Dear Rexy,
I wonder why it gets so dark at night and why I hear noises in my house. Why do things seem scarier in the dark?
Thanks,
Ivan C.
Dear Ivan,
Our eyes need light to see clearly, so in the dark, our imagination fills in the blanks. Sometimes it fills them in with spooky stuff! Those noises are usually just your house settling, like when we stretch after a long day. A night light can help your brain feel calmer.
A cuddly pillow or stuffy helps me! Remember, being curious about spooky things is pretty brave. Being brave doesn’t mean that you never feel afraid. Being brave means that you can feel afraid and still be OK.
When I was a young T. rex and darkness came, I took some slow breaths and reminded myself that the sun was sleeping — and that I could feel afraid and still help myself feel safe. I wore soft pajamas with a pocket in front. I kept my favorite bravery stone in my pocket and let my brave feelings grow.
No “Nanny, nanny, boo-hoo” to you, Ivan. You are brave!
Thanks for writing to me.
Rexy
I cannot decide what to be for Halloween. Do you have any suggestions? I am in second grade, and I collect baseball cards. I was a baseball player last year.
Thanks,
Isabella R.
Dear Isabella,
What an important Halloween question! Since you were a baseball player last year and you collect baseball cards, I think you should try something new this Halloween.
First, let me tell you a little secret: Sometimes choosing is hard, especially when there are so many fun possibilities.
Your brain starts thinking, “What if I pick the wrong one? What if another costume is better? What if I can’t think of anything?” Before you know it, choosing a costume feels like a giant T. rex sitting on your brain! Roar!
So, here is my Rexy rule: You don’t have to come up with the perfect costume. You just need to decide on one that makes you happy!
How about dressing up as a baseball card come to life? You could get some help from your parents and make yourself a giant baseball card with your name, your favorite team and even your own baseball “stats.” Or you could be a dinosaur baseball player. There are many famous ones.
My favorite was Slugger Saurus. He was a shortstop on the Jurassic Giants. His nickname was Home Runasaurus. He had a .387 batting average, hit 612 home runs and was the fastest dinosaur around the bases, making it around in 4.2 seconds! Slugger Saurus once hit a baseball so far that scientists are still looking for it!
Remember, Isabella, sometimes the best ideas don’t pop into our heads right away. Give your brain some time to play, imagine and try new ideas. Have a fun Halloween!
Your friend,
Rexy
P.S. I am still trying to decide if I should be a T. rex, a baseball-playing T. rex or a T. rex dressed as a giant baseball card. This is very stressful!
My tooth is wiggly. Why am I nervous about losing my tooth? Have you ever lost a tooth? What if my tooth gets lost?
Fred D.
Dear Fred,
Oh, I remember the very first time I lost a tooth! I was nervous, too. I thought, “What if it hurts? What if there is lots of blood? What if my new tooth gets lost?” But guess what? Losing a tooth is one of those amazing things that happens when you are growing up, Fred.
When a baby tooth is ready to come out, your big, strong grown-up tooth underneath starts getting ready to take its place. The baby tooth becomes wiggle, wiggle, wiggle. Eventually, it falls out, and a new tooth grows in to fill its spot. When I lost my tooth, I looked at the little tooth in my hand and thought, “Wow, I just grew up a tiny bit.”
If you cannot find your tooth, just leave a picture of a tooth under your pillow, and the Tooth Fairy will understand. It happens all the time!
And yes, sometimes there is a little bit of blood. Don’t worry. Your gums have tiny blood vessels, just like the rest of your body. Usually, the bleeding stops quickly. Your body is very good at taking care of things like that. So, if you feel nervous, remember this: Being nervous does not mean something bad is going to happen. It just means something new is happening.
Take a deep Rexy breath. Breathe in like you are smelling freshly baked birthday cupcakes. Breathe out like you are blowing out a candle on your birthday cupcake! I was nervous once, too. If I could do it, you can do it! Your smile will be amazing.
Love,
Rexy
