These stories were my creation while doing school counseling
in the early 90's in Arizona and New Mexico.
I used a clay play dough to shape a tyranasaurus Rex while I told the story.
children were "mesmorized".
I used NLP suggestions and children were quiet and attentive
and teachers claimed I worked miracles.
they asked for the stories so I tried to write them down.
Nothing is as good written as told.
However, if you take parts of the story and retell it to children,
using the language patterns you can learn about on the NLP blog,
and using a quiet voice, they will model and follow
your example and become quiet and settle into a learning atmosphere to follow.
Don't try the entire story at once, it is too long.
You will notice each has several possible endings.
Use them all at different times, for different days activities,
but always use the get up and rise up part
to get the children active and ready for work again.
Have fun with it.
Use them, share them, but always remember
they are my copy right so use my name;
I don't mind being poor, just want to be famous.
Thanks, LoLyn
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
A Dinasaur Rex
All rights reserved; this copy is given to you. For information on copies please contact:
Growing Together Counseling and Education
801 224 3001 http://www.GrowingTogetherCounseling.com
Presents Another
ACS DinoTales Children's Book
A Dinosaur Rex
Created by
LoLyn Jacobs
and ACS
(Younger Student Version)
Published by ACSPress, Box 2241, Mesa AZ.
Copyright 1995 ACSPress/AzCreativeStrategies
ACS DinoTales Children's Book
"A Dinosaur Rex" Created by LoLyn Jacobs and ACS
Reprinted by Growing Together Counseling and Education. Web site below.
Text, layout, formatting, and design copyright 1995 by AzCreativeStrategies (ACS). All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, by any means electrical or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the authors and publisher.
Credits: Written by LoLyn Jacobs and the writers of ACS. Layout, typesetting, editing and design by AzCreativeStrategies with assistance from Rick Scott at Natural Images, Chandler AZ. AzCreativeStrategies and ACSPress are dba's of RBR, Mesa, Arizona. "ACS DinoTales" and "DinoTales" are protected property of ACSPress and ACS.
Inspired by the brilliant work of Dr. Milton Erickson and all those following his path to the outer realms of storytelling.
We consider this book as a work in progress. You, the reader, can contribute valuable suggestions and ideas which may be incorporated in later versions of this book (with your permission, of course).
Teachers and parents. You may note that a booklet containing many discussion questions, activities, and background information on this book is now available. The booklet will also address some of the more unusual aspects of the book and give a background into its creation. Along with this, a description of other books in the series 'ACS DinoTales Children's Books' and other fine publications from ACSPress will be included.
You can contact AzCreativeStrategies, ACSPress, or LoLyn Jacobs with your comments, suggestions, ideas and your order inquiries at:
AzCreativeStrategies/ACSPress
c/o GrowingTogetherCounseling@comcast.net
http://www.GrowingTogetherCounseling.com
Dedicated to the school children who helped
contribute story ideas, and especially to my beautiful grandson Dyllan who
IS REX in these photos at age 6.
To Our Reader: You are starting on a special kind of journey in reading - a journey to help you learn many things about yourself and others.
There is no need to focus carefully on the story in order to learn from it. Just allow yourself to be open. It can help you to get in a quiet place where you can really think about it.
This book may look a bit different than most books you read. Even the words and sentences might surprise and interest you.
All of this is done to help you make discoveries. It is fine to be curious about how much you can learn from this story.
At times, you may feel yourself becoming very comfortable and relaxed when hearing or reading a story that really holds your attention. You might even begin feeling a little bit tired or sleepy. If you find this happening, just remember when you are ready to return, just take a few deep breaths, and say the words 'be active' to yourself or out loud.
We hope you will enjoy this story.
-- Welcome to the Journey –
It might have been one of those clear warm wonderful days we
remember. . .
One of those
bright blue autumn sky days
when the sun glistens off the sandy soil.
And there's a
shimmering look to everything.
Many of us
have fond memories
of that kind of day
and the way we were feeling.
Well. . .
This certain time was long ago - a distant time way before now.
And during this time, the landscape
looked very different.
There were forests and meadows everywhere and many lakes
and smaller waters. Life was teeming all around.
This is long before much of the southwest became desert.
There were so many different types of animals here and there then.
Big noisy ones - small slender ones -
Green scaly ones - yellow smooth ones.
And all had a role to play -
All were important in their own way.
Doing the best they could with what they had.
And as we
view this distant time
from our place in the now,
We might
imagine a morning of
wonderful freshness and greenness.
A place gently buzzing with a
pleasant blue-green peaceful feeling.
And when we
experience such a place, we can
find ourselves
opening up to new ways of
thinking and feeling.
It could make a person
feel good
just thinking of all that.
Now . . .
There was this particular dinosaur. Or should I say,
a pre-dinosaur for he had yet to come from
that safety of the egg.
And he had to find his own way as his mother had left that egg in the care of the forest.
But there was no one around to teach this little one how to
survive in a sometimes hard world. It could be a
challenge for the young dinosaur to
grow up strong and healthy.
And just imagine, if you will, what it might
feel like in that egg
resting on the warm sand.
So very warm and comfortable,
safe from it all.
And perhaps, the pre-dinosaur
beginning to stretch and wiggle
inside the eggy home --
rocking back and forth
in warmth of the day --
As he can
enjoy the feeling --
He might find himself
getting ready for new experiences --
Feeling really good about himself
and his new day, he was
readying for the journey of discovery.
Now...
The other animals watch the young dinosaur
beginning to come out of that shell
struggling to be free.
Beginning to
come from that shell,
just feeling really happy
growing free to be
-- wondering --
about those new sight-sounds
discovered on the journey...
Becoming ready,
he made those stretching motions in the legs,
raising and lowering the head and
beginning to make that first try at walking.
Watching carefully the results -
matching the feeling with
the sight with the sound -
developing an understanding of how it is
coming all together.
Feeling good
just to move, just to be,
experimenting with new ways -
now even then all sorts of discoveries can be made.
So our little friend, who we shall call Rex, began to walk -
a little wobbly at first, he found that it became easier and
easier the more he practiced.
Rex naturally began to enjoy his new freedoms and abilities to go where he wished. It was a pleasant feeling - to develop new skills.
Rex began to walk through the forest not knowing quite what to expect. Just what could he find there?
Fortunately, Rex came upon a pond.
It smelled so clean and fresh -
looking straight through it -
looking deeply into soothing blueness -
rippling green soft and clear -
plants glowing all around.
Softly stirring waters
sound nearby
red rushes rubbing against the rocks -
swirling whirling sounds -
noticing comfortable feelings -
readying for the challenges of a new day.
As he looked at the water
seeing the reflected sky,
hearing the sounds of the forest -
those buzzing, chirping, singing sounds
sometimes sounding soothing
from behind and in front - sometimes all around.
Moving along with
rhythms of the forest -
not something to be heard exactly but
beginning to feel.
And he could
feel good,
so easy about himself and
feeling comfortable
with the world about him.
While he stared into the waters -
just drinking in the blurs of the reflected sky,
getting ready to
learn something. . .
