Finding the Magic in the Moments: A Gentle Guide to the Holidays

Helping children slow down, connect, and feel the true joy of the season

The holidays sparkle with excitement — twinkling lights, cozy gatherings, special traditions, and the promise of memories that last. But beneath all the festivities lies something even more precious:

A chance to help children feel the magic of connection, kindness, and love.

At Elle Grey Stories, we believe the holidays offer a beautiful opportunity to nurture the values that shape a child’s heart — gratitude, empathy, generosity, and joy in simple things.

Because long after the wrapping paper is thrown away, it’s these gentle lessons that last.

The Real Holiday Magic Isn’t in the Gifts — It’s in the Moments

Children often remember:

• the cookie-baking mess

• the way the house smelled like cinnamon

• the warm hug from someone who loves them

• giggling during a board game

• seeing a parent slow down enough to really listen

These little moments create the feeling of belonging — one of the most powerful gifts a child can receive.

When we help children pause long enough to notice the goodness around them, we’re teaching them to carry holiday magic into every season of their lives.

Teaching Children the Heart of Giving

Holiday giving doesn’t need to be fancy or expensive.
For kids, the most meaningful gifts are often the simplest:

• a hand-drawn picture

• a note that says “I appreciate you”

• a kind act done without being asked

• sharing something special with a friend or sibling

• making something homemade with love

These small actions teach big lessons:
Thoughtfulness matters. Generosity matters. Kindness matters.

And children feel immense pride when they’re encouraged to give in their own way.

Helping Kids Navigate Big Holiday Emotions

While the holidays can be joyful, they can also be overwhelming — especially for sensitive or easily overstimulated children.

Kids may experience:

• excitement

• impatience

• overstimulation

• disappointment

• comparison

• pressure

This is completely normal.

Stories, gentle conversation, and quiet routines help children regulate these feelings.

Try moments like:

• slowing down for a bedtime story

• asking, “What part of today felt special?”

• taking a deep breath together when things get too busy

• validating their feelings without judgment

Children don’t need perfection — they need presence.

Simple Ways to Cultivate Holiday Gratitude

Here are a few family traditions that build emotional connection:

🎄 1. The Nightly “Thankful Three”

Each evening, everyone shares three small things they appreciated that day.

🎁 2. Acts of Kindness Countdown

Instead of a candy calendar, try a kindness calendar:

• Write a thank-you note

• Donate one toy

• Do a chore for someone else

• Say something kind to a sibling

Small actions, big impact.

✨ 3. Memory-Making Prompts

Ask your child:

• “What moment made you smile today?”

• “What made today feel cozy?”

• “Who made your day better?”

These questions help kids tune into joy.

What the Holidays Mean Through a Child’s Eyes

Children may forget which present they opened first.
They may forget which store the decorations came from.

But they will remember:

• how safe they felt

• how seen they felt

• how loved they felt

That’s the heart of this season.

And that’s the heart of Elle Grey Stories — creating gentle, meaningful stories that help children understand themselves, connect with others, and grow with compassion.

A Holiday Wish From Elle Grey Stories

May your home be filled with warmth, wonder, and quiet moments that remind your children they are loved, valued, and held close.

And may you — in the midst of the beautiful chaos — find a little magic for yourself, too.

A New Year, A Growing You

For children, for parents, for all of us becoming who we’re meant to be

The start of a new year often arrives with excitement — fresh calendars, hopeful plans, a sense of possibility. But beneath all the talk of resolutions and reinvention, the new year offers something quieter and far more meaningful:

An invitation to grow — gently, imperfectly, and together.

At Elle Grey Stories, we believe the new year isn’t about becoming someone new.
It’s about recognizing how far you’ve come — and allowing space to keep growing.

This message matters just as much for parents as it does for children.

Children Don’t Need Pressure — And Neither Do Parents

January can feel heavy.
For adults, it often comes with unspoken expectations:
Do more. Be better. Fix what didn’t work last year.

But children are watching how we respond to this season. They notice whether growth feels encouraging… or exhausting.

Children don’t need to see us striving for perfection.
They need to see us practicing self-compassion.

When parents model kindness toward themselves, children learn that growth doesn’t require harshness — it requires patience.

The New Year Is a Chance to Notice Progress — Not Just Goals

Instead of focusing on what needs to change, families can pause together and reflect:

• What felt hard last year — and what feels easier now?

• What did we learn together?

• Where did we grow, even in small ways?

• What moments are we proud of?

These conversations help children and adults recognize that progress often happens quietly, long before we notice it.

Growth isn’t always loud.
Sometimes it looks like surviving.
Sometimes it looks like trying again.
Sometimes it looks like showing up.

Gentle Intentions Create Strong Foundations

Goals don’t have to be rigid to be meaningful — for kids or adults.

Gentle intentions might sound like:

• being a little more patient

• listening more than rushing

• asking for help when it’s needed

• choosing kindness, even on hard days

• letting effort matter more than outcome

When families approach the year this way, growth feels shared — not forced.

Stories Remind Us That Growth Is a Journey

Stories don’t just guide children — they remind adults, too.

Through characters who struggle, learn, and evolve, we’re reminded that:

• mistakes are part of becoming

• growth isn’t linear

• resilience is built over time

• who we are is still unfolding

Stories create a shared language in families — a way to talk about feelings, effort, and change without judgment.

A New Year Wish for Families

As this new year begins, may your home be filled with:

• grace for mistakes

• patience for learning

• courage to keep trying

• kindness toward yourself and others

• moments of connection that matter

The year ahead doesn’t need to be perfect to be meaningful.

It just needs space to grow.

From Elle Grey Stories

Every story we create is rooted in the belief that growth happens best when we feel seen, supported, and safe — no matter our age.

