Maddie’s Mad Cloud

Grumpy Maddie with a tiny gray cloud over her head, standing in a messy room

Maddie woke up grumpy, her day started wrong.
Her favorite shirt was dirty, her hair too long.
She stomped and she frowned, her face turning red.
A tiny gray cloud formed right over her head.

The Angry Morning

Maddie with a dark cloud above her, surrounded by fallen blocks and an overturned breakfast bowl

The cloud followed Maddie all through the day.
It grew when her blocks wouldn't stack the right way.
It rumbled when breakfast was not what she wished.
And darkened when brother knocked down what she'd built.

Cloud Grows

Maddie with a dripping cloud over her, wet books and a soaked teddy bear nearby

The cloud started dripping on Maddie's brown hair.
It sprinkled on books and her teddy bear.
Her drawings got wet and her crayons were soaked.
"This cloud is a problem!" poor Maddie croaked.

Rainy Problems

Maddie with a large stormy cloud above her, lightning flashing as she stomps on the floor

When Mom said no cookies before dinner time,
Maddie's cloud flashed with lightning so bright!
Thunder boomed loud as she stomped on the floor.
The cloud was now bigger than ever before.

Thunder and Lightning

Maddie with a pouty face, standing next to her smiling Mom who is hugging her

"What's this cloud doing here?" Maddie cried out.
"It follows me everywhere," she said with a pout.
Mom smiled and hugged her, "I think that I know,
It's your anger, dear Maddie, that makes the cloud grow."

Asking for Help

Maddie practicing deep breathing with her eyes closed, the cloud above her getting smaller

"When you feel angry, take deep breaths like me.
In through your nose, count one, two, and three.
Out through your mouth, feel your body relax.
Your cloud will get smaller with each breath, that's facts."

Learning to Breathe

Maddie counting with her fingers, the cloud above her shrinking

Mom taught her to count when the mad feelings came.
One through ten slowly, it's not just a game.
Maddie tried counting when feeling upset.
The cloud shrank a little, the smallest one yet!

Counting to Ten

Maddie with closed eyes, smiling, thinking of puppies and rainbows, the cloud turning white

"Think of things happy," Mom wisely advised.
"Puppies and rainbows and sweet butterflies."
Maddie closed eyes and thought of nice things.
The cloud turned white, no more threatening!

Happy Thoughts

Maddie at breakfast table with a small cloud fading away, a burnt toast on the plate

Next day at breakfast, her toast was burnt black.
Maddie felt anger begin to attack.
She breathed and she counted and thought happy thoughts.
The cloud barely formed before fading off.

Testing Her Skills

Maddie on a swing set, a small cloud closing above her, other kids playing in the background

At school on the swings, a boy cut in line.
Maddie felt mad, but remembered in time.
She used all her tricks as her anger arose.
The cloud stayed quite small, then quickly it closed.

Playground Challenge

Maddie comforting a crying Tommy with a mad cloud above him, both standing in a playground

Maddie saw Tommy with his own mad cloud.
His face was all scrunched up, his crying was loud.
"I know how to help you," Maddie said clear.
"Just breathe and count with me, there's nothing to fear."

Helping Others

Maddie smiling with a clear sky above her, feeling calm and content

Now Maddie knows anger is normal to feel.
But how we respond is what makes it real.
Her skies stay much sunnier most of the day.
When mad clouds appear, she just breathes them away.