mommy and daddy love you so much and are so proud of the person you are becoming happy birthday to rowan from vancouver british columbia who is turning nine you are such a special person And we are so proud of you.
Also, Taylor sends her love.
Love from Mama, Dad, and River.
Happy 8th birthday to Felix on October 16th.
We love watching you play sports, learning the drum, and being amazing friends to all.
We're so proud of the person you're growing up to be.
Love Mom, Dad, and Harper.
And happy birthday to our newest 9-year-old, Sarah.
Mom, Dad, and James love you to Pluto and beyond.
Happy birthday to you all and thank you for supporting the show.
If you'd like to support our podcast and enjoy ad-free episodes, unlock bonus stories and so much more, you can join Sleep Tight Premium.
Subscribe in just two taps via the link in the show notes.
Now on to our story.
Bernice and Ethan smell something amazing as they reach Bernice's house.
She invites Ethan in, but he needs to go to his grandmother's.
So Bernice tells him she'll bring some treats over.
When she gets to the kitchen she tells Papa all about her day and what she might need his help with.
Bernice has an essay to write.
Do you smell that?
Ethan asked as they reached Bernice's house.
It smells like fall or pumpkins or maybe even my grandmother's cookbooks.
Bernice sniffed the air and grinned.
It smells like something yummy delicious.
Do you want to come in and see?
Maybe Papa made something super duper yummy today and we could share it with you.
Ethan stood there for a moment, his face scrunched up in thought.
Is that steam coming out of your ears?
Bernice teased, laughing.
I know.
You have to go to your grandmother's house.
Yeah, Ethan chuckled.
I was thinking hard there.
I'd love to come in for a treat, but I think my grandmother really enjoys when I spend the afternoons with her.
She says it's the highlight of her day. reading or doing homework together.
Okay, Bernice said with a shrug.
Maybe I can bring some over and you can both share.
Would that be all right?
That would be super great, Ethan said as he started walking down the sidewalk toward his grandmother's house.
See you soon.
Bernice called, opening the front door and quickly shutting it behind her, before a swirl of autumn leaves could follow her in.
One time, she forgot.
A whole gust had blown a pile right into the hallway.
Papa and she almost had to get a rake to clean them all up.
Hi, Papa.
Hi, Cookie.
I'm home, Bernice called as she brushed the cold air off her arms.
I think there's going to be a lineup outside soon, because whatever you're making smells very, very yummy, like five holiday treats baked into one.
I'm in the kitchen, Little Bear, putting the finishing touches on some treats.
I hope you like them, Papa Bear called back in his super deep voice.
I'm 110% sure I will, Bernice replied, plopping down to take off her sneakers.
She knew Cookie, her bestest friend, would be around the corner any second.
It didn't take long, as Cookie, her cat, came prancing right towards her, meowing as she plopped between Bernice's legs with a loud meow and a steady purr.
How was your day, Cookie?
Did you miss me?
I missed you, especially during English class, which is now my hardest subject by far.
You know I am good at all the sciences, math and stuff.
Oh, and hockey, swimming, running.
And I might be a great painter, but I need more paint.
But English?
Definitely easier than French, which is still super confusing.
I mean, why do I need to say le this and la that?
Like the cookie is a boy one day and a girl the next?
Makes no sense.
Cookie purred louder as if agreeing.
"'So English was okay until today, just reading books and stuff, which I already do.
I mean, not as much as Ethan, he's really good, but still a lot.
But now we have to write an essay about what we're thankful for, and we can only pick three things.
Three!
How do I do that, Cookie?'
I mean, I'm thankful for you and Ethan and Bobby and Gertrude.
I don't want to leave anyone out.
How am I supposed to make that decision?
Treats are on the table, little bear.
Papa Bear boomed from the kitchen.
So is the milk.
They smell so good, I might start eating them all myself.
I'm coming, Papa.
Save some for me.
Bernice gave Cookie one last pet.
That's it for now.
You'll come up later and help me with my homework, right?
You always do.
I have a delivery to make, that is, if Papa says it's okay.
But then you and I can work on my English homework together.
You're the best helper cat.
She tucked her sneakers neatly in the tray, hung up her jacket and ran into the kitchen, where the delicious smell grew stronger.
Hi, Papa.
What is that smell?
Ethan smelled it, too.
He thought it was pumpkins and fall.
But I just thought it was yummy delicious.
Papa Bear chuckled.
It's pumpkin spice with a few extras.
Some of the cookies even have pumpkin in them.
Bernice washed her hands and sat down at the kitchen table gulping her milk until she had a frothy milk stash.
Ah, I was thirsty.
These cookies look amazing.
This one's pumpkin colored and this one has frosting.
Two of my favorites already.
Papa Bear took a sip of tea.
They taste pretty good, too.
So tell me all about your day.
Anything exciting happen?