This year, we’re honored to continue walking alongside families as you grow together — one story, one conversation, one gentle moment at a time.

Helping Children Notice the Good

Young children can’t grasp abstract concepts like “be thankful,” but they can understand simple prompts:

• “What made you smile today?”

• “Who helped you today?”

• “What is something you’re glad you have?”

• “What was your favorite part of our day together?”

These questions help kids identify moments of joy, kindness, and connection — creating the foundation of true gratitude.

When a child learns to appreciate the small things, they grow into an adult who does the same.

Storytelling Makes Gratitude Real

Stories are one of the easiest ways to help children feel gratitude instead of just hearing about it.

A character who receives help…
A friend who shows kindness…
A moment where someone offers generosity…
A simple “thank you” that mends a misunderstanding…

These moments show children what gratitude looks like, sounds like, and feels like.

Stories gently whisper:

Someone cared for you.
Someone thought of you.
Someone helped you.
And that matters.

Thanksgiving Activities That Build Gratitude

Here are easy, meaningful ways parents can nurture gratitude all month long:

1. The “Thankful Three” Bedtime Ritual

Each night, everyone shares three things they appreciated that day.
(Children love hearing adults participate, too!)

2. Gratitude Scavenger Hunt

Find something that:

• makes you smile

• someone made for you

• you enjoy doing

• helps you feel safe

• you love about your family

3. “I Appreciate You Because…” Notes

Simple handwritten notes tucked into:
lunchboxes, backpacks, pillows, books.

Kids treasure words that notice their kindness.

4. A Family Thankfulness Jar

Add slips of paper all month, then read them together on Thanksgiving Day.

5. Read Stories That Model Appreciation

Books that show kindness, sharing, helping, apologizing, or noticing others naturally strengthen a child’s gratitude habits.

A Final Thought for Parents

Gratitude doesn’t require perfection.
Not perfect days, perfect holidays, or perfect behavior.

It grows through:

• small moments

• gentle noticing

• simple conversations

• everyday appreciation

When children learn to recognize the good — even the tiny good — they carry that skill into every part of life.

This Thanksgiving season, may your home be filled with warmth, connection, and the quiet magic of grateful hearts.

Why Children Need Gentle Life Lessons

A Parent-Centered Reflection from Elle Grey Stories

Why Children Need Gentle Life Lessons

Every child carries a world inside them — curiosity, questions, hopes, fears, and the early flickers of who they will become. Yet childhood can feel overwhelming at times. Kids step into situations they don’t fully understand… sharing, friendships, mistakes, pressure, emotions, expectations — and they are expected to navigate it all with grace.

But children aren’t born with these skills.
They’re taught.
They’re guided.
They’re shaped through the small moments we help them make sense of.

At Elle Grey Stories, we believe the most powerful lessons are taught gently, through stories that speak to the heart.

The Power of Gentle Guidance — Not Fear or Shame

Children thrive when lessons are delivered with kindness. Research shows that kids learn more deeply when they feel safe, connected, and understood. That’s why gentle life lessons matter:

• They teach without scaring.

• They correct without shaming.

• They guide without overwhelming.

• They help kids see themselves with compassion, not criticism.

Whether a child takes something that isn’t theirs (STEALING), feels frustrated (RESET), or struggles with comparison and identity (UNIQUE), stories can become a soft place to land.

Stories Help Kids Understand the World

When kids read, they don’t just follow characters —
they experience emotions alongside them.

A story becomes a mirror, a map, and a flashlight:

• A mirror so they recognize their own feelings.

• A map so they understand paths and consequences.

• A flashlight so they know there is always a way forward.

Children learn big ideas — empathy, courage, forgiveness, self-control — by witnessing them in motion.

Why Your Child Needs These Lessons Early

Kids aren’t waiting until age ten to experience fear, frustration, peer pressure, or temptation. These things show up early. And without guidance, children fill in the gaps themselves.

Gentle stories help them learn:

1. What To Do When They Make a Mistake

Not if — when.
Kids mess up. Adults mess up.
Stories teach them how to repair, not hide.

2. How To Understand Their Feelings

Books like RESET and WORDS give language to emotions kids don’t have words for.

3. How To See Themselves Through a Kind Lens

The story UNIQUE helps kids understand identity, growth, and self-compassion during some of the most confusing years of life.

4. How To Build Inner Strength

FORGED BY THE JOURNEY, UNRAVEL YOUR PURPOSE, and Elle Grey’s upcoming stories show kids that their experiences prepare them, not break them.

A Safe Way to Practice Life

Stories offer something powerful: a trial run

Kids can:

• See consequences without living them

• Experience bravery without danger

• Learn empathy without shame

• Ask questions without fear

By the time real life presents the moment, they already understand the terrain.

What Makes Elle Grey Stories Different

Elle Grey Stories are built around a simple truth:

If we teach children gently, they grow strong.

Each book in the each of the Collections is:

• Rooted in psychology and child development

• Crafted with gentle rhyme and emotional clarity

• Designed to spark meaningful conversations

• Built around values that last a lifetime

Parents often tell us,
“These stories say what I wish I knew how to say.”

That is the heart of Elle Grey Stories.

How Parents Can Use These Stories at Home

Here are simple ways to bring the lessons to life:

• Read together and pause — ask what your child thinks the character felt.

• Connect it to real moments — “Remember when you felt frustrated? This is like that page…”

• Normalize mistakes — “Everyone learns. Look how the character handled it.”

• Use the language from the book — it becomes a shared family vocabulary.

Gentle conversations now prevent heavier conversations later.

A Final Word to Parents

You don’t need to have the perfect script.
You don’t need to be a child psychologist.
You don’t need to know exactly what to say every moment.

You just need tools that help you guide your child with tenderness.

That is why Elle Grey Stories exists —
to help you teach the lessons that shape confident, kind, courageous young people.