He couldn't help but
feel a bit light-headed
at the overpowering
beauty of it all --
But what was that funny shape, there in the water? It moved when he moved - there seemed to be some link between himself and
the image there shimmering before him.
There was someone in the water!
"Could that somehow be me?"
He stepped away and saw
the reflection move away also.
Studying the image in the mirror of the pond,
he now stood so very
still focusing on
fascinating feelings.
A creature with green scaly skin and a long neck and tail
looked back at him - curiously - posing his head in
different ways to get the full effect.
He liked what he saw. "What am I learning about myself from the mirror of the waters? And where in this world do I fit in? What is my role? - just how can I become my best?"
Then he drank again - just to satisfy himself - taking in just as much as he needed to. And as he tasted the cool water,
he viewed his entire body becoming more relaxed and comfortable.
Rex decided to venture out to explore even deeper in the forest -
further and further down into the experience and maybe he could find some other friendly animals to play with.
He wanted to be part of a group that accepted him -
to be liked, to be seen as important -
finding that sharing with others can be rewarding.
He walked and as he walked his tail flipped and flopped behind him. He didn't notice it - and so far it did no harm.
But as the time passed, he discovered that the tail had grown. But why should this worry him? It was an exciting trip to discover the joys of the deeper part of the forest.
As Rex walked, his tail, which had grown to be very large indeed, began to knock down trees and bushes and caused quite a ruckus in the forest. It even trashed nests with eggs in them left by other dinosaurs - just like the egg he had come from.
And Rex didn't
notice what was happening
around him as he walked.
He just looked ahead and did as he pleased - did not
notice the damage he did -
the problems he caused for others.
He wasn't bad or selfish or any of that -
only young and not yet aware. Sometimes we just don't
notice how we affect others.
Rex continued to move through the forest. By this time,
he was feeling really sad and lonesome - he just wanted to
meet someone - to be a friend to someone. But he didn't
know how to make friends.
- He had that certain problem which got in the way. -
Meanwhile, many of the other animals were trying to
avoid Rex. They ran and hid when they heard his footsteps on the jungle floor.
The bigger animals laughed at him and called him names. Some yelled mean things about how he looked - and that green color of his. A particularly big one even knocked Rex around.
Some of the animals decided on a new name for him. Some of them called him Mr. Flippety Flop. Well! He didn't like this one bit. Rex already had a name which suited him just fine and he didn't need another. He felt unhappy and very angry.
One day, Rex became so angry with all of this that he ran
raging through the forest growling and snarling as loud and as far as he could.
Rex knocked many things about - bushes broken, ferns fouled, small trees teeming with life trashed. And the animals and dinosaurs of the forest were in an uproar. Rex wrecked more than just part of the forest.
He kept on running until he could not run any more, then fell down on the hard ground, his breath coming in pounding powerful pants, his throat raw from breathing and screaming - his body feeling exhausted.
Yet somehow there was
less anger now
after that happened.
He lay on the ground and began to cry and cried out loud for all to hear. "I guess I am not as fine a dinosaur as I thought when I first saw that reflection in the water. No one will talk to me or play with me. The bigger animals call me names and sometimes even hurt me. I'm angry and very unhappy."
He felt very alone and wanted someone to talk to - just the
comfort of a friend --
Someone to understand him and to
help make that better.
And as he cried, he heard a voice.
"You will have a friend when you know how to be one."
The young dinosaur was surprised and curious. He wondered where that voice came from and
just what did those words mean?
It was an odd voice, like
a song heard
drifting down
from the hillside
way way far away
yet
curiously
close at hand.
What was that feeling he was having? It felt like there was something on his back! And so there was.
The voice came from Archie, a bird which had landed there. And he continued to hear that voice.
"Those feelings can be shown in a different way -
a safer gentler better way."
Rex paused to deeply think through this.
"Just what can I learn from this bird," he wondered.
"Tell me, why do the animals call me names?
Why do they turn away and won't let me play their games?"
Archie was surprised. "Don't you see how you affect others?
They fear your actions. Your tail hurts them.
Can you change how you get along with them?"
The bird pointed back to the forest. "It doesn't matter to the others if you don't want to hurt anything or anybody. The others just see the damage. Look at that mess you make with that big tail. And running through the forest - what did it get you?"
"Loneliness", the dinosaur sobbed. As he spoke, he saw the scene of destruction behind him. Rex looked around, he didn't see how it all fit together - yet. He still needed to become more aware.
Suddenly, as he was turned around to speak to the bird, he stopped to
L o o k d e e pl y into the forest behind him. "Who did all that to my home, the forest?", he said angrily. You are right - it is a mess! I feel angry at whoever did this."
But then he began to have an understanding.
"Oh, no. Wait a minute!"
For the first time Rex really began looking carefully at what he was doing. He saw the damage - the trees broken and crushed, the bushes torn apart, the nests pushed around.
And he began to understand what was at the root of his problem. He suddenly looked ashamed, confused and embarrassed.
He was becoming more open to change -
to really l e ar n something
d e e p l y.
"But, I didn't mean to hurt anything. The forest is
my home. I didn't want to hurt my home. I just wanted to
c o o l d o w n t hat anger.
"I'm really a good dinosaur, if only I can l e a r n a n e w w a y of being me."
The bird chirped in. "We share this place together. We all call it home and should work together to take care of each other and ourselves."
Rex had thought that it was hard to
c h a n g e t h e w a y w e t h i n k
and to
c h a n g e t h e w a y w e act.
He realized that the bird had
something he would l e a r n from.
"You're right," Archie continued. "You just need to
l e a r n a d I f f e r e n t way of b e in g who you are -
a way that can help you f e e l m o r e v a l u a b l e."
"I don't know, but I think that
you can find it for yourself -
a n e w w a y of d o I n g things and thinking."
Rex was beginning to feel a bit confused by now. But he thought that there was something in this for him. Having a curious mind, he asked for more.
"But how can I take control of my tail? It doesn't seem to belong to me sometimes. It's like it thinks for itself and just does what it wants. I don't know how I can make it do anything else. Tell me how to change it."
Archie moved closer. "I won't tell you, but I will teach you. See my wings. In order to move forward and fly, I must c o n t r o l my muscles in certain ways. If I just move them all around this way or that, I don't get anyplace. See.
"But when I even out my wings, when I shape them in this certain way, well, I c an d o w o n d e r f u l things." And with that, he moved his wings that certain way and began to move gracefully through the air.
"You have to have great control over muscles and movements and actions in order to soar in the air and to arrive at your goal."
And how did Rex learn from this teaching from a fellow creature of the forest? As Rex watched Archie showing that wing control, he took a small step forward.
His tail flipped. He took another step and his tail flopped. He studied how it moved and began to understand which muscles he was using to move it.
Trying this position and that -
moving this muscle to see the results
and now that muscle.
Testing new abilities – he began to b ec o m e m o r e a w a r e.
And as he was finding that correct balance, he began to l e a r n what he needed to do.
"And r e m e m b e r," Archie said as he flew gracefully past. "As you may hear us making those pleasant sounds in the future, you may r e m e m b e r my advice. Let my voice travel with you and see what happens that is good."