Oh, before I forget, can I take some cookies to Ethan's house?
He wanted to come in, but he likes to spend time with his grandmother after school.
I thought they could share some together.
Of course, Papa Bear said.
When we're done, I'll pack a tin for you to run over.
Okay, cool.
Ethan loves your cookies almost as much as I do, Bernice said, brushing crumbs from her fingers.
So school was the same as usual.
You know, learn lots of stuff.
But today I have homework for English class, and I think I need your help.
Oh, and at lunch, you'll never guess what Bobby had to eat.
Papa Bear raised an eyebrow.
Okay, fine, you'll never guess, so I'll just tell you.
Bernice continued, words tumbling out.
He had a veggie wrap.
A rice wrap, I think.
I don't know what they're called.
But it had carrots in it.
And he ate it.
And he didn't even make a face or a joke.
We all just stared at him for a second, waiting for something.
Gertrude even started sliding away from him.
Because you know how he always says carrots cause stinks.
But nope, he just ate it.
Maybe he actually likes carrots now.
Papa Bear chuckled.
Sometimes the way food is prepared makes it taste different.
Or maybe Bobby is just trying new things.
Carrots are pretty yummy.
Yeah, but not as yummy as your cookies.
Then I had some of May's tofu today.
It was good.
And Gertrude brought butter chicken because her mom is trying new recipes.
I gave her some fruit for a trade.
Ethan had spaghetti, but I didn't try it.
Bobby did, though.
And my new friend Layla brought something called a Manusha wrap.
She says it's like pizza, but with herbs.
I thought it was really yummy, so I shared part of my sandwich with her.
That sounds great, little bear.
But what about English?
What do you need help with?
Bernice's cheeks puffed as she chewed quickly.
Careful not to lose even a crumb of cookie.
After a big gulp of milk, she said, Okay, so we have to write an essay.
That's fine.
I write all the time.
But it's about what we're thankful for.
And here's the problem.
We can only write about three things.
Just three.
How am I supposed to choose?
I'm thankful for cookies like these, for carrots, for mama's salads.
For lasagna, for Bobby and Gertrude and Ethan, for my cozy bed, and of course for Cookie.
She sighed and flopped against her chair.
See what I mean?
I don't want to leave anything out.
Papa Bear smiled, finishing the last bite of his pumpkin spice cookie with a sip of tea.
I understand, Little Bear.
We really do have so much to be thankful for.
It's hard to narrow it down, but maybe there's a way.
You could try grouping things together.
You've done this before in school, right?
Think of it as big baskets.
One basket for food, one for people, one for cozy things.
There's three baskets right there.
Inside each basket are all the smaller pieces.
Cookies and carrots and food, Bobby and Gertrude and people, your bed and Cookie, the Cat and cozy things.
Bernice nodded, nibbling another big bite.
Now, if you only get to write about three, you can choose one from each basket or write about the basket itself.
Either way, you're showing you're thankful for lots of things without needing to list everything.
And remember, writing about three doesn't mean you're not thankful for the rest.
It just means you're sharing examples.
Like if I say I'm thankful for Mama's salads, your laughter, and our garden.
It doesn't mean I'm not thankful for our hikes, too.
Bernice's eyes brightened.
Yeah, you're talking about finding patterns.
I studied that before in math.
Like when we had to figure out what comes next.
Red, blue, red, blue.
Or when we skipped count by twos or fives.
At first, I thought it was just about numbers and shapes.
But then I started to see patterns everywhere.
Like even in how Cookie always meows at the exact same time when I get home.
Or how Mama makes salad almost every day.
It's like life has its own patterns too, right?
That's exactly right, Papa Bear said.
Patterns aren't just in math.
They're in nature and in our lives.
Think about the seasons changing or the moon growing and shrinking.
Even your bedtime routine, brushing your teeth, stretching, setting out clothes.
That's a pattern too.
And patterns can help us make choices.
Papa?
Yes, Little Bear.
Do you know what I'm thankful for right now?
No, I don't, Papa Bear replied with a smile.
I'm thankful that I get to eat the most yummy, delicious cookies in the whole wide world with my Papa.
I'm thankful for that too, Little Bear.
He reached for a tin and began placing cookies inside.
I'll pack some up for you to take to Ethan.
That way he and his grandma can share the treat too.
Thank you, Papa, Bernice said, hugging him tight before grabbing another cookie.
After taking the cookies over to Ethan and his grandma, who invited her to come for dinner sometime, Bernice came home and wrote her essay on what she was thankful for in record time.
Then, after enjoying a big yummy, delicious dinner and reading with Mama Bear, she headed upstairs to begin her bedtime routine.
She decided on a shower instead of a bubble bath, so she'd have more time for a story.
Finally she jumped into bed, arranged Twiggle, Wolfie and Madeline just right, pulled the blanket up to her chin and called out It's that time, Papa.