The Words Children Carry

When we place our children in classes, sports, or creative programs, we’re not just signing them up for skill-building—we’re entrusting their hearts and minds to the adults in the room.

Recently, I enrolled my daughter in a ballet program. Within her very first class, she noticed something I believe we cannot ignore: the way words were being used. While she was treated kindly, another child was met with harsh, negative reinforcement. Phrases like “Stop messing up—you’re making it harder for everyone!” and even “I’m going to kill you if you don’t do this correctly!” were directed at a student who was simply learning.

My daughter, who has been raised to understand the power of words, immediately recognized the harm in this approach. Instead of joining the silence, she walked over to that child and offered encouragement: “I think you’re doing great.” That child’s grateful response said it all—words can wound, but they can also heal.

Here’s the truth: the words we use with children don’t just vanish after class ends. They become the voices children hear inside their heads—sometimes for the rest of their lives. If those voices are shaming, belittling, or threatening, we teach children to be their own harshest critics. If those voices are affirming and kind, we teach children to believe in themselves and to keep going, even when something feels hard.

Teachers, coaches, and mentors are shaping far more than technique. They are shaping how children talk to themselves, how they see their own potential, and whether they feel safe to grow. The stakes are far higher than a perfect turnout or flawless performance.

We must move away from fear-based, negative strategies and embrace positive reinforcement. Not because it’s “softer,” but because it’s more effective. Children thrive in environments where kindness fuels discipline, and respect fuels growth.

If we truly want to raise resilient, confident, emotionally intelligent young people, then we need to examine not just what we are teaching them, but how. Words are never just words. They are tools—and sometimes weapons—that can shape a child’s self-belief for life.

Empowering Our Children

Preparing Our Children for Life's Challenges: The Power of Guidance and Support

Every parent, grandparent, teacher, or guardian carries a heartfelt wish: that the children they love will grow into confident, kind, and resilient adults. Yet, as much as we long to shield our little ones from life’s hardships, we know that challenges and tough times are inevitable. Our true role isn’t to remove every obstacle, but to lovingly prepare our children so they can meet life’s twists and turns with courage and confidence.

Why Guidance and Support Matter

Children grow not just in size, but in spirit, wisdom, and strength. Each new experience—joyful or difficult—shapes who they become. When we offer guidance and support, we help them build the emotional intelligence and character they’ll need to thrive, even when we aren’t there to protect them.

Facing Challenges: A Necessary Part of Growth

It can be so tempting to step in and fix every problem. But every scraped knee, every tough conversation, and every disappointment is a learning opportunity. By acknowledging their struggles and gently guiding them through, we teach our children:

• Resilience: How to bounce back from setbacks

• Confidence: To trust themselves, even when things are hard

• Honesty: To speak up, even about difficult topics

• Kindness: To treat others with empathy, even in adversity

• Uniqueness: To celebrate what makes them different

The Role of Intentional Parenting

Intentional parenting means being present and proactive. It’s about creating space for open, honest conversations—especially about the tough stuff. Our stories and life lessons don’t just entertain; they open doors for meaningful dialogue that helps children process their feelings and understand the world.

By nurturing these conversations, we ensure that our children:

• Know how to seek help and communicate their needs

• Are equipped to handle peer pressure and stand up for themselves

• Feel celebrated for who they are, not pressured to fit in

Empowering Children Through Storytelling

At Elle Grey Stories, we believe in the transformative power of stories. Each book is lovingly crafted to speak directly to children, making big topics feel approachable and engaging. Our rhyming narratives and lovable characters invite children to see themselves in the stories, sparking conversations that might not happen otherwise.

Why This Matters

When children feel empowered by the knowledge they’ve gained, they’re better prepared for whatever life brings. Parents, too, can rest easier knowing they’ve equipped their children with the tools to make wise, compassionate choices.

Don’t Wait: Give Your Child the Gift of Confidence

Every day is a new chance to prepare your child for the world. By investing in their emotional growth and opening up honest conversations, you’re giving them the greatest gift: the ability to navigate life with confidence and grace.

Purchase the Elle Grey Stories today. Don’t let your child miss out on a single life lesson—these stories could make all the difference, now and for years to come.

Stories to help our children grow and feel confident in the world, especially when we can’t always be there. Let’s prepare them for life’s challenges, together.

Parents-We Are Not Just Storytellers, We Are The ULTIMATE STORY CREATORS!

We are moms and dads but we are also, among many things, chefs, boo-boo fixers, nose wipers, sunscreen appliers, and story tellers. We tell our kids bedtime stories on some, most, or all nights and they have a favorite story they love to read over and over. But what we may be failing to realize is that every day we are actually the ultimate story creators . We have been writing the most important story without ever putting a pen to paper (or typing on a keyboard!)

Think about it, as adults, we all have our own story; childhood stories that had a profound impact on us and developed who we came to be as people, as individuals, partners, and eventually as the parents we are today. There were moments in those hours, in those days, that comprised the years of our lives up to where we are now. And we’ve shared those childhood stories that shaped and molded us with those we love and trust. Those childhood stories were, in great abundance, shaped by the decisions our parents made, or in some cases, decisions they didn’t make. Their decisions created circumstances that affected our lives; moments that we now look back on with maybe fondness, sadness, happiness, or anger. They laid the foundation for so much of our lives; they ultimately created our stories. And these past moments have greatly shaped the decisions we now make as adults and as parents.

We must do our best to remember this for the sake of our kids today and every day after. We are laying the foundation of their story right now, every day. The words we use, the decisions we make, what we teach, what we don’t teach, the stress we carry that they feel, the seemingly simple moments that matter more than we realize-these will all someday be the story of their life that will shape and mold the person they will become; as individuals, as partners, and someday parents. They will someday be grown like us and will share their story with those they love and trust. They will perhaps cry tears of joy or sadness as they reflect on the days that are happening right now.

