December 8, 2025 • 25 mins
Parker has always seen life like a puzzle—scattered thoughts and feelings waiting to be
sorted into neat little piles. But when an unexpected emotion feels too big to fit, Parker
realizes not everything can be solved with logic alone. With a little creativity, courage, and
(of course) puzzles, she learns new ways to handle her biggest feelings.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
Cancil to paper sketching you art on this page. What
kind of journey will this drawing bring to life? Today?
Another adventure waits for you.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
A ro scout and Layla.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
My comment wong to It's imagination time and curiosity cold
Curiosity came. It's a magical place come true. Welcome to
(00:47):
Adventures of Curiosity.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
Cald Hello, and welcome back to season three of Adventures
of Curiosity Cove. It's meet Ella the Curious and whether
you're joining us for the first time or coming back
for more adventures, I'm so thrilled to have you here.
(01:14):
This season, we'll dive into brand new adventures from my treehouse.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
Think cozy beanbags, bluffy.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
Pillows, and of course my favorite stuffy row right by
my side.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
It's peaceful, almost like.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
My mom just used her relaxing dream spread, perfect for
story time.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
So what are we waiting for? Let's dive in Parker's puzzle.
Speaker 4 (01:39):
Parker was a true introvert. Now what's an introvert you ask, Well,
in my opinion, it's someone whose brain batteries get charged
up by being alone, maybe reading a book, drawing, daydreaming,
or just laying on the floor staring at the ceiling.
No judgment. Now let's talk extroverts. They're the ones who
(02:01):
get their energy from being around people, talking, laughing, telling stories,
maybe dancing in the kitchen for no reason at all. Again,
no judgment. But here's the twist. Just because you're an
introvert doesn't mean you don't like people, and being an
extrovert doesn't mean you don't enjoy a little peace and quiet.
(02:23):
It's kind of like an ice cream sunday. Some of
us are chocolate, some are vanilla, and some are a
wild swirl of both with nuts sprinkled all on top.
We're all built differently, and that's what makes the world
such a fun, weird, beautiful place. What else made Parker unique?
I'm so glad you asked. Well. Her bread and butter,
(02:46):
her peanut butter and jelly, her egg sandwich with mayonnaise,
her chocolate milkshake with French fries was puzzles. She loved
a good puzzle. What kind of puzzles you ask, The
chalkboard kind with a gazillion little pieces that somehow all
fit together to make one big picture. There was just
(03:09):
something magical about sitting alone with her thoughts. It was
like sitting down with all the different parts of herself.
When she worked on a puzzle, it was like she
was gently sorting through her own mind, clicking each thought
into place piece by piece. And when a puzzle got tricky,
no biggie. She believed there was always a perfect piece
(03:31):
for every perfect spot. And that's how Parker saw the
whole world a puzzle waiting to be put together, a
little messy sometimes, but always full of possibility. One rainy afternoon,
Parker was working on a one thousand piece puzzle of
a jungle scene. Bright parrots, twisty vines, sleepy tigers, and
(03:54):
one sneaky monkey wearing sunglasses. She had most of the
border finished and the parrots all lined up, but there
was one piece that just didn't fit anywhere. It had
a smudge of green, a splash of blue, and what
looked like a banana peel. Hmmm, Parker said, tapping her chin, you're.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
A weirdo piece. I like that about you.
Speaker 4 (04:19):
She flipped it, turned it, even held it up to
the light like a gem. Then she did something most
people wouldn't think to do. She looked at the back
of the puzzle box, not the front picture, but the back.
There in tiny print was a clue.
Speaker 3 (04:38):
The monkey hides behind the tiger's tail.
Speaker 4 (04:42):
Parker grinned. Of course, she found the tiger's tail, slid
the weird little piece right into the shadowy jungle, and
perfect fit, she smiled to herself.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
Sometimes the answers hiding in plain sight, or you know,
behind a tiger's butt.
Speaker 4 (05:04):
But puzzles weren't just cardboard and corners and jungle monkeys
to Parker. Before this, she always thought puzzles were something
only grandma's and grandpa's did, something that smelled like peppermint
and old books. But here's how Parker fell in love
with puzzles. When Parker was seven, she found out she
(05:25):
was going to be a big sister, and oh boy,
that was a whole new kind of puzzle. She felt joy, excitement, nervousness, curiosity, fear,
and anger. Wait anger. Why would she feel angry about
(05:46):
getting a baby's sibling? She didn't know, and not knowing
made her even angrier. Yep, she was angry about being angry.
Have you ever felt like that? Like you're mad, and
then you're mad that you're mad? Like how dare that
tricky little feeling sneak into your body? Especially during what's
(06:08):
supposed to be a happy time. Well, Parker eventually learned
something important. Sometimes anger just wants to be heard, and
trying to squish it down only makes it louder. She
started thinking of her feelings like puzzle pieces too, joy, fear, love, anger.
(06:30):
They all had their place, Some fit easily, some took
a little while, but in the end they were all
part of the picture.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
I should be excited about getting a baby, brother or sister,
Parker huffed, But that means I have to share all
my toys in my room, and worse, mom and Dad.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
I already don't get enough time with Mom.