Rex watched the bird peacefully glide through and air looking so comfortable and free. Our wise bird took a course for the deeper part of the forest and rose higher and higher until he was out of sight.
"Perhaps I will meet with such a teacher again in my future.
I think that many
others can teach me things
I need to discover."
He continued his practice to
L e a r n those new skills.
And as he
focused
on the muscles he needed to use,
he began to
u n d e r s t a n d
that he could
m a k e c h o i c e s
about when to move
that certain muscle and
m a k e c h o i c e s
about not moving that other muscle
and in what order and at what time.
He began to d e v e l o p a new way of moving and acting and thinking.
It took a lot of practice and a lot of work.
It didn't just happen right away. Rex had to
S t o p and t h i n k
about each step – taking
c a r e f u l c o n s i d e r a t i o n about what he was doing.
And as he began to
C o n t r o l his muscles
to a c t the way he really wanted
to a c t, he began to
f e e l b e t t e r and b e t t e r about himself.
And Rex learned to
develop control
over other things about himself as well.
And he learned many great things about himself, then.
Rex returned to the pond where long ago he had first seen his own image. How he had grown in so many ways! He practiced his new skills near the pond. Then he extended his mighty tail over the water - to learn to straighten it out. He found that it was getting easier and easier to control his tail.
And as he watched himself, he began to watch his own face take on that look of confidence and strength. And with each new effort at controlling that part of him, he could see that feeling of pride and confidence grow.
And he exclaimed,
"I'm feeling better and better about myself.
I don't have to hurt anything or anyone because
I am feeling good about me!"
Once again he began to feel valuable and proud when he looked at himself in the water. He was even proud to be green - his special shade of green.
It was the color of the leaves which
moved so gently
by the summer's wind -
the color of the grass
rising up towards the sun -
the color of the ferns
finding a peaceful way to be.
And Rex only heard that nickname - Mr. Flippety Flop - in the game he played with the other animals. And they all came up with nicknames for each other, and many were funny. It is good to have fun with friends and to get along with others.
They were able to get up and be active - doing many things together - waking up to a whole new world of discovery . You many meet Archie again in another book by LoLyn when he learns to fly carefully and make friends better by his new learnings.
Now . . .
The dinosaurs are long gone. You can get up to the Petrified Forest in Northern Arizona or at Thanksgiving point, or at many places, if you have a way or visit one of them in a museum. Reaching out and getting more active can help you become more aware.
Discovering more can help you feel better about many things
as you get active and awaken to new learnings, becoming curious about everything the dinosaurs could teach you and me.
All rights reserved; this copy is given to you. For information on copies please contact:
Growing Together Counseling and Education
801 224 3001 http://www.GrowingTogetherCounseling.com
© 1995 see front pages of Dinasaour REX
Archie and Tara
All rights reserved; this copy is given to you. For information on copies please contact:
Growing Together Counseling and Education
801 224 3001 http://www.GrowingTogetherCounseling.com
© 1995 see front pages of Dinasaour REX
`
© 1995 see front pages of Dinasaour REX
All rights reserved; this copy is given to you. For information on copies please contact:
Growing Together Counseling and Education
801 224 3001 http://www.GrowingTogetherCounseling.com
http://www.fallingpixel.com/product.php/4661
http://www.sussexdinosaurmuseum.co.uk/pterosaurs.htm
When the
world was young and the
deep blue water covered much of the earth,
there was an island,
far away,
alone in a whole chain of islands,
perhaps, prepared especially for that time
and for that purpose
by the volcanoes
that had spilled their lava in order
for the island to
become a special land.
And there were, then on this island
dinosaurs of many kinds,
dinosaurs of many sizes and many colors
that grew together,
and shared the island.
Some were spotted and some stripped
with plant colors that helped them to
protect themselves
and all had special abilities
that made them each able to
take care of their own needs.
Each had special colors and
special traits that made it
unique and wonderful.
Among the animals that lived on this island then
were two large bird like dinosaurs
with something like wings and perhaps many colors of
soft, fluffy feathers covering their bodies.
At the time that we are imagining,
these flying creatures
had lived on the island many years
and may have began to
grow wise in the ways of life and to
learn many things about looking for happiness,
and about how to
feel happy, comfortable and relaxed.
Some of the younger animals may not have begun to
learn those important lessons..
These creatures names were Archie and Tara,
and as they had been
growing up together for so many years,
enjoying friendship,
learning from one another,
and learning from their experiences
they had come to
be very wise indeed.
The favorite activity that Tara and Archie
enjoyed on he island then was to
climb high into the tallest trees,
climbing claw after claw
up and up branch by branch,
high above the lower bushes and shrubs,
high above the other animals ,
up and up into the very top
of the tallest of trees
where they would perch and
view the world below,
watching the other animals,
seeing the way they played and worked,
sometimes learning from what they saw
sometimes just sitting quietly in the tree tops,
listening carefully to the sounds
of the forest below,
hearing the sound of their own breathing
as it gradually slowed after the long climb,
when they could
feel the freshness of the breeze as
it blew gently across the tops of the trees,
bringing the smells and sounds of the jungle
softly to their senses.
There they would sit quietly,
as their heart beats slowed to match their
long slow breaths that they had
learned to control with much practice.
They knew that to fly they would have to
glide through the air
matching their movements to the
slight breezes that shifted and
changed continually among the tree tops.
Then as if they had to
follow some hidden signal that
others might not be able to see,
Archie and Tara would
push away from the tree branches and
begin to soar together
through the air
gliding and
floating
seeming to weigh
no more than bubbles that
come from the sudsy water of a child's wand,
Dipping and soaring
like a child's kite
high above the earth in a spring wind.
Their wings would stretch
and their legs would roll up under them
like the landing gears of a huge jet airline,
and the two birds would
race across the sky to the far side
of the island where they would
slowly lower themselves through the air,
to the beauty of the sandy beach
where the sun sparkled on the warm sand as
the sound of the ocean waves
lapping gently and steadily against the shore,
breaking and crashing against nearby rocks
yet rocking ever so gently on the sand
where the bird like dinosaurs
landed gently ,
softly feeling themselves
scooping gracefully into that
special hollow of sand where their
enormous heavy bodies could
feel the warmth of the contact on the sand
and their weight seemed to bring them
deeper and deeper
down into the sand
where they basked in the
warmth of the day
remembering the excitement of the flight
and feeling the experience deeply within themselves,
making a special name for it,
a special word or words that would always
bring back the memory of that great feeling
of pleasure they each got as they
repeated this activity,
being with a friend,
setting a new personal best in their fight,
learning from the world around them
that pleasure and happiness can come
in everyday experiences, and we can
remember those experiences and
take them with us into the rest of our day,
into the rest of our lives to
bring back when needed,
to remember the pleasant feeling
at times when things aren't so good,
at times when some peace is needed and
some good feelings just
to get through something unpleasant,
just to cope with things life brings us.