Take a moment and think about your story…Do you think it could have been different if your parents, during your childhood, had been more aware of the fact that each day they were writing your story?

Let us be aware and be present of the story we are creating every day for our kids. Let’s be the best chefs, boo-boo fixers, nose wipers, sunscreen appliers, and storytellers, but most importantly, let us be fantastic story creators! Let us be mindful of the story we are writing every day for them, so that when the day comes, they share their story - it’s an amazing one, one we are proud to hear them tell. Let’s make it so amazing that, in fact, they want to someday give their kids one just like it!

Hello February! We LOVE That You’re Here!

🌸

February—The Month of Love, Kindness, and Friendships

As parents, one of our most significant responsibilities is teaching our children how to love and show kindness. And often, the best way for them to learn is not just through our words, but through experiences.

To celebrate February—the month of love—the Elle Grey Stories Team has put together a list of fun, meaningful ways you and your children can spread kindness to others (and to themselves, too!).

💕 Acts of Kindness to Try This Month

1. Kindness Rocks
Pick up a bag of river rocks (or gather some from your yard). Have your children paint them with bright colors and uplifting designs. Once dry, leave them around your city—at playgrounds, gyms, baseball fields, or even outside stores—for others to find.

2. Bake Cookies for a Neighbor
Is there someone in your neighborhood you don’t know well? Bake them cookies with your kids, then knock on their door and deliver them. A small gesture that can spark big connections!

3. Pay It Forward at Starbucks
Go through the drive-thru and surprise the person behind you by buying their order. Make it fun for your kids—have them describe the car behind you or listen closely for the order being placed.

4. Donate Toys
Encourage your children to go through their old toys and select ones they no longer play with. Together, donate them to a church, preschool, women’s shelter, or foster care program. Take a moment to talk about where the toys are going and who they may help.

5. Snacks for Helpers
Bring snacks or baked goods to your local Fire Department, Police Station, or First Responders to show your appreciation.

6. Fill Parking Meters
Find meters that are about to expire and let your children add coins. Explain what they’re doing—it’s a great chance to teach about helping others in unexpected ways.

7. Adopt a Soldier Overseas
Write letters, draw pictures, or put together a Valentine’s Day care package to send to soldiers serving far from home.

8. Volunteer Together
Find a local charity or community event where your family can give their time. Even small acts of service make a big impact.

9. Donate Books
Choose a few books and donate them to your local library, school, doctor’s office, or shelter. Encourage your kids to imagine how happy another child will be to read the book they’ve given.

Make February the month of teaching your child how to show love and kindness to the world, all while having fun in the process! Oh, and don’t forget to remind your kids to show themselves a lot of love, too!

Let's Celebrate Kindness!

Kindness comes in many different forms and what better time to share it than at the holidays! As Christmas approaches, it’s an excellent time to remind our children of this value. Decorations are going up, holiday music is everywhere, and increased traffic and holiday travel seems to bring out the best in everyone…Don’t agree with that last one? Me either…

I did venture out of the house on Black Friday just to grab some lunch and while out I saw almost two accidents and one man get out of his car just to yell at someone simply because he felt they didn’t move their car quick enough. My daughter was with me and luckily didn’t notice any of it but I certainly did. It reminded me very quickly that this is the world she and all of our children live in. The only way to make it better is to start with ourselves and our homes as kindness starts in the heart and can spread like nothing else.

It can be easy to focus on the negativity around us but what would happen if we used that energy to fuel the change this world needs? If instead we responded with kindness, or just did random acts of kindness for the sake of brightening someone’s day-do you think it could make a difference? I do! And while this time of year is a great time to remind our kids of the importance of kind acts, it doesn’t ever have to stop just because the holidays will be over. Let’s keep the kindness flowing, the love growing, let’s make a difference in the world! And that difference starts with one person simply being kind to just one other person…

SOME IDEAS TO SHOW KINDNESS

LEAVE SOME LOVE-Paint a rock or lots of rocks with hearts or loving messages and leave one on your neighbors porch or around your neighborhood or even at a playground your child loves.

SEND A LOVE NOTE-Have your child write a card to someone they love and mail it to them, maybe include a hand drawn picture.

GRATEFUL CHALLENGE-Each night when you put your child to bed, share with one another what you are grateful for and challenge your child to come up with a longer grateful list than you! Take turns naming each grateful. When you can get your child to focus on what they are grateful each night, you start to shift their focus to the positive elements in their life and that shift will carry into their everyday thoughts.

Life Is In The Moments, And Those Moments Are Our Life

🌟

My four-year-old daughter recently asked me if everyone had a dog.

When I replied, “No, some people have a bird, a cat, a lizard, or even a bunny as a pet. And some people have no pets at all,” she looked puzzled. So I went on to explain that every family is different—different houses, different rules, different pets, and even different experiences.

This new idea seemed to intrigue her. The notion that other children lived differently than she did was fascinating, though she quickly moved on to other questions (as young kids often do).

🐾 A Lesson in Kindness

The very next day, she had a not-so-great experience at the kids’ club in our local gym. A little boy had pulled her hair. With all the seriousness in the world, she told me, “Since he was not nice, I am not going to be nice to him!”

As her mom, my first instinct was to ask, “Where is this boy?” (I’ll admit, not quite as calmly as I said it out loud!) She pointed, and I saw a young, energetic boy not much older than her. He wasn’t behaving aggressively with anyone else, so I took a breath, calmed myself, and knelt down beside her.

I knew that how I handled this moment would matter. It wasn’t just about this boy or this incident—it was about teaching her how to handle future conflicts.

When I asked why she thought he pulled her hair, she replied, “Because I was in his way, and he wanted me to move.”