Speaker 4 (06:59):
She crossed her arms and flopped onto the bed.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
Maybe if it's a brother, I'll hang out with Dad
Moore and I'll get Mom to myself and then.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
We can switch.
Speaker 4 (07:10):
Maybe, she groaned.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
Ugh, babies are a lot of work. Why is this
happening now? Life was going so well well, aside from
Dad yelling sometimes and Mom always telling me what to wear. Still,
why now?
Speaker 4 (07:31):
Parker was really struggling with the news. But here's the thing.
It's often in our hardest moments that we uncover the
most beautiful parts of ourselves. If we're open to it,
and in the middle of all that confusion, frustration, and
messy feeling stuff, Parker discovered puzzles. It was a rainy Saturday,
(07:55):
and Parker's mom was about the burst. She had been
carrying the baby for nine whole months. That's how long
a baby usually grows inside a mother before it's ready
to be born. Sometimes it's a little longer, sometimes shorter.
And that also meant one big thing. Time was almost up.
(08:18):
Time was almost up for Parker, having mom and dad
all to herself, she was already mad. It was raining,
she couldn't go outside, she was mad about the baby,
and now her parents were saying, do something to stimulate
your mind before cartoons.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
Stimulate your mind. What does that even mean?
Speaker 4 (08:39):
Parker stomped off downstairs in a fury. She didn't want
to draw, or read, or build, or talk or even think.
She stared at her bookshelf fuming, and then she saw it.
A puzzle box with the most beautiful picture she had
ever seen, a golden field with deer, rabbits and birds.
(09:02):
A gentle stream curved through the side of the picture,
and next to it stood a big red Norria. Anoria
is a huge water wheel with buckets on it. As
the river turns the wheel, it lifts water up and
pours it into a channel at the top, moving water
(09:22):
uphill without using electricity. Cool right, Parker imagined herself sitting
in that field, the sound of the stream, the quiet
of the animals, the breeze, and the grass. Before she
even realized what she was doing, she was carrying the
puzzle to the kitchen table. She stayed there for hours,
(09:44):
sorting pieces, fitting edges, looking closely, trying again. The world
around her started to fade piece by piece. She felt
calmer and calmer, like each little click of cardboard was
a breath of peace, and before she knew it, her fear,
(10:05):
her anger, that heavy, awful feeling about the baby gone.
She was more than halfway through the puzzle when her
stomach gave a loud growl. She blinked. She felt like
she had just returned from a long, peaceful vacation in
that golden field. She looked around the kitchen. Mom was
(10:28):
folding laundry, Dad was in the garage. Everything was the same,
except she felt different. She thought about why the angry
feelings had left her, but deep down she knew they
weren't worth chasing anymore. They had been sorted like the
puzzle pieces, and now they were exactly where they belong.
(10:50):
That night, at dinner, her parents asked what inspired her
to start the puzzle.
Speaker 3 (10:54):
Well, I haven't told you, guys, but I've been really
scared about having a sibling.
Speaker 2 (11:01):
I don't want to lose you, Mom or you Dad.
Speaker 3 (11:07):
I know you're going to be giving the baby a
lot of attention. Well, honey, wait, I'm not done. I
was also upset that it was raining, and it made
me mad about everything. That's when I found your puzzle, Mom,
and I just wanted to be there in the picture.
Before I even knew what was happening, I started putting
(11:30):
it together. The funny thing is I don't feel angry anymore,
and I don't feel scared to have a brother or
sister either. Maybe you were able to put your thoughts
together like the pieces of the puzzle, Parker.
Speaker 2 (11:45):
I thought so too.
Speaker 3 (11:46):
But the weird part is I wasn't thinking about the
baby at all.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
I was only thinking about the puzzle.
Speaker 4 (11:55):
Well maybe subconsciously, Like Mom said, you were sorting it
out without even realizing it. Sometimes when I work on
the car downstairs, I get so into it that I
forget all my worries and when I come back inside,
I'm in the bestest mood, bestest.
Speaker 2 (12:13):
Yeah, that's exactly how I felt. Do you think we
can get some more puzzles?
Speaker 3 (12:18):
Mom?
Speaker 2 (12:19):
Sure, sweetie.
Speaker 4 (12:20):
And that's when it all began Parker's puzzling obsession. It
was like a magical power Parker never knew she had.
Anytime she felt anxious, puzzle, anytime she felt sad, puzzle,
anytime she felt angry. Puzz well, actually, first she needed
to beat up her wrestling dummy, mister Incredible, then puzzle.
(12:47):
Once Parker realized puzzles helped calm and organize her thoughts,
she started discovering other ways to deal with her big,
twisty feelings too, like when she got the zumies. You
do know what the zumies are, right? You probably thought
only dogs got them, but nope, zoomies can happen to anyone,
even grown ups. It's when you're just hanging out and
(13:10):
then boom, you get a wild burst of energy out
of nowhere, and you simply cannot sit still one more second.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
You've got to move.
Speaker 4 (13:19):
When Parker got the zoomies, she would dash outside and
pretend to be an airplane or a cheetah or an
airplane cheetah hybrid doing a loop the loops around the yard.