And now as Tara and Archie
lay on that warm sandy beach so long ago,
feeling again the pleasure
of that day, they began to
remind one another of other times
long ago, earlier in their lives when
they still had to
learn to name and remember the pleasant feelings,
and now, they had already learned to
laugh about those times, because the
passing of time could somehow
make the memory different,
as time can do in our lives as well
as in that time,
memories can be changed, and
painful memories can be healed
when we
remember the pleasure
of other times.
The birds had only come from those eggs
a few days when they knew that
playing together and doing things together
was the most special part of their day.
They loved, even then to
climb high up in the trees and
soar long distances, which for them, then
were much shorter than what they have now
learned to do with practice and experience.
But to them, then, they could
soar forever,
and they loved to loop and turn on the
flight down from the tree tops.
seeing how far they could fly forward
as they
floated further
and further
down
enjoying the feeling of flight
along with the feeling
that the earth was
pulling them toward it,
gently
with control of their own wings
they flew lower
and lower,
near and nearer to the ground
On one day Tara had been looping and whirling
alone in a wide open area of the forest ;
Archie had seen her playing
and rushed to join her in her flight.
As Tara gracefully floated down from the tree top,
Archie flew by her and bumped her wing.
Tara said, "I don't like it when you bump my wing,
please don't do that."
But Archie climbed up and
began to soar down close to
Tara again on the other side and bumped her other wing.
She didn't know Archie very well, but she did
know what to do to protect herself and to
take care of herself
so she said again,
"I would like to be your friend but
I do not want you bumping into me.
I don't like that."
Archie came toward her again this time causing her to
spin over as he bumped her laughing as he did that.
Now Tara had already been taught how to deal with a bully.
She knew it would be best to
just ignore him,
fly away and let him play alone
until he decided he would
play in a nice way.
But Tara also knew that
Archie was someone very valuable, as we all are, and
she had wanted to meet him and
learn to be a friend.
She had to make a decision.
If she flew away now that Archie seemed to
want to play with her, he might not ever try again.
But if she let him play rough with her, she might get hurt.
Tara had already told him that she didn't like to play rough, so maybe he would change when they started playing together.
She could have decided to
fly away and wait for a better time,
but instead,
Tara climbed high into a tree and
glided down just above Archie bumping him hard on his wings.
Looking back Archie shouted," hey cut that out,"
but Tara could see he was really laughing,
so she climbed again to hit him from another angle.
Archie saw the bump coming and
changed directions just in time to send Tara sprawling head over heals, her flight out of control and her feathers rumpled. The two dinosaur-birds dove at each other like this for a while, each time hitting harder and harder, bumping --pushing -- scratching and clawing one another, until finally there sat on the floor of the jungle, two dinosaur birds , each in a pile of feathers and blood and tears.
Tara limped off to her tree on her side of the island with one broken wing and a broken heart, and Archie tired to preen his missing feathers, and walked sadly away looking a terrible sight.
They each perched in a low branch of their home trees and as the other animals gathered around each told a sad story about how mean the other bird was.
“Don't ever play with Tara; she is mean. She came along when I was just trying to play with her and she attacked me with her claws and her beak ,and she kept hitting me and bumping me right out of the air onto the ground. I will never forget how bad that felt.”
“Stay away from Archie,” Tara told the animals near her. “He doesn't know how to play nicely, and even though I told him I didn't want to play rough and tried to just ignore him and fly away, he wouldn't leave me alone. Look at my wing, he did this on purpose.
“I will never forget how bad that felt. I will make sure that never happens again.”
Archie told his animal friends, “don't be friends with Tara or you can't be my friend.”
and Tara told her followers, "If you play with Archie or any of his friends, I won't be your friend. He is my enemy.”
That whole island full of animals was divided into two sides for a while. But then they began to realize that some of the animals on the other side were friends and even family, and they did not want to give up their friendship because of a silly fight between Archie and Tara.
They began to realize that
they needed each other
and to
know that friends are important.
So some left both Archie and Tara and
formed a group of their own, which of course
would not play with either
Archi's friends or Tara's friends.
More groups split off and
each went their own way
until the once happy peaceful island
had become so divided into special groups
that would not be friends with anyone else,
the island was not the pleasant place it had been before that all happened.
Most of the animals spent their time watching the others to make sure they were not visiting another group, or watching over their shoulders to make sure another animals was not sneaking into their area.
There was no time for play and fun.
Everyone was too busy being mean and angry to
take care of themselves in a good way.
They did not want to
forget the hurt or the anger.
After many days of this Tara and Archie sat on their own tree branches each having thoughts about the uncomfortable feelings on the island. Tara could not even remember what she had done that started this terrible division. Archie, felt some bad feelings because he could remember Tara had said she didn't want to play rough,
"but she laughed and played with me anyway, so
I thought she really did like the game we were playing."
He finally began to
be aware that this was no excuse and his
behavior had been the cause of many
uncomfortable feelings among his friends.
Now he could
recognize the feelings of anger and hate.
He could
see the feelings of the other animals.
Even the ones who still stood by him,
were not pleasant to be around because they were so full of bad feelings.
Archie needed to
remember more pleasant times and
decided what to do to help others
remember those pleasant feelings they had
before the fight, back so long ago,
remember and feel those feelings of safety and comfort,
maybe they should all go back into their own eggs
and use those shells to
protect themselves from bad feelings.
But Archie thought there might be a better way.
He began to
know how Tara was feeling, and as he could
recognize this friend’s pain.
He walked toward her home.
on the way he saw Tara coming toward him.
He knew the look of fear and sadness was on her face,
so he spoke before he got too close,
"Tara, I'm so sorry that my rough play hurt you.
I did not want to hurt you or myself.
I just wanted to be your friend and play with you.
I still want to be your friend,
but I see everything is all messed up now.
Can we find away to
forget the angry feelings and
remember the pleasant feelings
we had before the fight. We can
find a good way to play together and
do no more harm to ourselves or others.
Tara said, "I see I caused damage when I let you think it was OK to play rough, I have to
learn to say what I mean and mean what I say.
I need to
know that I am more valuable and
require gentle treatment from others.
Can we find a way to help all the animals
be happy again and
be friends with everyone like we used to all be.
I don't think we should all
go back as far as going into our shells,
but we ca
n
see our shells as boundaries,
as special private places
around each of us,
a private space where
we can feel safe, and comfortable.
We can respect that private space
for ourselves and all others.
remember the happy times
we had playing among the trees and racing along the beach.
We can help the others to
get over their bad feelings by helping them
remember that pleasant feeling.
So from that day on, Tara and Archie had
helped each other, and many of the animals to
take the pleasant feelings with them into each day.
They learned that
letting go of the hurt feelings,
and letting go of the anger
that might come during a day was a
better way to
cope with challenges and fears
that might come up.
They learned that
taking the pleasant feelings with them
into their day
was a much a better way of
taking care of themselves and
protecting themselves.
And each knew the special meaning of
the safety of that egg,
the boundaries that protected
each from the other,
yet could be set aside with permission
for closeness and special touching times.