So I said, “Remember honey, every family has different rules and different experiences. While your experience just now wasn’t happy, it doesn’t need to ruin your whole day. What he did was unkind, but that doesn’t mean you need to be unkind. You can’t control his choices, but you can control yourself. If he’s unwilling to be kind, then keep your distance and play in another area.”

I braced myself for a rebuttal—but instead she smiled and said, “Ok, you’re right. I don’t need to be mean to him just because he was mean to me. I can just be me. I’ll just play over here.” And off she went, happy again.

🌟 Small Conversations, Big Lessons

Watching her walk away, I realized this moment had gone smoothly because of the conversation we’d had the day before—about families, pets, and how experiences differ.

What seemed like a fleeting, simple question—“Does everyone have a dog?”—had actually been the groundwork for a much bigger lesson.

I believe that as parents, we need to be mindful that every moment can be a chance to learn. Even the smallest, most ordinary questions can shape who our children become: how they think, how they love, how they handle conflict.

The key is to keep the conversation going. Keep listening—really listening—to their questions, their worries, and their stories. Remind yourself that you were little once, too. Be the support you needed at their age. Be the encourager, the believer, the one who listens without judgment.

No one knows them better—because in many ways, you were them once upon a time.

The Halloween Switch Witch

Halloween is just right around the corner and it’s the best time of year with the crispness in the air, the creativity coming to life, and pumpkin spice everything! And if your child is anything like mine, the opportunity to dress up and leave the house looking like a butterfly dinosaur makes it the best day of the year! But what about the candy; the never-ending cascading flow of sugary treats? For my house, this terrifically spooky night presents a bit of a challenge because my daughter and I both have an allergy to sugar. When I tell people this they cringe at first and then jokingly say, “Actually, that’s a great allergy to have!” I wish this were true, but truly it’s quite difficult as there is sugar in just about everything available to eat. And of course, Halloween night is all about sugar!

Nonetheless, my daughter Avelle and I have found a way to enjoy Halloween despite our allergy. We get dressed up and go out to collect as much candy as we can, in fact, the more we collect the better. Then at the end of the night, we give a few pieces to her Daddy, but the remaining treasure trove of candy is off to the Switch Witch!

If you don’t know all about the Switch Witch, there’s a cute book that can introduce her to your family that you can find on Amazon. But in the meantime, the short story of the Switch Witch is she needs the candy collected by children this one special night of the year to power the Witch City. There are lots of Switch Witches that live in this city but only one travels to your house on Halloween night to collect the collected sweets. And to show her gratitude to the lovely and generous child willing to share their hard-earned candy so the Witch City can stay warm throughout the upcoming year, she bestows a sweet gift in place of the sugary filled treats.

The Switch Witch was introduced to our family years ago and I am so very grateful for her to have entered our life. In fact, Avelle is already planning for her visit and has decided to paint her a picture to leave along with her Halloween candy. She will leave the candy by her bedroom door in just a couple nights from now and will excitedly wake up to see what the Switch Witch left in place of that sweet candy bag. I’m pretty sure she’s hoping for a unicorn, so a little stuffed animal might be in order.

Maybe you also have a little one allergic to sugar or maybe you just want to limit the sugar intake, consider introducing the Switch Witch to your family. She’s quite fun and knowing she’ll be flying on her crooked broomstick for such a special visit is pretty spooktacular!

The Switch Witch

You can purchase your Switch Witch Story Here

If Being Different Is What Makes Us Unique—We Have More In Common With Others Than We May Think!

As parents, we strive to make sure we express to our children how unique they are, and how that uniqueness makes them so very special. And it does! Those special curls, the cute dimples, the lovely freckles, the way she gets the hiccups every time she laughs too hard, whatever it might be, our kids are so very unique! And teaching them this simple truth is so important for their self-esteem and their self-love. Not to mention the fact that if they really see and love their uniqueness, they are far less likely to be bullied, peer pressured, or fall into the trap the brand marketers love to set which says, “You’re only special if you buy, wear, or use OUR product!”

But owning one’s uniqueness doesn’t always come easy, and our children learn more sometimes by watching how we treat ourselves and others, then what we tell them about themselves. How many of you have had your child come to you and say they are going to work as they get in their pretend car, in their pretend work clothes, carrying their pretend briefcase? My daughter did this to me one day as I was making her breakfast and when I asked her why she was walking on her tiptoes, she told me she was wearing her high heels! She had been watching…All those days I went to the office, in my office clothes and high heels, carrying my briefcase, she watched!

Imagine what they are seeing if we aren’t good to ourselves in the mirror, even once. Or if we were to say negative things about others…Let’s say you see someone you know and they cut their hair very short. What if in front of your child, you said, “Wow, her hair does not look good like that at all!” Your child has just witnessed you criticizing someone else and will likely practice that behavior on others, or perhaps worse, they will begin to question what you dislike or what they shouldn’t like about themselves. This can all happen from one seemingly simple “harmless” statement. Kids are smart, and they know the quickest way to learn about their world is by the people closest to them, so they emulate. And why not— “grown-ups know it all and if a grown-up is doing it-it must be the way it’s done.”

So, while we are busy teaching our child how wonderful it is that they are unique and special, in the same breath, all that teaching can be undone if we were to criticize ourselves or others. Why? Because how we can we say our child is so very special because they are different, if we then criticize others for being different?!

This is why I believe that when we teach our children how wonderful it is that they are different and there is no one else like them, we should also teach them that everyone deserves the same respect. As parents, we want others to accept our children as they are, their beautiful, unique selves, and we want our children to celebrate and appreciate their own uniqueness. But then, shouldn’t we all be willing to do that same thing for everyone? After all, everyone is someone’s child!