She also discovered a new love, indoor cycling. It all
started one day when she saw her mom on the
indoor bike, headphones in, pedaling like a superhero and yelling
(13:43):
things like.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
Let's go, who's the boss?
Speaker 4 (13:48):
A wand the boss?
Speaker 2 (13:52):
Yeah, let's go.
Speaker 4 (13:54):
Parker blinked, that looks fun, and right as her mom
stepped off the bike, there was Parker already standing next
to it.
Speaker 2 (14:04):
Hey, Ann, what's up? Can I try? Oh? Sure?
Speaker 3 (14:12):
Let me adjust the seat and set you up with
a class country pop or classic rock.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
Classic rock? Please, okay here, just clip in right here.
Speaker 4 (14:24):
Parker velcroed her shoes and clicked them into the pedals.
She popped on the headphones, and off she went fifteen
minutes of exhilarating fun. Her mom wasn't kidding when she
was yelling and panting. It was really tough, but pushing through,
Parker found this was yet another amazing way to clear
(14:44):
her anxious thoughts. She was discovering all these fun ways
to blow off steam. One made her exhausted, another made
her calm, and yet another made her excited and rambunctious.
She loved exploring all the these new ways to stimulate
her mind and her body. And now she felt ready,
(15:06):
ready to have a brother or a sister. And I'm
very happy to tell you that when that baby was born,
Parker was so overwhelmed with excitement that all the jitters
about being a big sister seemed to disappear. She couldn't
believe she was watching life unfold right before her eyes.
(15:28):
Parker ended up being the most amazing sister to her
little brother. She helped with diapers, formulas, baths, playtime, feeding everything.
But just like her parents, she quickly became exhausted. After all,
she was only eight years old, so she took a
break from baby duties for a while. It felt great
(15:51):
to have her own space. She played with her own
toys instead of baby toys. She played outside, she listened
to music in her room, and she got back to
reading her chapter books. This break made her feel like
she could finally breathe again. One day, Parker called her
mom to play kids, a made up game where Parker
(16:13):
pretends to be the parent and Mom played the kid.
But Mom replied.
Speaker 3 (16:19):
Parker I'm playing baby all day, every day. I have
nothing left in me. Do you wanna help me get
your brother's lunch ready? He's about to wake up from
his nap.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
No, thank you? What happened to my little helper mom?
I'm only eight.
Speaker 3 (16:36):
I can't help raise a baby for the rest of
my life. Oh, I'm sorry you feel that way. Where
do you think all of this frustration is coming from.
Speaker 2 (16:46):
I'm not frustrated. I'm just telling you the truth.
Speaker 4 (16:50):
Then Parker stormed off to her room. Mom was a
little hurt and wasn't sure whether she should go talk
to Parker when the baby started crying and she had
to rush to take care of them. Inside Parker's room,
she paced back and forth, clearly furious. As she paces,
she talked to her stuffed bunny, Cheddar.
Speaker 2 (17:10):
It's just not fair, Cheddar.
Speaker 3 (17:12):
I've helped mom for like a gazillion days with the baby,
and I asked her to play kids with me for
like twenty minutes and she couldn't.
Speaker 2 (17:20):
It's like the only.
Speaker 3 (17:21):
Time she hangs out with me is when I'm helping
with the baby, and I'm so tired of helping. I
just want someone on one time with Mom.
Speaker 1 (17:33):
Dad, Dad, Dad.
Speaker 4 (17:38):
Just then, Parker's dad came bustling into the room.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
Youah, babe, what are you doing?
Speaker 4 (17:44):
Are you okay?
Speaker 2 (17:45):
Yeah? What are you doing?
Speaker 4 (17:47):
I'm in the middle of a work call.
Speaker 2 (17:49):
Can you hang up and play a video game with me?
Speaker 4 (17:52):
No, honey, I can't. What's going on.
Speaker 3 (17:54):
Mom won't play kids with me because she's always with
the baby and you're always busy with It's just not fair, Parker.
Speaker 4 (18:04):
I love you so much, and I'm gonna tell you
something tough to hear before I get back on my call.
Sometimes you're gonna be left alone with your feelings. It
might feel like life isn't fair or like no one
has time for you, and that really hurts. I know.
But I promise you this, If you find even one
(18:24):
small thing that brings you peace or makes you feel
a little lighter, that heavy feeling will pass faster than
you think. I'm sorry you have to sit with this
right now, but this is part of growing up, as
hard as it is, and while you might feel alone
in this moment, you're not alone in the big picture.
I will absolutely be there tonight when I'm done with work,
(18:46):
ready to listen to anything and everything you need. To say,
that's a promise. Dad walked up to Parker, picked her up,
gave her a big squeeze, and kissed her on the cheek.
I love you more than you'll ever know, and I'm
so proud of you for being so mature. I know
this is a tough time, but it won't last forever.
(19:07):
With that, he left the room. It wasn't what Parker
wanted to hear, but it was what she needed. Still,
it didn't stop her from taking that ball of frustration
and beating up on mister Incredible. She punched him on
the floor over and over and over and so she
noticed mister Incredible just kept staring at her and smiling.