Growing Together Counseling and Education
801 224 3001 http://www.GrowingTogetherCounseling.com
© 1995 see front pages of Dinasaour REX
`
© 1995 see front pages of Dinasaour REX
All rights reserved; this copy is given to you. For information on copies please contact:
Growing Together Counseling and Education
801 224 3001 http://www.GrowingTogetherCounseling.com
http://www.fallingpixel.com/product.php/4661
http://www.sussexdinosaurmuseum.co.uk/pterosaurs.htm
When the
world was young and the
deep blue water covered much of the earth,
there was an island,
far away,
alone in a whole chain of islands,
perhaps, prepared especially for that time
and for that purpose
by the volcanoes
that had spilled their lava in order
for the island to
become a special land.
And there were, then on this island
dinosaurs of many kinds,
dinosaurs of many sizes and many colors
that grew together,
and shared the island.
Some were spotted and some stripped
with plant colors that helped them to
protect themselves
and all had special abilities
that made them each able to
take care of their own needs.
Each had special colors and
special traits that made it
unique and wonderful.
Among the animals that lived on this island then
were two large bird like dinosaurs
with something like wings and perhaps many colors of
soft, fluffy feathers covering their bodies.
At the time that we are imagining,
these flying creatures
had lived on the island many years
and may have began to
grow wise in the ways of life and to
learn many things about looking for happiness,
and about how to
feel happy, comfortable and relaxed.
Some of the younger animals may not have begun to
learn those important lessons..
These creatures names were Archie and Tara,
and as they had been
growing up together for so many years,
enjoying friendship,
learning from one another,
and learning from their experiences
they had come to
be very wise indeed.
The favorite activity that Tara and Archie
enjoyed on he island then was to
climb high into the tallest trees,
climbing claw after claw
up and up branch by branch,
high above the lower bushes and shrubs,
high above the other animals ,
up and up into the very top
of the tallest of trees
where they would perch and
view the world below,
watching the other animals,
seeing the way they played and worked,
sometimes learning from what they saw
sometimes just sitting quietly in the tree tops,
listening carefully to the sounds
of the forest below,
hearing the sound of their own breathing
as it gradually slowed after the long climb,
when they could
feel the freshness of the breeze as
it blew gently across the tops of the trees,
bringing the smells and sounds of the jungle
softly to their senses.
There they would sit quietly,
as their heart beats slowed to match their
long slow breaths that they had
learned to control with much practice.
They knew that to fly they would have to
glide through the air
matching their movements to the
slight breezes that shifted and
changed continually among the tree tops.
Then as if they had to
follow some hidden signal that
others might not be able to see,
Archie and Tara would
push away from the tree branches and
begin to soar together
through the air
gliding and
floating
seeming to weigh
no more than bubbles that
come from the sudsy water of a child's wand,
Dipping and soaring
like a child's kite
high above the earth in a spring wind.
Their wings would stretch
and their legs would roll up under them
like the landing gears of a huge jet airline,
and the two birds would
race across the sky to the far side
of the island where they would
slowly lower themselves through the air,
to the beauty of the sandy beach
where the sun sparkled on the warm sand as
the sound of the ocean waves
lapping gently and steadily against the shore,
breaking and crashing against nearby rocks
yet rocking ever so gently on the sand
where the bird like dinosaurs
landed gently ,
softly feeling themselves
scooping gracefully into that
special hollow of sand where their
enormous heavy bodies could
feel the warmth of the contact on the sand
and their weight seemed to bring them
deeper and deeper
down into the sand
where they basked in the
warmth of the day
remembering the excitement of the flight
and feeling the experience deeply within themselves,
making a special name for it,
a special word or words that would always
bring back the memory of that great feeling
of pleasure they each got as they
repeated this activity,
being with a friend,
setting a new personal best in their fight,
learning from the world around them
that pleasure and happiness can come
in everyday experiences, and we can
remember those experiences and
take them with us into the rest of our day,
into the rest of our lives to
bring back when needed,
to remember the pleasant feeling
at times when things aren't so good,
at times when some peace is needed and
some good feelings just
to get through something unpleasant,
just to cope with things life brings us.
And now as Tara and Archie
lay on that warm sandy beach so long ago,
feeling again the pleasure
of that day, they began to
remind one another of other times
long ago, earlier in their lives when
they still had to
learn to name and remember the pleasant feelings,
and now, they had already learned to
laugh about those times, because the
passing of time could somehow
make the memory different,
as time can do in our lives as well
as in that time,
memories can be changed, and
painful memories can be healed
when we
remember the pleasure
of other times.
The birds had only come from those eggs
a few days when they knew that
playing together and doing things together
was the most special part of their day.
They loved, even then to
climb high up in the trees and
soar long distances, which for them, then
were much shorter than what they have now
learned to do with practice and experience.
But to them, then, they could
soar forever,
and they loved to loop and turn on the
flight down from the tree tops.
seeing how far they could fly forward
as they
floated further
and further
down
enjoying the feeling of flight
along with the feeling
that the earth was
pulling them toward it,
gently
with control of their own wings
they flew lower
and lower,
near and nearer to the ground
On one day Tara had been looping and whirling
alone in a wide open area of the forest ;
Archie had seen her playing
and rushed to join her in her flight.
As Tara gracefully floated down from the tree top,
Archie flew by her and bumped her wing.
Tara said, "I don't like it when you bump my wing,
please don't do that."
But Archie climbed up and
began to soar down close to
Tara again on the other side and bumped her other wing.
She didn't know Archie very well, but she did
know what to do to protect herself and to
take care of herself
so she said again,
"I would like to be your friend but
I do not want you bumping into me.
I don't like that."
Archie came toward her again this time causing her to
spin over as he bumped her laughing as he did that.
Now Tara had already been taught how to deal with a bully.
She knew it would be best to
just ignore him,
fly away and let him play alone
until he decided he would
play in a nice way.
But Tara also knew that
Archie was someone very valuable, as we all are, and
she had wanted to meet him and
learn to be a friend.
She had to make a decision.
If she flew away now that Archie seemed to
want to play with her, he might not ever try again.
But if she let him play rough with her, she might get hurt.
Tara had already told him that she didn't like to play rough, so maybe he would change when they started playing together.
She could have decided to
fly away and wait for a better time,
but instead,
Tara climbed high into a tree and
glided down just above Archie bumping him hard on his wings.
Looking back Archie shouted," hey cut that out,"
but Tara could see he was really laughing,
so she climbed again to hit him from another angle.
Archie saw the bump coming and
changed directions just in time to send Tara sprawling head over heals, her flight out of control and her feathers rumpled. The two dinosaur-birds dove at each other like this for a while, each time hitting harder and harder, bumping --pushing -- scratching and clawing one another, until finally there sat on the floor of the jungle, two dinosaur birds , each in a pile of feathers and blood and tears.
Tara limped off to her tree on her side of the island with one broken wing and a broken heart, and Archie tired to preen his missing feathers, and walked sadly away looking a terrible sight.
They each perched in a low branch of their home trees and as the other animals gathered around each told a sad story about how mean the other bird was.
“Don't ever play with Tara; she is mean. She came along when I was just trying to play with her and she attacked me with her claws and her beak ,and she kept hitting me and bumping me right out of the air onto the ground. I will never forget how bad that felt.”