“So if being different is what makes us unique, we have more in common with others than we may think!” The Elle Grey Story, UNIQUE

"BE NICE TO OTHERS AND THEY'LL BE NICE TO YOU...." REALLY?

🌟 Teaching Kindness Without Losing Self-Respect

“Be nice to others and they’ll be nice to you.”

It’s a common statement we’ve all been taught as kids. I remember hearing it countless times from adults in my life. But as a child (and even later in my twenties), it often left me feeling confused or even unworthy. I would share and share, yet not receive the same kindness back. I would go out of my way to be kind, only to be left broken-hearted.

Here’s the truth: Being kind to others does not guarantee kindness in return. And to teach our children that it does may be setting them up for disappointment.

I don’t want my kids to be kind only with the hope that others will be kind back. I want them to be kind because they are kind—because it’s the right thing to do, for themselves and for the world. And I want them to carry self-respect alongside their kindness, so it becomes part of their foundation throughout life.

💛 Why Kindness Alone Isn’t Enough

As parents, we walk a fine line. Of course, we want our kids to be kind—but we also don’t want their kindness to be taken advantage of. Teaching kindness without teaching boundaries risks raising children who allow others to misuse their good hearts.

The world, as we know as adults, isn’t always kind back. Our children can’t fully see that yet, but it’s our job to prepare them for what they’ll face.

Kindness should never mean allowing someone else to manipulate or diminish who we are. And it should never mean ignoring self-respect.

🌈 A Better Way to Teach the Lesson

So maybe it’s time to update that old saying. Instead of:
“Be nice to others and they’ll be nice to you,”

What if we taught our children this:
“Be nice to others and you’ll find MOST OF THEM will be nice to you.” And we should go even further to say, “But sometimes, you’ll just need to walk away. And that’s OK my darling, because your sunshine can just be saved for someone else on another day!”

This shift does three important things:

1. Teaches our kids to be kind.

2. Prepares them that not everyone will return kindness.

3. Empowers them to walk away from unkindness with dignity.

It’s taken me years (and a lot of heartache) to learn this lesson myself. Looking back, there are so many friendships and relationships I could have spared myself if I’d known when to walk away.

🌟 Raising Kind, Confident Kids

I believe it’s important for our children to be kind—but also to recognize there are limits to the unkindness they should accept. At the heart of this lesson is self-respect.

If we can start this conversation early with our children—teaching them that kindness is powerful, but boundaries are essential—just imagine the strong, compassionate, confident adults they will become.

The Elle Grey Story, KINDNESS is coming soon!

Learning to Share with WORDS

This story was contributed by Dorian Lopez, loving mother to the incredibly adorable young man below. They are early readers of The Elle Grey Story, WORDS. Here is the story of what her and her son experienced after reading it!

Have you ever wondered, "When will my child ever start sharing?" I've been asking myself this question for quite some time now, and to be honest, I was beginning to think it would never happen.  No matter how many different methods we've tried with our four year old, nothing seemed to work! 

I know age plays a factor because he does very well with other children his age, however, the one he seems to have the hardest time sharing with is his two year old cousin. My son is tremendously kind, up until it's time to share one of his toys with him.  He then becomes a little hulk that seems to only be able to say, "This is mine! Go away!" or something along those lines.  Do you remember how I thought he would never learn to share?

Well, he hasn't mastered the art of sharing just yet, but it definitely has been improving ever since we started reading one of the most heartfelt children's stories out there. We started reading The Elle Grey Story, WORDS on a Friday night right before bedtime. My son and I both genuinely fell in love with the message and the story itself.  He listened without interrupting and I could tell he was understanding the message and could relate to the story.  We discussed the book and I once again reminded him that words can be hurtful and that we should choose kind words when we talk to other people and ourselves. 

The next morning, we met my sister for brunch and while we were waiting to be seated my nephew began to cry wanting the toy my son had. I explained to my nephew (like I always do) that he could take a turn once his cousin was done playing with it. He's two years old, so the crying continued.  To my surprise my little guy stood up, went up to his younger cousin, hugged him and in a chocked voice told him to not cry anymore and handed over his toy.  I was in shock, to say the least.  I was speechless, so I just watched.  After we were seated, I realized that my son had just shared one of his favorite toys without me telling him to do so.  After I told him how proud of him I was, I asked him what had made him want to do something so hard as sharing his favorite toy. His simple response was, " I don't want to make people sad. I want to be just like Patty Panda in WORDS. I'm sorry for not sharing before, mommy!" And at that moment my heart sank. I knew that had been hard for him, but I was so glad he did it. 

We've been reading WORDS every morning and night before bedtime and he's doing so much better with sharing and using nicer words. I'm so happy a children's book was able to help him understand, not just the importance of sharing, but also taught him how words can be very hurtful and to be kind, not just to others, but also to ourselves.  This book is a new favorite in our house!

Thank you so much Elle, for a beautifully written and illustrated children's book with a very important message!

Dorian L.

Dorian is an Instagram friend of @ellegreystories. You can find her @dori_fer

Back to School and the Power of Words

When I was a kid, I dreaded going back to school. I loved to learn, but I didn’t “fit in.” I had very few friends and always seemed to stand out. Truthfully, it was my own doing—I never wanted to be a part of the groups where kids would gather to gossip about others as they walked by. That entire culture of unkindness, where it was considered “cool” to tear others down, never sat right with me.

I disliked the idea that school was less about learning and more about being socially accepted—or else your life felt miserable. I just wanted to learn, because I loved learning. But in between classes, there was always drama. So, I stayed to myself. Even at lunch, I skipped the cafeteria and went to the library, where I’d read until the bell rang.

Really, that’s how my school years unfolded: class, alone, class, library, class, alone, class, home. I couldn’t wait to be finished with the system, because I believed the world outside would be different.