(19:28):
This made Parker laugh. She picked him up and threw
him at the wall, making a big sound for him.
That made her laugh even more. Then she looked at
cheddar Dad's.
Speaker 3 (19:40):
Right, his words mixed with mister Incredible's amazing ability to
take a beating from my fists of fury. I feel
a lot more calm now. And speaking of calm, my buzzle.
I've been wanting to put this thing together forever.
Speaker 4 (20:00):
Parker opened her closet and found her new puzzle. It
was a picture of kittens floating in some mysterious galaxy,
wearing space helmets and sunglasses. She dumped the pieces onto
her table and got to work. Over an hour passed,
she switched back and forth between her puzzle and her book.
She completely forgot about her frustration with Mom, but she
(20:22):
remembered Dad's words, sometimes you're going to be left alone
with your feelings. Parker thought about how huge her anger
and frustration had felt just an hour ago.
Speaker 2 (20:35):
Jetter, I was such a mess a little while ago.
Speaker 3 (20:39):
I was so angry, and I thought I'd feel that
way forever. Well maybe not forever, but I really thought
i'd never get over it. Wait, where's mister incredible?
Speaker 4 (20:50):
Parker found mister incredible crumpled against the wall, folded so
his face was tucked into his shoes. She gently picked
him up and looked him right in the face.
Speaker 3 (21:00):
Incredible, Thank you for being so incredible. There's nobody who
can take a punch in the face and keep smiling
like you do. Thanks for absorbing all my frustration.
Speaker 4 (21:11):
Mister Incredible just kept smiling that wonderfully stubborn smile at
her like nothing could ever stop him.
Speaker 3 (21:18):
So like I was saying, cheddar after I hit mister
incredible and got some frustration out.
Speaker 2 (21:26):
I started puzzling, and I feel so much better. I
did this all.
Speaker 3 (21:33):
Myself, Cheddar again. Dad was right. I can get through
my feelings on my own.
Speaker 4 (21:40):
Just then, Parker's mom popped her head into the room.
Speaker 3 (21:44):
I Love, I'm so sorry I couldn't play kids with
you today. This little baby is really wearing me out.
Speaker 2 (21:52):
He just peed on me.
Speaker 3 (21:53):
I was changing his diaper and then the waterworks started.
Oh no, Mom, let me help you all good. I
already took care of it. Your brother's out in the
living room bouncing away. I was just wondering if you
wanted to come join us. I miss hanging out with you.
Speaker 2 (22:11):
Oh really, Mama.
Speaker 3 (22:14):
Really, I miss you a lot. You're my first baby
and nothing will ever change that.
Speaker 4 (22:21):
Parker jumped at the chance to hang out with her mom.
They spent the rest of the evening laughing and playing
with the baby. Parker read at least ten baby books
to her little brother while Mom was able to close
her eyes for a few minutes. When Mom finally woke up,
she got down on the floor with Parker and her brother.
Speaker 3 (22:39):
Parker, I am so lucky to have you. I couldn't
raise this little guy without you, and your reading was
so soothing it put me right to sleep. And your
brother didn't make a peep the entire time. Thank you
for being you, park.
Speaker 4 (22:56):
Parker was learning so much from having a baby brother.
She discovered that sometimes you have to think about others
instead of only focusing on your own needs. But she
also learned that if she spends all her time trying
to please or help others, it leaves her feeling worn out,
often leading to wild outbursts and poor mister Incredible getting
(23:19):
the brunt of it. She realized there's a balance to everything.
That's the thing about growing up. It's not about having
it all figured out. It's about figuring out yourself one
puzzle piece at a time. And lucky for Parker, she
loved puzzles the end.
Speaker 3 (23:39):
For now, I completely understand Parker and all her scattered
thoughts and feelings. Sometimes handling your emotions can feel overwhelming,
but I believe in you.
Speaker 2 (23:52):
You got this.
Speaker 3 (23:54):
I hope you enjoyed our podcast story as much as
I did today.
Speaker 2 (23:58):
Boy was I come feeding codes all tuned in.
Speaker 3 (24:01):
If you loved what you listened to, please leave us
a five star review. But only if you really mean it.
We love hearing your feedback. It helps us grow so
we can continue to bring stories to you In all
our curious listeners, you never know you might even get
a shout out from me here in the Cove. I'd
like to give a shout out to Brooks, Aristotle, and Langston.
(24:24):
I heard your big fans of Ella the Curious, and
I'm a big fan of you guys. Thanks for listening.
All right, I need a snack, so I'm headed back home.
Until next time, friends, we never say goodbye. It's always
see you later. Adventures of Curiosity Cove was created by
(24:44):
Tika Sumter and Nicholas Muscarella. Written by Nicholas James Muscarella.
Adventures of Curiosity Coves theme song was written and composed
by Matty Limb and sung by Laura Saraphine. Engineered by
Robert Ultruler, sound effects by Command Creative Studios. All of
(25:05):
the Curious is an original story series created by Tika Sumter.