“Stay away from Archie,” Tara told the animals near her. “He doesn't know how to play nicely, and even though I told him I didn't want to play rough and tried to just ignore him and fly away, he wouldn't leave me alone. Look at my wing, he did this on purpose.
“I will never forget how bad that felt. I will make sure that never happens again.”
Archie told his animal friends, “don't be friends with Tara or you can't be my friend.”
and Tara told her followers, "If you play with Archie or any of his friends, I won't be your friend. He is my enemy.”
That whole island full of animals was divided into two sides for a while. But then they began to realize that some of the animals on the other side were friends and even family, and they did not want to give up their friendship because of a silly fight between Archie and Tara.
They began to realize that
they needed each other
and to
know that friends are important.
So some left both Archie and Tara and
formed a group of their own, which of course
would not play with either
Archi's friends or Tara's friends.
More groups split off and
each went their own way
until the once happy peaceful island
had become so divided into special groups
that would not be friends with anyone else,
the island was not the pleasant place it had been before that all happened.
Most of the animals spent their time watching the others to make sure they were not visiting another group, or watching over their shoulders to make sure another animals was not sneaking into their area.
There was no time for play and fun.
Everyone was too busy being mean and angry to
take care of themselves in a good way.
They did not want to
forget the hurt or the anger.
After many days of this Tara and Archie sat on their own tree branches each having thoughts about the uncomfortable feelings on the island. Tara could not even remember what she had done that started this terrible division. Archie, felt some bad feelings because he could remember Tara had said she didn't want to play rough,
"but she laughed and played with me anyway, so
I thought she really did like the game we were playing."
He finally began to
be aware that this was no excuse and his
behavior had been the cause of many
uncomfortable feelings among his friends.
Now he could
recognize the feelings of anger and hate.
He could
see the feelings of the other animals.
Even the ones who still stood by him,
were not pleasant to be around because they were so full of bad feelings.
Archie needed to
remember more pleasant times and
decided what to do to help others
remember those pleasant feelings they had
before the fight, back so long ago,
remember and feel those feelings of safety and comfort,
maybe they should all go back into their own eggs
and use those shells to
protect themselves from bad feelings.
But Archie thought there might be a better way.
He began to
know how Tara was feeling, and as he could
recognize this friend’s pain.
He walked toward her home.
on the way he saw Tara coming toward him.
He knew the look of fear and sadness was on her face,
so he spoke before he got too close,
"Tara, I'm so sorry that my rough play hurt you.
I did not want to hurt you or myself.
I just wanted to be your friend and play with you.
I still want to be your friend,
but I see everything is all messed up now.
Can we find away to
forget the angry feelings and
remember the pleasant feelings
we had before the fight. We can
find a good way to play together and
do no more harm to ourselves or others.
Tara said, "I see I caused damage when I let you think it was OK to play rough, I have to
learn to say what I mean and mean what I say.
I need to
know that I am more valuable and
require gentle treatment from others.
Can we find a way to help all the animals
be happy again and
be friends with everyone like we used to all be.
I don't think we should all
go back as far as going into our shells,
but we ca
n
see our shells as boundaries,
as special private places
around each of us,
a private space where
we can feel safe, and comfortable.
We can respect that private space
for ourselves and all others.
remember the happy times
we had playing among the trees and racing along the beach.
We can help the others to
get over their bad feelings by helping them
remember that pleasant feeling.
So from that day on, Tara and Archie had
helped each other, and many of the animals to
take the pleasant feelings with them into each day.
They learned that
letting go of the hurt feelings,
and letting go of the anger
that might come during a day was a
better way to
cope with challenges and fears
that might come up.
They learned that
taking the pleasant feelings with them
into their day
was a much a better way of
taking care of themselves and
protecting themselves.
And each knew the special meaning of
the safety of that egg,
the boundaries that protected
each from the other,
yet could be set aside with permission
for closeness and special touching times.
Cory and Edmont
All rights reserved; this copy is given to you. For information on copies please contact:
Growing Together Counseling and Education
801 224 3001 http://www.GrowingTogetherCounseling.com
Characters:
Corythosaurus: Cory
Had rosaurid-duck bill dino
toothless bill, large number of grinding teeth
"helmet lizard because of distinctive tall narrow hollow crest
ate tough plants
long snout curved around back into the mouth; possible elephant like calls
Montana; Canada
Edmontosaurus: Edmont
duck bill dinosaur; toothless beak
teeth farther back in the mouth
fed like ducks in muddy ponds
used beaks like ducks
weighed between 2 and 3 tons
nest of D revealed appears that young remained with parents for some time;
stayed close to the nest to be brought food or searched food and returned to nest for protection
one of largest duck bill dinosaurs may have had fleshy snout
Lambeosaurus
Lambeo
duckbill; hatched shaped crest, spine ran backward from it; neck frill may have grown from this
Montana, Alberta
Maiasaura, a “good mother lizard,"baby dinosaurs were found around mound shaped nest. Family arrangements where young remained by nest after hatching
The Story
During the long time ago,
when the dinosaurs roamed the earth
for what may have been billions of years,
things seemed very different from what they are now.
And even though paleontologists think they may have been able to tell us
how dinosaurs look, by looking at bones, and
putting together the ancient pieces of fossils and footsteps
that have been found in different places around the world,
they can tell us only what they might
think about colors, shapes or
textures of the skin or feathers
these ancient animals may have had,
nor can they tell us just exactly how to
I m a g i n e how the dinosaurs might have
behaved and thought.
With clues from animals that we know on the earth today,
these scientists can only
t a k e a g u e s s what might have gone on
in the long time past, and
using clues from what we
k n o w about ourselves and the way we think and act,
we might be able to
g u e s s at how the dinosaurs might have thought
if they had been human, with brains like ours that could be used to
t h i n k about things and make choices.
Nevertheless, when we
I m a g i n e what it might have been like,
and when we
I m a g i n e that the dinosaurs may have acted,
and thought like we do today, we can
l e a r n new things by watching how they might be.
When we do this, now, we can
I m a g i n e a time when the duck bill dinosaurs
wandered the earth and how it must have
looked very natural to them, then,
for the duck bill dinosaurs to scoop out food
from large ponds or muddy swamp in their duck like mouths.
But to us now, it would
s e e m a m a z i n g to see
such a large animal behave like the ducks
we like to w a t c h today.
I m a g i n e a thirty foot long duck,
spread out over the length of a basketball court,
scooping up food from a pond of water
in the way that a duck might be seen
scooping popcorn scattered
on the rippling pond by school children.
And if you can I m a g i n e this,
you might be able to
I m a g i n e that
there were three duck billed dinosaurs
who lived on the same continent
around the same time, and that
they might have even known each other
at different times during their lives, back then.
Corey, Edmont and Lambeo
all came from nests of eggs which
their mothers had carefully arranged and
given them shelter and protection until the hatchlings
grew enough to find their own food and shelter.
They may have
stayed together in family groups
long after the hatchlings could
take care of themselves.