But my thinking wasn’t completely right. So much of our world still operates this way—people being unkind and believing it makes them stronger, smarter, or cooler. And sadly, our children see and hear this every day as they grow up.

The good news is that things are shifting. Today, there’s a movement that wasn’t there when I was young—promoting kindness, raising awareness about the damage of hurtful words, angry voices, and unkind actions. You can see it in uplifting campaigns, videos shared on social media, and conversations happening in schools and communities.

✍️ Why I Wrote WORDS

I simply asked myself the question….

What are the most important things I need my daughter to know if I’m not here to teach them myself?

The very first story I wrote—before the other thirty-eight—was WORDS. I needed her to understand the power of her words, her voice, and her actions. Too often, I had seen people disregard all three, unaware (or unconcerned) about the hurt they caused.

I felt that if she could understand the difference between positivity and negativity—and that we each have the power to choose—she would learn to choose her words wisely. She would know when to walk away from unkindness and be less likely to absorb that negativity.

💛 Why This Matters for Parents

I believe this lesson is important for all of us as parents. None of us want the words of others to wound our children. And while we can’t protect them from pain completely, we can talk about it. And when we do, we give them tools to lessen the hurt.

As a child, I had to learn this lesson on my own. There were no discussions about kindness or the power of words. I just knew I didn’t “fit in.” I was kind, and that made me an outcast—uncool, socially unacceptable.

It’s time to change that culture. Not just in our schools, but in our communities and our world.

🌈 The Culture of Kindness

Kindness is powerful. And the words we use are one of the biggest ways we show it. Every child is born kind—it’s our job to nurture that natural gift, to let it flourish, to help it shine.

We may not be able to change every heart or brighten every soul, but we can help keep our children’s hearts and minds filled with kindness. If we do that, we’ll make their world brighter—and in turn, the whole world a better place.

The Elle Grey Story, MONSTERS - BECAUSE KNOWLEDGE IS POWER and our kids need all the power they can get!

I was five years old when the first and worst Monster, I would ever face, entered my life.  He was verbally, emotionally and physically abusive my whole life, but it wasn't until I was fifteen that he attempted a sexual assault. This man was my step-father and he had waited ten years to plan his attack. Ten years of my life, ten years of being there everyday attempting to build a bond with me.  I was a very intuitive, strong-willed and stubborn little girl and these things are probably what saved my life.

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I loved and longed for my real father my whole life and so every attempt my step-father made to have me call him, "Dad" I rejected.  I remember being only six years old when he told me that I should now call him Dad, and I flatly said, "But, you're not my dad." My life went down hill from that very moment. Constant abuse ensued from that day on, but I refused to allow it to break me, even as young as six years old, I was able to decide for myself that I would NOT be broken!

The day he attempted a sexual assault on me when I was only fifteen years old, still such a baby...I had to muster all of my courage, all of my strength to defeat this man, this Monster that was so much bigger and stronger than me. While he hadn't managed to break me over that decade, this man had definitely taken his toll on me with his verbal, emotional and physical abuse (all of us can only take so much before things start to settle in our skin and stay with us.) 

I say Monsters use tricks and they really do! He tried to bribe me, he tried to make me stay still and stay quiet, and when all else failed, he threatened my life.  And as time stood still for all of these tricks, I immediately snapped time back in place and I ran. I ran for my life, through my house; a house that I'd lived in for ten years and yet the hallway seemed a hundred times longer than it was, the doorway had definitely been moved and was in the wrong spot, and darkness was everywhere. I  refused to look behind me for fear he was right on my heels and would grab me by my hair and pull me down to the ground. (Something he would do often.)  I ran for my mother, sleeping in her bedroom, praying I'd make it in time, thinking I may never see her again if he caught up with me. It's amazing what adrenaline can do to your body and mind.

I was my own hero that day, and I've continued to be my own hero throughout my life.  This experience prepared me for the additional five Monsters I've faced since that fateful day. Every Monster has looked different, but they've all tried the same tricks and they've all had the same motive-TO DO HARM TO SOMEONE SMALLER AND WEAKER THAN THEM. I felt as though I at least had the knowledge to recognize a Monster very quickly, being around one your entire childhood gives you that, but I was lacking the strength to physically fight for my life, if I didn't have the opportunity to run. When I was twenty-one years old, I made a point to become stronger. I bought myself a gym membership and worked to make myself as strong as I could.  

At only five years old, I knew something was off with my step-father, I sensed it. The day my mother married him, she asked me if I was excited and I said, "No, don't marry him." I was too young to explain why I felt this way, I just knew I did. Our kids can sense danger, they can almost always sense a Monster even before we do, but we have to be willing to listen. I wrote the story, MONSTERS to open this dialogue with our kids in a really empowering way so that they will talk to us should they see or feel something amiss. I want to help our kids at least have the knowledge to protect themselves; to be their own hero, because someday, they may have to be. 

What are the Elle Grey Stories?

What are the Elle Grey Stories,
And what are they all about?
Well, they’re really quite different—
There are a few reasons they stand out!

You’ll find Elle Grey Stories
Are fun and funny too,
But more importantly, they teach great lessons—
Ones that will be important to you.

Some teach values like honesty,
Loyalty, and appreciation…
And goodness knows, we need more of those
In every single nation!

There are stories on emotions—
Frustration, anger, and sadness.
And we all know when those three mix,
It can feel a little like madness!

There are stories about protection,
To help our kids stay aware,
Of dangers in their world—like fire,
Deep water, or old rickety stairs.

Then, there are the Growing Stories—
Special ones that truly stand out.
Like the story Monsters,
Which could save lives, we have no doubt!

So we promise Elle Grey Stories
Are different, right from the start.
Perhaps because each one came
From the very bottom of a mother’s heart.