Speaker 1 (25:09):
At Curiosity Cove. Curiosity Cove Gets some magical Place. Come Trup,
Welcome to Adventures Up Curiosity cal
Speaker 3 (25:36):
This is a Fort Sumter production.
Cancil to paper sketching you art on this page. What
kind of journey will this drawing bring to life? Today?
Another adventure waits for you.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
A ro scout and Layla.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
My comment wong to It's imagination time and curiosity cold
Curiosity came. It's a magical place come true. Welcome to
(00:47):
Adventures of Curiosity.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
Cald Hello, and welcome back to season three of Adventures
of Curiosity Cove. It's meet Ella the Curious and whether
you're joining us for the first time or coming back
for more adventures, I'm so thrilled to have you here.
(01:14):
This season, we'll dive into brand new adventures from my treehouse.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
Think cozy beanbags, bluffy.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
Pillows, and of course my favorite stuffy row right by
my side.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
It's peaceful, almost like.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
My mom just used her relaxing dream spread, perfect for
story time.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
So what are we waiting for? Let's dive in Parker's puzzle.
Speaker 4 (01:39):
Parker was a true introvert. Now what's an introvert you ask, Well,
in my opinion, it's someone whose brain batteries get charged
up by being alone, maybe reading a book, drawing, daydreaming,
or just laying on the floor staring at the ceiling.
No judgment. Now let's talk extroverts. They're the ones who
(02:01):
get their energy from being around people, talking, laughing, telling stories,
maybe dancing in the kitchen for no reason at all. Again,
no judgment. But here's the twist. Just because you're an
introvert doesn't mean you don't like people, and being an
extrovert doesn't mean you don't enjoy a little peace and quiet.
(02:23):
It's kind of like an ice cream sunday. Some of
us are chocolate, some are vanilla, and some are a
wild swirl of both with nuts sprinkled all on top.
We're all built differently, and that's what makes the world
such a fun, weird, beautiful place. What else made Parker unique?
I'm so glad you asked. Well. Her bread and butter,
(02:46):
her peanut butter and jelly, her egg sandwich with mayonnaise,
her chocolate milkshake with French fries was puzzles. She loved
a good puzzle. What kind of puzzles you ask, The
chalkboard kind with a gazillion little pieces that somehow all
fit together to make one big picture. There was just
(03:09):
something magical about sitting alone with her thoughts. It was
like sitting down with all the different parts of herself.
When she worked on a puzzle, it was like she
was gently sorting through her own mind, clicking each thought
into place piece by piece. And when a puzzle got tricky,
no biggie. She believed there was always a perfect piece
(03:31):
for every perfect spot. And that's how Parker saw the
whole world a puzzle waiting to be put together, a
little messy sometimes, but always full of possibility. One rainy afternoon,
Parker was working on a one thousand piece puzzle of
a jungle scene. Bright parrots, twisty vines, sleepy tigers, and
(03:54):
one sneaky monkey wearing sunglasses. She had most of the
border finished and the parrots all lined up, but there
was one piece that just didn't fit anywhere. It had
a smudge of green, a splash of blue, and what
looked like a banana peel. Hmmm, Parker said, tapping her chin, you're.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
A weirdo piece. I like that about you.
Speaker 4 (04:19):
She flipped it, turned it, even held it up to
the light like a gem. Then she did something most
people wouldn't think to do. She looked at the back
of the puzzle box, not the front picture, but the back.
There in tiny print was a clue.
Speaker 3 (04:38):
The monkey hides behind the tiger's tail.
Speaker 4 (04:42):
Parker grinned. Of course, she found the tiger's tail, slid
the weird little piece right into the shadowy jungle, and
perfect fit, she smiled to herself.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
Sometimes the answers hiding in plain sight, or you know,
behind a tiger's butt.
Speaker 4 (05:04):
But puzzles weren't just cardboard and corners and jungle monkeys
to Parker. Before this, she always thought puzzles were something
only grandma's and grandpa's did, something that smelled like peppermint
and old books. But here's how Parker fell in love
with puzzles. When Parker was seven, she found out she
(05:25):
was going to be a big sister, and oh boy,
that was a whole new kind of puzzle. She felt joy, excitement, nervousness, curiosity, fear,
and anger. Wait anger. Why would she feel angry about
(05:46):
getting a baby's sibling? She didn't know, and not knowing
made her even angrier. Yep, she was angry about being angry.
Have you ever felt like that? Like you're mad, and
then you're mad that you're mad? Like how dare that
tricky little feeling sneak into your body? Especially during what's
(06:08):
supposed to be a happy time. Well, Parker eventually learned
something important. Sometimes anger just wants to be heard, and
trying to squish it down only makes it louder. She
started thinking of her feelings like puzzle pieces too, joy, fear, love, anger.
(06:30):
They all had their place, Some fit easily, some took
a little while, but in the end they were all
part of the picture.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
I should be excited about getting a baby, brother or sister,
Parker huffed, But that means I have to share all
my toys in my room, and worse, mom and Dad.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
I already don't get enough time with Mom.
Speaker 4 (06:59):
She crossed her arms and flopped onto the bed.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
Maybe if it's a brother, I'll hang out with Dad
Moore and I'll get Mom to myself and then.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
We can switch.