And what time is that, little bear?
Papa Bear called back from the kitchen.
It's time for a short story.
Right on cue, Cookie padded into the room and curled up at the foot of her bed.
Here I come, boomed Papa Bear as he walked up the stairs, making the house rumble like a small earthquake.
When he reached the top, he peeked in and asked, Did someone ask for a story?
Someone did.
Bernice said with a yawn, but it can be a short one tonight because I'm super tired again.
All right, Papa Bear said with a chuckle.
How about a story from the mystical forest?
Maybe one about a raccoon?
In the magical kingdom, Bernice whispered, her eyes already half closed, anything is possible.
Papa Bear chuckled and pulled the chair closer to her bed.
Once upon a time, in a world full of magic and fun, there lived a brave little bear named Boo Boo.
She lived in a large castle at the edge of a mystical forest.
And in this forest there were unicorns fairies, gnomes and all manner of insects, birds and animals.
It was a wonderful place.
Her best friend was a young dragon called Kaikai, and they liked to play as much as they could.
The kingdom they lived in was full of people who lived in the meadows, who lived in the hills and those that lived in the forest.
And they all lived in harmony.
In this same mystical forest, not far from Boo Boo's castle, lived a family of raccoons.
But these weren't ordinary raccoons like we know them.
Where regular raccoons had black and white stripes, the mystical forest raccoons had purple and pink ones.
They liked to stand out, you see.
And the brightest purple raccoon of them all was a young fellow named Remy.
On this day, Remy was a little bit upset.
But Mama, it's not fair, Remy said, his purple fur puffing up as he crossed his striped arms.
Lulu has three bikes and Pip's family has that huge treehouse with the swirly slide, and Chester just got a whole room just for his toys.
Mama Raccoon looked up from the acorn bread she was kneading.
Her pink striped tail swished thoughtfully.
Hmm.
And what do you have, my little storm cloud?
Nothing, Remy huffed, flopping dramatically onto the kitchen floor.
Well, okay, I have some stuff, but not as much.
Nothing?
Mama raised an eyebrow.
Really?
Remy peeked up at her.
Well, I mean, I have my tree climbing rope and my collection of shiny rocks and that book about dragons that Papa reads to me every night.
Uh-huh, Mama smiled, sprinkling flour onto the counter.
What else?
I have, um, my lucky acorn cap and the blanket Grandma Ma made me, the one with all the colors.
Remy sat up a little.
And I guess I have Chester and Pip and Lulu.
They're pretty fun even if they do have more bikes than I do.
Mama nodded.
And?
Remy thought harder.
I have breakfast every morning.
And you make those honey cakes I like.
And Papa taught me how to do backflips off the low branches without getting dizzy.
Anything else?
Mama asked.
Her voice gentle now.
I have you and Papa Remy said quietly, and our tree and the forest, and He stopped his ears perking up.
Mama, I think I have a lot of stuff.
I think so too, little one.
Mama wiped her flower-covered paws on her apron.
And you know what's even better than having lots of things?
What? sharing what you do have with others who might not have as much.
Remy tilted his head.
Like what?
Well, Mama thought for a moment Chester might have a toy room, but does he know how to climb trees like you do?
Maybe you could teach him.
And Lulu has three bikes, but I bet she'd love to see your shiny rock collection.
Nobody else has purple quartz like yours.
Remy's tail started to swish, just like Mama's.
And Pip's family has that big treehouse, but we always have the best snacks here.
Maybe they'd like to come over and try your honey cakes.
Exactly, Mama smiled.
Being thankful isn't just about counting what you have.
It's about noticing all the good stuff, even the small things. and then finding ways to share it.
Remy jumped up and hugged Mama's leg.
Can we make extra honey cakes for Pip's family?
I think that's a wonderful idea, Mama said, ruffling his purple fur.
Now, want to help me with the bread?
Your paws are much better at shaping the rolls than mine.
Remy grinned.
Really?
Really?
Really? you've got the best paws in the whole mystical forest.
And as Remy helped shape the acorn bread, his tail swishing happily behind him, he started humming one of Papa's silly songs.
Mama joined in and pretty soon they were both laughing as flour puffed into the air and stuck to Remy's purple nose.
Mama, Remy said, looking up at her, Can I invite everyone over for dinner?
Not just Pip's family, all my friends?
I think we can manage that, Mama said with a warm smile.
We'll need a lot more honey cakes, though.
I'll help, Remy said, already reaching for another bowl.
And maybe, maybe I can show Lulu my shiny rocks after dinner?
I'm sure she'd love that.
And with the gentle sound of Bernice's snorts, Papa Bear turned down her light, gave her a kiss on the forehead and said I love you, Little Bear.
And that is the end of our story.
Good night.
Sleep tight.
Thank you.
