Leo feels stuck trying to build a tall tower, but learns that using his words and finding a trusted grown-up can help him solve problems and feel proud.
Leo wanted to build the tallest, most amazing block tower ever. He stacked square blocks on round blocks. He balanced a triangle on top. "Almost there!" he whispered. He reached for one last block, way up high on the shelf. He stretched his arm... and stretched... but he just couldn't reach it. His tower wobbled, waiting. Leo looked at his hand, then at the block, then back at his hand. He felt a little stuck.
Leo thought hard. He could jump, but that might make his tower tumble! He could use a stool, but he didn't know where it was. He looked around the sunny playroom. His friend Sam was building a long train on the other side of the rug. Leo opened his mouth, but no sound came out. He felt a funny flutter in his tummy. What if Sam said no? What if Sam thought he was being silly for needing help? Leo closed his mouth and just stared at the block.
Then, Leo remembered something his mom always said: 'Your words are superpowers.' He took a big, brave breath. "Sam?" he said. His friend looked up. "Can you help me, please?" Leo asked, his voice a little squeaky. He pointed up to the high shelf. "I need that red block, but I can't reach it." Sam's face lit up with a smile. "Sure!" they said, and they hurried right over.
Sam was taller, but the block was still too high! "Oh no," said Leo. His tower seemed to sigh. But Sam had an idea. "Let's find a grown-up!" Sam said. Together, they walked out of the playroom, past the kitchen where they smelled cookies, and into the cozy living room. Mom was there, reading a book. Leo felt that flutter again, but he walked right up to her chair.
"Mom?" Leo said. She put her book down. "I'm building a tower," Leo explained, using his hands to show how tall. "And I need the red block from the high shelf. Sam and I tried, but we can't reach it. Can you help us, please?" He looked right into her kind eyes. Mom's smile was like sunshine. "Of course I can help!" she said. "Thank you for telling me what you need."
Mom followed Leo and Sam back to the playroom. She saw the wonderful, wobbly tower. "What a great tower!" she said. Leo beamed. Mom reached up to the high shelf—easy as pie!—and took down the perfect red block. She handed it carefully to Leo. "Here you go, builder," she said. The block felt just right in his hands.
Leo held his breath. This was the most important part. Gently, gently, he placed the red block right on the very top of his tower. He took his hands away slowly. The tower stood still and straight! It was the tallest, most amazing block tower ever. "You did it!" cheered Sam. Leo jumped up and down, his worries all gone.
Mom gave Leo a big hug. "I'm so proud of you for asking for help," she said. "You used your words, you pointed to show me, and you found me when you needed a grown-up. That was very clever." Leo hugged her back tightly. He felt warm and strong and very, very supported. His tower stood proudly behind them.
Later, Leo was drawing a picture of a spaceship. His green crayon rolled under the big couch. "Hmm," said Leo. He didn't feel stuck at all. He knew just what to do. He walked over to Mom, tapped her arm, and said, "Mom? Can you help me find my crayon, please?" Asking for help felt like another kind of superpower, one that made him feel brave and smart every single time.