Speaker 4 (07:10):
Maybe, she groaned.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
Ugh, babies are a lot of work. Why is this
happening now? Life was going so well well, aside from
Dad yelling sometimes and Mom always telling me what to wear. Still,
why now?
Speaker 4 (07:31):
Parker was really struggling with the news. But here's the thing.
It's often in our hardest moments that we uncover the
most beautiful parts of ourselves. If we're open to it,
and in the middle of all that confusion, frustration, and
messy feeling stuff, Parker discovered puzzles. It was a rainy Saturday,
(07:55):
and Parker's mom was about the burst. She had been
carrying the baby for nine whole months. That's how long
a baby usually grows inside a mother before it's ready
to be born. Sometimes it's a little longer, sometimes shorter.
And that also meant one big thing. Time was almost up.
(08:18):
Time was almost up for Parker, having mom and dad
all to herself, she was already mad. It was raining,
she couldn't go outside, she was mad about the baby,
and now her parents were saying, do something to stimulate
your mind before cartoons.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
Stimulate your mind. What does that even mean?
Speaker 4 (08:39):
Parker stomped off downstairs in a fury. She didn't want
to draw, or read, or build, or talk or even think.
She stared at her bookshelf fuming, and then she saw it.
A puzzle box with the most beautiful picture she had
ever seen, a golden field with deer, rabbits and birds.
(09:02):
A gentle stream curved through the side of the picture,
and next to it stood a big red Norria. Anoria
is a huge water wheel with buckets on it. As
the river turns the wheel, it lifts water up and
pours it into a channel at the top, moving water
(09:22):
uphill without using electricity. Cool right, Parker imagined herself sitting
in that field, the sound of the stream, the quiet
of the animals, the breeze, and the grass. Before she
even realized what she was doing, she was carrying the
puzzle to the kitchen table. She stayed there for hours,
(09:44):
sorting pieces, fitting edges, looking closely, trying again. The world
around her started to fade piece by piece. She felt
calmer and calmer, like each little click of cardboard was
a breath of peace, and before she knew it, her fear,
(10:05):
her anger, that heavy, awful feeling about the baby gone.
She was more than halfway through the puzzle when her
stomach gave a loud growl. She blinked. She felt like
she had just returned from a long, peaceful vacation in
that golden field. She looked around the kitchen. Mom was
(10:28):
folding laundry, Dad was in the garage. Everything was the same,
except she felt different. She thought about why the angry
feelings had left her, but deep down she knew they
weren't worth chasing anymore. They had been sorted like the
puzzle pieces, and now they were exactly where they belong.
(10:50):
That night, at dinner, her parents asked what inspired her
to start the puzzle.
Speaker 3 (10:54):
Well, I haven't told you, guys, but I've been really
scared about having a sibling.
Speaker 2 (11:01):
I don't want to lose you, Mom or you Dad.
Speaker 3 (11:07):
I know you're going to be giving the baby a
lot of attention. Well, honey, wait, I'm not done. I
was also upset that it was raining, and it made
me mad about everything. That's when I found your puzzle, Mom,
and I just wanted to be there in the picture.
Before I even knew what was happening, I started putting
(11:30):
it together. The funny thing is I don't feel angry anymore,
and I don't feel scared to have a brother or
sister either. Maybe you were able to put your thoughts
together like the pieces of the puzzle, Parker.
Speaker 2 (11:45):
I thought so too.
Speaker 3 (11:46):
But the weird part is I wasn't thinking about the
baby at all.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
I was only thinking about the puzzle.
Speaker 4 (11:55):
Well maybe subconsciously, Like Mom said, you were sorting it
out without even realizing it. Sometimes when I work on
the car downstairs, I get so into it that I
forget all my worries and when I come back inside,
I'm in the bestest mood, bestest.
Speaker 2 (12:13):
Yeah, that's exactly how I felt. Do you think we
can get some more puzzles?
Speaker 3 (12:18):
Mom?
Speaker 2 (12:19):
Sure, sweetie.
Speaker 4 (12:20):
And that's when it all began Parker's puzzling obsession. It
was like a magical power Parker never knew she had.
Anytime she felt anxious, puzzle, anytime she felt sad, puzzle,
anytime she felt angry. Puzz well, actually, first she needed
to beat up her wrestling dummy, mister Incredible, then puzzle.
(12:47):
Once Parker realized puzzles helped calm and organize her thoughts,
she started discovering other ways to deal with her big,
twisty feelings too, like when she got the zumies. You
do know what the zumies are, right? You probably thought
only dogs got them, but nope, zoomies can happen to anyone,
even grown ups. It's when you're just hanging out and
(13:10):
then boom, you get a wild burst of energy out
of nowhere, and you simply cannot sit still one more second.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
You've got to move.
Speaker 4 (13:19):
When Parker got the zoomies, she would dash outside and
pretend to be an airplane or a cheetah or an
airplane cheetah hybrid doing a loop the loops around the yard.
She also discovered a new love, indoor cycling. It all
started one day when she saw her mom on the
indoor bike, headphones in, pedaling like a superhero and yelling
(13:43):
things like.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
Let's go, who's the boss?
