Maya’s Notebook

A note from me

Hey — it’s Maya.

This week is a big one — maybe the most important thing Dr. Reyes ever taught me. It’s about the difference between what you feel and what you do.

Mad isn’t bad. Mad is information.

This week’s check-in

How big is your mad right now?

Mine’s a 2 today. Tap the number that matches yours.

Pick your number — there’s no wrong one.

Tool of the week — Feelings Are Allowed. Hurting Is Not.

When Zip shows up, two things are happening at once: the feeling (mad — hot hands, buzzing ears) and what you do about it. You can’t pick when Zip shows up. But what you do next? That part is always yours. Here’s the rule I live by:

“Feelings are allowed. Hurting is not.”

No hurting people, no hurting things, no hurting yourself — even when Zip really wants to drive. So when the mad is huge, do a not-hurting thing instead: stomp your feet, squeeze a pillow hard, scribble on scrap paper, run it out outside, or grab a tool from your Calm-Down Menu.

Feeling word of the week

furious

Furious is the biggest mad — when Zip is a 5 and really wants to drive. Here’s the thing: even furious is allowed. It’s a feeling, and feelings are okay. It’s only hurting that isn’t.

My friends, the feeling folk

This week, say hi to my friend Sam. Sam’s big feelings show up when life changes — a new house, a new class, a new routine. Sam’s feeling folk is a shuffling deck of cards named Riff. Dr. Reyes calls us all the feeling folk — because feelings aren’t enemies, they’re just feelings hanging out. Sam’s notebook is coming soon:

Your turn

Draw your feeling friend.

Draw two boxes. In the first, draw Zip when he’s huge and really wants to drive. In the second, draw the not-hurting thing you’d do instead.

Draw and color right on the screen — a grown-up can save the picture when it’s done. (No screen? Print this page and use paper.)