Perhaps when Corey's family of duck bills hatched out and
began to s e e a rather different looking egg
s i t t i n g so very quietly with them in their own nest,
they might have began to t h I n k
that was the way it was supposed to be.
Their mother seemed to have no problem with it,
as she guarded that strange egg
just as carefully as she had her own,
as she watched over the hatchlings, as if there were no difference.
But as time went on
and Edmont’s brother and sister hatchlings began to grow,
they started to
notice many differences.
Even though Edmont came from an egg,
somewhat like their own,
and had some of the same marks and shapes
that each of them had,
there began to appear more and more differences.
For one thing, Edmont was
so very much larger than Corey's siblings,
and when he walked
he had a certain way of moving
that did not seem quite like their way.
Through their birth season and into the next,
these siblings stayed near one another, a l l o w I n g the mother to bring them food and t e a c h them the things they would need to know to
protect themselves and take care of themselves.
The more Edmont grew,
the more different he looked from the others in his nest.
When he began to look at his reflection in the water of the pond,
he would compare it to Corey's and
he knew how different he was becoming.
He began to w o n d e r why he was different,
as the mother duck bill had never told him
his egg had come from a different mother.
He thought it was important for him to look just like the other hatchlings, and he began to feel very badly that he did not.
Corey's siblings began to w a t c h Edmont very closely as he grew. When he walked they giggled about how different he looked. When his skin colors and patterns darkened into different shapes and shades from their own, they whispered noisily that he was certainly a different color. They began to call him splotchy, because his marking did not match theirs.
And even though Edmont grew to
be much larger than the other hatchlings, and would
have been able to d o m a n y m o r e t h I n g s than they could, he began to feel so badly about walking differently
and looking different, that he refused to even
t r y to do the things that he would have been l e a r n i n g.
He just looked sadly into the water and
wished that he looked more like the others.
As he sat wishing,
watching his reflection in the pond, he
began to grow very q u i e t, and he wished
he c o u l d make friends.
He wished he had spots and marks the same as Corey, and he began to wish he wasn't even himself. He just wanted to be someone else.
When Edmont grew large enough, and thought he could find food by himself he decided to run away. “If I run away from the other hatchlings,” he thought, “I won't have to look at them, and then I will not feel so badly about myself.”
So one day he just started walking and did not look back. He walked all through one day and one night and through the next day. Now, as large as he was, he may have walked many miles that way,
and he was a very long way from his nest.
Edmont met a young Lambeosaurus named Lambeo.
Edmont could see that Lambeo was a type of duckbill, but
his hatched shaped crest and spine ran backward from the crest.
When Edmont saw Lambeo's crest and the frill that grew out of it, he began to t h I n k Lambeo must be the most interesting looking,
b e a u t I f u l duck he had ever seen.
Lambeo didn't look just like Corey's family, and looked very different from Edmont, but Edmont decided he must be very special and wanted to
get to know him and l e a r n from him.
Lambeo told him:
"I am Lambeo. I am the shortest giant of my species."
Then he said,
"I am Lambeo, the tallest midget of my species.
Another time he said, “I am Lambeo with a crest and a frill I love.”
Edmont was confused at first, but when he
finally began to u n d e r s t a n d that he himself could
b e v e r y s p e c I a l at many things,
and f e e l good about himself,
the way he looked, his color and size
were not the important parts of him.
He began to u n d e r s t a n d that his
own special markings and
unique way of walking would
help him b e c o m e the b e s t of what he was—whatever he would decide that should be.
So Edmont set out to
d i s c o v e r what things he could be very good at.
He began to l e a r n and u n d e r s t a n d
“I am unique and special in many ways.”
“I will l e a r n to do these things in my best way. “
They were other things he had to l e a r n too,
about taking care of himself and
protecting himself,
and about meeting other dinosaurs and making friends,
but he began to r e a l i z e that he
did not have to try to impress
other dinosaurs,
or to show off in order to have friends.
He learned as Lambeo had,
“I am special in my own way”
“I can do many things well,
and one thing I can do well is to get along with others.”
He had began to l e a r n that he
didn't have to do everything perfectly,
or look just like the others and he
had choices about which things he thought
were important to him
to practice and l e a r n to do well.
He knew as long as he was
l e a r n I n g and changing in good ways,
he was having a good life.
When he wanted to get attention, or meet new dinosaurs, he had to
l e a r n what to do from Lamdea.
He began to l e a r n that rather than yelling or hitting, he could
t o u c h a person on the shoulder,
s a y their name,
a s k for what he wanted,
a c c e p t “no” for an answer,
or a s k for reasons.
He now knew that he could
r e m e m b e r the g o o d f e e l n g s he got
playing with friends and treating them in s a f e gentle ways.
As he grew larger still, he returned to the home where he had been raised and he used his new skills with those other dinosaurs.
He was able to
t e a c h many things he was l e a r n I n g as he
began to make new friends and play among them.
Some of the family of dinosaurs said,
“He looks prettier now.
He seems more friendly and makes
me f e e l g o o d to be around him.
Edmont's color had not changed.
He had grown even larger, and he
walked in the same way, but he could
f e e l c o n f i d e n t and
f e e l g o o d about himself.
He now knew how to get what he wanted
and needed in appropriate ways.
Now when he looked at his reflection in that very same pond,
He could s e e a beautiful duck billed dinosaur.
He could e n j o y his special color and his special splotches.
He carried his head and tail in a new way
that showed he had learned to c a r e a b o u t
himself and others,
and the other dinosaurs really did
e n j o y his company and they would
l o o k for him to play with,
just to be with him.
Growing Together Counseling and Education
801 224 3001 http://www.GrowingTogetherCounseling.com
Characters:
Corythosaurus: Cory
Had rosaurid-duck bill dino
toothless bill, large number of grinding teeth
"helmet lizard because of distinctive tall narrow hollow crest
ate tough plants
long snout curved around back into the mouth; possible elephant like calls
Montana; Canada
Edmontosaurus: Edmont
duck bill dinosaur; toothless beak
teeth farther back in the mouth
fed like ducks in muddy ponds
used beaks like ducks
weighed between 2 and 3 tons
nest of D revealed appears that young remained with parents for some time;
stayed close to the nest to be brought food or searched food and returned to nest for protection
one of largest duck bill dinosaurs may have had fleshy snout
Lambeosaurus
Lambeo
duckbill; hatched shaped crest, spine ran backward from it; neck frill may have grown from this
Montana, Alberta
Maiasaura, a “good mother lizard,"baby dinosaurs were found around mound shaped nest. Family arrangements where young remained by nest after hatching
The Story
During the long time ago,
when the dinosaurs roamed the earth
for what may have been billions of years,
things seemed very different from what they are now.
And even though paleontologists think they may have been able to tell us
how dinosaurs look, by looking at bones, and
putting together the ancient pieces of fossils and footsteps
that have been found in different places around the world,
they can tell us only what they might
think about colors, shapes or
textures of the skin or feathers
these ancient animals may have had,
nor can they tell us just exactly how to
I m a g i n e how the dinosaurs might have
behaved and thought.