Speaker 4 (13:48):
A wand the boss?
Speaker 2 (13:52):
Yeah, let's go.
Speaker 4 (13:54):
Parker blinked, that looks fun, and right as her mom
stepped off the bike, there was Parker already standing next
to it.
Speaker 2 (14:04):
Hey, Ann, what's up? Can I try? Oh? Sure?
Speaker 3 (14:12):
Let me adjust the seat and set you up with
a class country pop or classic rock.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
Classic rock? Please, okay here, just clip in right here.
Speaker 4 (14:24):
Parker velcroed her shoes and clicked them into the pedals.
She popped on the headphones, and off she went fifteen
minutes of exhilarating fun. Her mom wasn't kidding when she
was yelling and panting. It was really tough, but pushing through,
Parker found this was yet another amazing way to clear
(14:44):
her anxious thoughts. She was discovering all these fun ways
to blow off steam. One made her exhausted, another made
her calm, and yet another made her excited and rambunctious.
She loved exploring all the these new ways to stimulate
her mind and her body. And now she felt ready,
(15:06):
ready to have a brother or a sister. And I'm
very happy to tell you that when that baby was born,
Parker was so overwhelmed with excitement that all the jitters
about being a big sister seemed to disappear. She couldn't
believe she was watching life unfold right before her eyes.
(15:28):
Parker ended up being the most amazing sister to her
little brother. She helped with diapers, formulas, baths, playtime, feeding everything.
But just like her parents, she quickly became exhausted. After all,
she was only eight years old, so she took a
break from baby duties for a while. It felt great
(15:51):
to have her own space. She played with her own
toys instead of baby toys. She played outside, she listened
to music in her room, and she got back to
reading her chapter books. This break made her feel like
she could finally breathe again. One day, Parker called her
mom to play kids, a made up game where Parker
(16:13):
pretends to be the parent and Mom played the kid.
But Mom replied.
Speaker 3 (16:19):
Parker I'm playing baby all day, every day. I have
nothing left in me. Do you wanna help me get
your brother's lunch ready? He's about to wake up from
his nap.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
No, thank you? What happened to my little helper mom?
I'm only eight.
Speaker 3 (16:36):
I can't help raise a baby for the rest of
my life. Oh, I'm sorry you feel that way. Where
do you think all of this frustration is coming from.
Speaker 2 (16:46):
I'm not frustrated. I'm just telling you the truth.
Speaker 4 (16:50):
Then Parker stormed off to her room. Mom was a
little hurt and wasn't sure whether she should go talk
to Parker when the baby started crying and she had
to rush to take care of them. Inside Parker's room,
she paced back and forth, clearly furious. As she paces,
she talked to her stuffed bunny, Cheddar.
Speaker 2 (17:10):
It's just not fair, Cheddar.
Speaker 3 (17:12):
I've helped mom for like a gazillion days with the baby,
and I asked her to play kids with me for
like twenty minutes and she couldn't.
Speaker 2 (17:20):
It's like the only.
Speaker 3 (17:21):
Time she hangs out with me is when I'm helping
with the baby, and I'm so tired of helping. I
just want someone on one time with Mom.
Speaker 1 (17:33):
Dad, Dad, Dad.
Speaker 4 (17:38):
Just then, Parker's dad came bustling into the room.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
Youah, babe, what are you doing?
Speaker 4 (17:44):
Are you okay?
Speaker 2 (17:45):
Yeah? What are you doing?
Speaker 4 (17:47):
I'm in the middle of a work call.
Speaker 2 (17:49):
Can you hang up and play a video game with me?
Speaker 4 (17:52):
No, honey, I can't. What's going on.
Speaker 3 (17:54):
Mom won't play kids with me because she's always with
the baby and you're always busy with It's just not fair, Parker.
Speaker 4 (18:04):
I love you so much, and I'm gonna tell you
something tough to hear before I get back on my call.
Sometimes you're gonna be left alone with your feelings. It
might feel like life isn't fair or like no one
has time for you, and that really hurts. I know.
But I promise you this, If you find even one
(18:24):
small thing that brings you peace or makes you feel
a little lighter, that heavy feeling will pass faster than
you think. I'm sorry you have to sit with this
right now, but this is part of growing up, as
hard as it is, and while you might feel alone
in this moment, you're not alone in the big picture.
I will absolutely be there tonight when I'm done with work,
(18:46):
ready to listen to anything and everything you need. To say,
that's a promise. Dad walked up to Parker, picked her up,
gave her a big squeeze, and kissed her on the cheek.
I love you more than you'll ever know, and I'm
so proud of you for being so mature. I know
this is a tough time, but it won't last forever.
(19:07):
With that, he left the room. It wasn't what Parker
wanted to hear, but it was what she needed. Still,
it didn't stop her from taking that ball of frustration
and beating up on mister Incredible. She punched him on
the floor over and over and over and so she
noticed mister Incredible just kept staring at her and smiling.
(19:28):
This made Parker laugh. She picked him up and threw
him at the wall, making a big sound for him.
