Among the stories that highlight the feelings of fear that our children are exposed to, and perhaps we do not know how to deal with them often.
Events of the story: The little turtle Owen was afraid to come out of her shell again, because she had been exposed to a strong thunderstorm that struck her shell hard. Since Owen heard the sound of the thunderstorm, she had become very afraid of everything.
The little turtle was afraid of the sound of small insects, and even afraid of seeing field mice, and also afraid of the blowing of gentle winds. Owen had indeed become afraid of everything. The turtle Owen kept remembering the day of the thunderstorm that had greatly disturbed her and made her afraid to come out of her shell again. So she remained at the bottom of the shell, not wanting to bring her head out again.
Turtle Owen refuses to learn to swim: Turtle Chandy, the older sister of turtle Owen, went to talk to her. Turtle Chandy said: “Come on Owen, we must go to the lake to learn to swim like all turtles, for they can swim in the water and also live on land.”
Turtle Owen replied: “I cannot learn to swim, for I am afraid of drowning.” Chandy said: “It is very simple, and there is no need to fear this matter, for it is not annoying like the sound of thunder.”
Owen replied: “No, I am afraid of drowning and I will not be able to swim.” Chandy said: “Owen, you must face fear and deal with the matter more smoothly, and do not let a single experience prevent you from the rest of life experiences. Also, there are no thunderstorms now, so why fear?”
Chandy talks about how to face fear: Chandy tried to convince her little sister Owen to face her fears and not let a small experience hinder her from enjoying her life. It is not good to live with feelings of fear all the time, so we fear trying good things that may be a cause of pleasure and entertainment for us.
Chandy continued to encourage the little turtle Owen, and even told her that she had participated in the Miss Turtle pageant and was striving to win this title. Chandy kept talking to turtle Owen until she motivated her to bring her head out of the shell and start living freely and enjoying.
Turtle Owen comes out of the shell: While turtle Chandy was talking to her younger sister, turtle Owen, another little turtle named Roxie came to ask about directions.
Roxie said: “I apologize for disturbing you both, but can anyone tell me where I can find Becky’s lake?” Owen brought out her hand and head from under the shell to describe the way for Roxie to go to the lake.
It was the first time for turtle Owen to come out from under her shell without feeling fear. Turtle Roxie thanked turtle Owen for providing help and told her that she hoped to see her again.
Owen looked at herself happily and said: “Look Chandy, I have come out of the shell and the thunderstorm will not strike me again. I will not surrender to fear again.”
Chandy teaches the squirrel a useful lesson: While turtle Owen was jumping happily, she heard the sound of trees moving strongly, so she hastened and jumped on the arm of her older sister Chandy, and hid again under the shell. But that sound was not actually a thunderstorm. Rather, there was a group of squirrels throwing stones at the trees to make a scary sound and laughing.
One of the squirrels came laughing and said to turtle Owen: “Are you really a turtle or a chicken?” Turtle Chandy shouted: “Do not mock my sister Owen, for feelings of fear exist within each of us.” The squirrel replied laughing: “But I have nothing to fear.” Turtle Chandy said: “How can you say that, when I saw you yesterday jumping quickly when you saw the cat chasing you?”
The squirrel was ashamed of his claim that he never fears, for the truth is that there is no creature on earth that does not fear, for they are natural feelings we face. The squirrel thanked turtle Chandy for teaching him a useful lesson, which is that fear is a natural feeling and we should not be ashamed to admit it, but we must learn to face it in the right way.
Turtle Owen rejoiced and became motivated to go to the lake to learn to swim with her sister turtle Chandy.
Moral of the story: To teach the child courage and facing fear.
Translated from the story: The Shell Shocked Turtle