With clues from animals that we know on the earth today,
these scientists can only
t a k e a g u e s s what might have gone on
in the long time past, and
using clues from what we
k n o w about ourselves and the way we think and act,
we might be able to
g u e s s at how the dinosaurs might have thought
if they had been human, with brains like ours that could be used to
t h i n k about things and make choices.
Nevertheless, when we
I m a g i n e what it might have been like,
and when we
I m a g i n e that the dinosaurs may have acted,
and thought like we do today, we can
l e a r n new things by watching how they might be.
When we do this, now, we can
I m a g i n e a time when the duck bill dinosaurs
wandered the earth and how it must have
looked very natural to them, then,
for the duck bill dinosaurs to scoop out food
from large ponds or muddy swamp in their duck like mouths.
But to us now, it would
s e e m a m a z i n g to see
such a large animal behave like the ducks
we like to w a t c h today.
I m a g i n e a thirty foot long duck,
spread out over the length of a basketball court,
scooping up food from a pond of water
in the way that a duck might be seen
scooping popcorn scattered
on the rippling pond by school children.
And if you can I m a g i n e this,
you might be able to
I m a g i n e that
there were three duck billed dinosaurs
who lived on the same continent
around the same time, and that
they might have even known each other
at different times during their lives, back then.
Corey, Edmont and Lambeo
all came from nests of eggs which
their mothers had carefully arranged and
given them shelter and protection until the hatchlings
grew enough to find their own food and shelter.
They may have
stayed together in family groups
long after the hatchlings could
take care of themselves.
Perhaps when Corey's family of duck bills hatched out and
began to s e e a rather different looking egg
s i t t i n g so very quietly with them in their own nest,
they might have began to t h I n k
that was the way it was supposed to be.
Their mother seemed to have no problem with it,
as she guarded that strange egg
just as carefully as she had her own,
as she watched over the hatchlings, as if there were no difference.
But as time went on
and Edmont’s brother and sister hatchlings began to grow,
they started to
notice many differences.
Even though Edmont came from an egg,
somewhat like their own,
and had some of the same marks and shapes
that each of them had,
there began to appear more and more differences.
For one thing, Edmont was
so very much larger than Corey's siblings,
and when he walked
he had a certain way of moving
that did not seem quite like their way.
Through their birth season and into the next,
these siblings stayed near one another, a l l o w I n g the mother to bring them food and t e a c h them the things they would need to know to
protect themselves and take care of themselves.
The more Edmont grew,
the more different he looked from the others in his nest.
When he began to look at his reflection in the water of the pond,
he would compare it to Corey's and
he knew how different he was becoming.
He began to w o n d e r why he was different,
as the mother duck bill had never told him
his egg had come from a different mother.
He thought it was important for him to look just like the other hatchlings, and he began to feel very badly that he did not.
Corey's siblings began to w a t c h Edmont very closely as he grew. When he walked they giggled about how different he looked. When his skin colors and patterns darkened into different shapes and shades from their own, they whispered noisily that he was certainly a different color. They began to call him splotchy, because his marking did not match theirs.
And even though Edmont grew to
be much larger than the other hatchlings, and would
have been able to d o m a n y m o r e t h I n g s than they could, he began to feel so badly about walking differently
and looking different, that he refused to even
t r y to do the things that he would have been l e a r n i n g.
He just looked sadly into the water and
wished that he looked more like the others.
As he sat wishing,
watching his reflection in the pond, he
began to grow very q u i e t, and he wished
he c o u l d make friends.
He wished he had spots and marks the same as Corey, and he began to wish he wasn't even himself. He just wanted to be someone else.
When Edmont grew large enough, and thought he could find food by himself he decided to run away. “If I run away from the other hatchlings,” he thought, “I won't have to look at them, and then I will not feel so badly about myself.”
So one day he just started walking and did not look back. He walked all through one day and one night and through the next day. Now, as large as he was, he may have walked many miles that way,
and he was a very long way from his nest.
Edmont met a young Lambeosaurus named Lambeo.
Edmont could see that Lambeo was a type of duckbill, but
his hatched shaped crest and spine ran backward from the crest.
When Edmont saw Lambeo's crest and the frill that grew out of it, he began to t h I n k Lambeo must be the most interesting looking,
b e a u t I f u l duck he had ever seen.
Lambeo didn't look just like Corey's family, and looked very different from Edmont, but Edmont decided he must be very special and wanted to
get to know him and l e a r n from him.
Lambeo told him:
"I am Lambeo. I am the shortest giant of my species."
Then he said,
"I am Lambeo, the tallest midget of my species.
Another time he said, “I am Lambeo with a crest and a frill I love.”
Edmont was confused at first, but when he
finally began to u n d e r s t a n d that he himself could
b e v e r y s p e c I a l at many things,
and f e e l good about himself,
the way he looked, his color and size
were not the important parts of him.
He began to u n d e r s t a n d that his
own special markings and
unique way of walking would
help him b e c o m e the b e s t of what he was—whatever he would decide that should be.
So Edmont set out to
d i s c o v e r what things he could be very good at.
He began to l e a r n and u n d e r s t a n d
“I am unique and special in many ways.”
“I will l e a r n to do these things in my best way. “
They were other things he had to l e a r n too,
about taking care of himself and
protecting himself,
and about meeting other dinosaurs and making friends,
but he began to r e a l i z e that he
did not have to try to impress
other dinosaurs,
or to show off in order to have friends.
He learned as Lambeo had,
“I am special in my own way”
“I can do many things well,
and one thing I can do well is to get along with others.”
He had began to l e a r n that he
didn't have to do everything perfectly,
or look just like the others and he
had choices about which things he thought
were important to him
to practice and l e a r n to do well.
He knew as long as he was
l e a r n I n g and changing in good ways,
he was having a good life.
When he wanted to get attention, or meet new dinosaurs, he had to
l e a r n what to do from Lamdea.
He began to l e a r n that rather than yelling or hitting, he could
t o u c h a person on the shoulder,
s a y their name,
a s k for what he wanted,
a c c e p t “no” for an answer,
or a s k for reasons.
He now knew that he could
r e m e m b e r the g o o d f e e l n g s he got
playing with friends and treating them in s a f e gentle ways.
As he grew larger still, he returned to the home where he had been raised and he used his new skills with those other dinosaurs.
He was able to
t e a c h many things he was l e a r n I n g as he
began to make new friends and play among them.
Some of the family of dinosaurs said,
“He looks prettier now.
He seems more friendly and makes
me f e e l g o o d to be around him.
Edmont's color had not changed.
He had grown even larger, and he
walked in the same way, but he could
f e e l c o n f i d e n t and
f e e l g o o d about himself.
He now knew how to get what he wanted
and needed in appropriate ways.
Now when he looked at his reflection in that very same pond,
He could s e e a beautiful duck billed dinosaur.
He could e n j o y his special color and his special splotches.
He carried his head and tail in a new way
that showed he had learned to c a r e a b o u t
himself and others,
and the other dinosaurs really did
e n j o y his company and they would
l o o k for him to play with,
just to be with him.
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