That made her laugh even more. Then she looked at
cheddar Dad's.
Speaker 3 (19:40):
Right, his words mixed with mister Incredible's amazing ability to
take a beating from my fists of fury. I feel
a lot more calm now. And speaking of calm, my buzzle.
I've been wanting to put this thing together forever.
Speaker 4 (20:00):
Parker opened her closet and found her new puzzle. It
was a picture of kittens floating in some mysterious galaxy,
wearing space helmets and sunglasses. She dumped the pieces onto
her table and got to work. Over an hour passed,
she switched back and forth between her puzzle and her book.
She completely forgot about her frustration with Mom, but she
(20:22):
remembered Dad's words, sometimes you're going to be left alone
with your feelings. Parker thought about how huge her anger
and frustration had felt just an hour ago.
Speaker 2 (20:35):
Jetter, I was such a mess a little while ago.
Speaker 3 (20:39):
I was so angry, and I thought I'd feel that
way forever. Well maybe not forever, but I really thought
i'd never get over it. Wait, where's mister incredible?
Speaker 4 (20:50):
Parker found mister incredible crumpled against the wall, folded so
his face was tucked into his shoes. She gently picked
him up and looked him right in the face.
Speaker 3 (21:00):
Incredible, Thank you for being so incredible. There's nobody who
can take a punch in the face and keep smiling
like you do. Thanks for absorbing all my frustration.
Speaker 4 (21:11):
Mister Incredible just kept smiling that wonderfully stubborn smile at
her like nothing could ever stop him.
Speaker 3 (21:18):
So like I was saying, cheddar after I hit mister
incredible and got some frustration out.
Speaker 2 (21:26):
I started puzzling, and I feel so much better. I
did this all.
Speaker 3 (21:33):
Myself, Cheddar again. Dad was right. I can get through
my feelings on my own.
Speaker 4 (21:40):
Just then, Parker's mom popped her head into the room.
Speaker 3 (21:44):
I Love, I'm so sorry I couldn't play kids with
you today. This little baby is really wearing me out.
Speaker 2 (21:52):
He just peed on me.
Speaker 3 (21:53):
I was changing his diaper and then the waterworks started.
Oh no, Mom, let me help you all good. I
already took care of it. Your brother's out in the
living room bouncing away. I was just wondering if you
wanted to come join us. I miss hanging out with you.
Speaker 2 (22:11):
Oh really, Mama.
Speaker 3 (22:14):
Really, I miss you a lot. You're my first baby
and nothing will ever change that.
Speaker 4 (22:21):
Parker jumped at the chance to hang out with her mom.
They spent the rest of the evening laughing and playing
with the baby. Parker read at least ten baby books
to her little brother while Mom was able to close
her eyes for a few minutes. When Mom finally woke up,
she got down on the floor with Parker and her brother.
Speaker 3 (22:39):
Parker, I am so lucky to have you. I couldn't
raise this little guy without you, and your reading was
so soothing it put me right to sleep. And your
brother didn't make a peep the entire time. Thank you
for being you, park.
Speaker 4 (22:56):
Parker was learning so much from having a baby brother.
She discovered that sometimes you have to think about others
instead of only focusing on your own needs. But she
also learned that if she spends all her time trying
to please or help others, it leaves her feeling worn out,
often leading to wild outbursts and poor mister Incredible getting
(23:19):
the brunt of it. She realized there's a balance to everything.
That's the thing about growing up. It's not about having
it all figured out. It's about figuring out yourself one
puzzle piece at a time. And lucky for Parker, she
loved puzzles the end.
Speaker 3 (23:39):
For now, I completely understand Parker and all her scattered
thoughts and feelings. Sometimes handling your emotions can feel overwhelming,
but I believe in you.
Speaker 2 (23:52):
You got this.
Speaker 3 (23:54):
I hope you enjoyed our podcast story as much as
I did today.
Speaker 2 (23:58):
Boy was I come feeding codes all tuned in.
Speaker 3 (24:01):
If you loved what you listened to, please leave us
a five star review. But only if you really mean it.
We love hearing your feedback. It helps us grow so
we can continue to bring stories to you In all
our curious listeners, you never know you might even get
a shout out from me here in the Cove. I'd
like to give a shout out to Brooks, Aristotle, and Langston.
(24:24):
I heard your big fans of Ella the Curious, and
I'm a big fan of you guys. Thanks for listening.
All right, I need a snack, so I'm headed back home.
Until next time, friends, we never say goodbye. It's always
see you later. Adventures of Curiosity Cove was created by
(24:44):
Tika Sumter and Nicholas Muscarella. Written by Nicholas James Muscarella.
Adventures of Curiosity Coves theme song was written and composed
by Matty Limb and sung by Laura Saraphine. Engineered by
Robert Ultruler, sound effects by Command Creative Studios. All of
(25:05):
the Curious is an original story series created by Tika Sumter.
Speaker 1 (25:09):
At Curiosity Cove. Curiosity Cove Gets some magical Place. Come Trup,
Welcome to Adventures Up Curiosity cal
Speaker 3 (25:36):
This is a Fort Sumter production.
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