Page 14 - Fable Summaries

Fable Summaries Book 4a
The Ugly Unicorn: (Peer Pressure/Self-Acceptance) Making fun of others, gossiping about others, shunning others are all “not nice behaviors”. Those who engage in these behaviors will learn that they will lead to a life as lonely as a Unicorn and their “victims” will see these “Unicorns” in a different light. “Unicorns” will have no power if we don’t participate in their “not nice behaviors”. Making ourselves feel more important, powerful and liked at the expense of others is a very typical childish behavior. But left unchanged it is recipe for unhappiness for the adult we become.
Mirror Mirror: (Choosing Friends/Self-Confidence) We all want our children to choose friends that will be a “good influence”. But do we ever consider the value of a friend that will “tell you the truth” even a “painful truth”. These may be the most important friends of all. Accepting the truth about ourselves and others is difficult and most of us avoid those who will always “Tell me the truth” and gravitate to those who will “Tell me what I want to hear”. Our unwillingness to accept the advice of a “Truthful Mirror” or be a “Truthful Mirror” is at the root of many of life’s problems.
Whispering Squirrels: (Manipulation/Self-Control) Allowing the behavior of others (whispering) to cause us to become angry or embarrassed gives them “control”. Teach your children to be like the third “Good Thinking” squirrel and “take control”. This story is as relevant to adults as to children. It is about our “innate” concern about looking foolish to “high status” peers. The third Squirrel experiences the same thoughts and emotions as the first two but holds them in check. She stiffened her resolve, does not get upset and makes a point of being nice to the “whisperers” so that she will have a “nice day”.
Whoos A. Fraid: (Anxiety/Self-Control) Unrealistic fearfulness is a self-generated emotion and as such can be controlled. Your children will see how the problems of the fable are caused by unrealistic fearfulness. This story is about the negative and limiting effects of irrational (though typical) fears. There are “Good” fears and there are “Stinky” fears. Unfortunately, many of us can’t tell the difference.