They were written for her little girl,
But then she chose to share
Each story with the whole wide world,
To show just how much she cares.

So please tell your friends,
Tell everyone you know…
Elle Grey Stories are coming,
With wonderful lessons in tow!

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The Elle Grey Story, RESET - Helping Our Kids BEFORE They Have One Of Those Things We Lovingly Refer To As A "MELT DOWN"!

The first time

my daughter really ever had a melt down was when she was about two and half years old. Of course, she had been upset before and visibly frustrated many many times before this day, but this was a full MELT DOWN day! 

🌟 Why I Wrote RESET

I knew my daughter was tired. We were just heading up for her nap, and all was good… until I asked her to use the potty before climbing into bed. Suddenly, we were in full meltdown mode! Tears, screams, and dramatic flops to the ground.

I stood there thinking, “What is going on?!”

I sat her down and gently asked, “Honey, what’s wrong?” She looked at me with tear-streaked cheeks and the most sympathetic, pleading eyes and said, “I don’t know!”

And she really didn’t know.

This child always has an answer for everything—but in this moment, she couldn’t find one. And worse, I realized the fact that I even asked her what was wrong worried her more. To her, if I didn’t know, and she didn’t know, how was she ever going to feel better?

That’s when I jumped into action. I explained that she was just tired, and that sometimes, when there’s so much happening around us, being tired makes it hard to process it all.

She understood. She nodded her head, relieved. Because for her, if there was a reason, there was hope—she wouldn’t feel this way forever.

I tucked her in and told her she needed a reset. The best way this time was to get some rest. As she lay down, she whispered, “I’ll feel better after my nap? I can reset?”

“Yes,” I nodded, kissed her forehead, and told her I loved her.

✍️ From a Hard Moment to a Story

The story RESET was born from this very moment. I knew I wasn’t the only parent watching their child struggle with big feelings they couldn’t name. I wanted to create something that would help children understand what’s happening inside them—and give them tools to handle it.

Even as young as two-and-a-half, kids can process so much if we take the time to explain. Now, every time my daughter feels herself getting tired or short-tempered, she can recognize it. She’ll even tell me on her own: “Mommy, I think I need a little reset.”

That one change has spared her—and me—so many meltdowns. Because while as parents we may joke about “the dreaded meltdown,” for our kids it’s truly scary. It feels like being completely out of control. But with a reset, they don’t have to go down that dark, unsettling rabbit hole of emotions.

🌈 How RESET Helps

This story gently walks kids through:

• How to recognize when they need a reset

• How to communicate it to grown-ups

• Different ways to reset (because sleep isn’t always the answer)

• Key words kids can use to quickly tell us what they need

And the best part? Grown-ups can use them too!

“And if your parents know the magic words,
They can use them too.
This way, you know what it means,
When they say one of them to you.
Because EVERYONE, now and then, needs a do-over or reset.
We ALL have moments when we seem to come apart because we’re upset!”
— Elle Grey

Sticks & Stones

We've all heard the saying, "Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me." In reality, nothing can be further from the truth, especially to our young and impressionable children. 

From your child's interactions within playgroups to the words you speak to them and others, the words that catch the ear of little ones can impact them for a lifetime. This is precisely why Elle Grey created the story, WORDS. 

WORDS is an excellent reminder for both children and adults alike to remember that speaking harshly to others will hurt the people around us. Thoughtless words thrown out in frustration or anger will most certainly hurt the people we should be talking to with love and patience. 

The truth is, words are the greatest tool to either build up those around you or tear them down. Cultivating a home and environment where your child hears and speaks positivity and mindfulness of others' feelings begins with you as a parent, grandparent, or family member. Mastering the art of communication is no easy feat, but with practice...you'll start to attract positivity all around you. 

Wouldn't you want your child to be surrounded by positive influences and friends? It all begins with the way they speak and the tone they communicate with. The story “WORDS” is the perfect example for children to grasp this concept and apply it in their lives. It's relevant with easy-to-understand concepts that apply to their lives now, and will remain a lesson that they can take with them well into their adult years.  

MY DAUGHTER, AVELLE-THE STORY BEHIND THE STORIES

My daughter, Avelle (uh-vel), is the inspiration behind every Elle Grey Story. She's why they started and the reason new ones will be written! You see, I have two boys; one just days from eighteen and another, just shy of twenty-one. But when my daughter was only four months old, I feared I may have the same number of years with her, so I wanted to be sure I could leave something behind for her that her dad could use to teach her all the things that were important to me. I wanted her to feel like her mom was still there with her, loving her through these words left behind for her.

I originally wrote sixteen stories but am now up to thirty-nine. I've written so much...Stories on values that would shape her character, stories to guide her and even more to protect her. Once the original sixteen were written, I read them to her dad, and he insisted that I share all of them! This was a very scary thought to me at first because each story had been written with this intense amount of love and for such personal reasons, that the idea of sharing them left me feeling very scared. But he was right...These stories could help start important conversations with children and their parents all over the world and some could even potentially save lives. That thought was amazing to me, so I swallowed any vulnerability I felt and released the fear with the hope that these stories would make a real difference in the world!

Avelle is turning three today, and I've spent all this time getting these stories meant only for her, ready to share with the world. These stories are real and honest, meant to help her through challenges I knew someday she'd someday face...Now they can do that for every child!

Not a single word was changed from the way I wrote them for her and now the time is near!  This is the start of changing the world! And while I am feeling some vulnerability and a little fear; after all, I am bearing my heart and soul to the whole world with these stories, I would do it all again knowing that even ONE child beyond my own could be affected, guided and protected with even ONE story!

So, Happy Birthday my darling girl, thank you for inspiring me every day!  I knew you coming into this world would completely change our lives, but there's no way I could have ever imagined just how much!  I love you...more than you'll ever know!