🎶🐣The Happy Hatching Song: a calming bedtime and naptime story for children

SPEAKER_1 (0:02)

Hello, Ahway Islanders. Welcome to Be Calm on Ahway Island. Today, we are happy to share a favorite story and relaxation with you. Before we begin, we want to remind the grownups who are listening that hundreds of Be Calm on Ahway Island episodes are available on Patreon. Looking for a particular favorite story or special meditation? Want stories about dragon or episodes read by a male or female narrator? You can find just the right story at patreon.com/ahwayisland.

Now, let's get ready to relax.

Hello, Ahway Islanders. We're so glad you're here. Let's see if you have everything you want to be calm on Ahway Island. Are the lights in your room dim or off? Do you have your favorite blanket or listening buddy?

Before we begin our story, let's relax by taking a deep dragon breath. Breathe in through your nose, filling up your lungs, and then out through your mouth, imagining you are breathing fire like a dragon. Okay, deep breath, in and out.

Good. Imagine you are a graceful willow tree, swaying in a gentle breeze. Pretend your feet are the roots of the willow tree. Feel your roots stretch through the grass and into the earth. The warm soil hugs you as your roots reach deeper and deeper, and you feel safe and secure in the earth's embrace.

Take a deep dragon breath in and out.

Think of your legs, tummy, and neck as the trunk of the willow tree. Warm energy flows up from the earth into your roots and up through your trunk. Now pretend that your arms and head are flexible, leafy willow branches. Imagine them swinging gently in the warm breeze, back and forth, as you take one more deep dragon breath in and out.

Great job, everyone. I hope you are tucked in, nice and cozy.

And now, we are ready to begin our story.

Let's be calm on Ahway Island. Our story today is The Happy Hatching Song. It was early morning on Ahway Island. The sky was a dusky purple. One by one, the stars winked away, disappearing into the gathering brightness, as the world gradually became lighter and brighter. Dew covered the grass and plants with freshness.

The sun began to peek over the horizon, as the bright orange glowing disc slowly rose up into the sky. The birds began to awaken. Chirp, chirp! Gentle bird songs and bird calls began to echo across the trees in the quiet little Ahway Island neighborhood, where Owen's house was. Owen was still fast asleep in his cozy bed. But outside his window, in the little bush right under the window, Gerry Robin was not asleep. She was sitting in her snug little nest, but she was wide awake, because a little while ago, she had felt movement underneath her. Gerry had been sleeping on her eggs all night long to keep them warm. She knew they would be hatching soon. She just wasn't sure exactly when. For the last few days, she had sung her lullaby over and over. And now, this morning, for the first time, Gerry had felt one of the eggs moving. Just a tiny little movement, but Gerry knew it was time. One of the babies was about to hatch.

Gerry had stayed quiet at first, feeling tiny little movements beneath her every few minutes. As long as it was still very dark, Gerry stayed quiet and just rested. She knew she would be very busy soon, so she wanted to enjoy her last quiet morning for a while. But as the sun rose, and the eggs' movements became more frequent and more urgent, Gerry started chirping and singing. The song she sang this morning was a new song. She hadn't sung this one before. This song was full of new happiness and new beginnings, and the other birds recognized it right away. It was The Happy Hatching Song. From her home in the big maple tree across from Owen's house, Kerry Cardinal heard the song. Her beak widened into a broad smile. Excitedly, Kerry flew across the street to the pine tree where Gus Goldfinch lived. Gus, Gus! said Kerry excitedly, landing on the tree branch where Gus was sleeping. Uggghhhhh, said Gus who was not really awake yet. Gus, wake up! said Kerry again, nudging Gus with her wing. No! said Gus, keeping his eyes squinched shut. Yes! repeated Kerry. I know you're not an early bird, Gus, but you've got to wake up today. Gerry's first egg is hatching. What? replied Gus, his eyes flying open. Yes! said Kerry. She's singing the Happy Hatching Song. Oh wow! said Gus, now fully awake. That's awesome! Let's go say hello and see if she needs anything, he added. So Gus and Kerry flew across the street to Gerry's bush. Hi, Gerry, said Kerry. I know what song you're singing. Congratulations to you. Yes, congrats, Gus chimed in.