Once Upon an Upset

Latest Episodes:

The Backside of the Moon Feb 23, 2022

Show notes

“One early winter morning, Emily’s mother was driving her to school, when Emily noticed the moon still up in the sky.
’Look at the moon, Mommy!’
’Wow, look at that. What a beautiful moon, honey.’
’I bet it must be cold up there.’
’Oh, I’m sure it is!’
’You think the moon ever gets cold, Mommy?’
’No, dear. The moon doesn’t get cold.’
’How do you know?’
’I just know, darling.’
’But did you ever ask the moon if she gets cold?’
’Yes, I did.’
’Did you really, Mommy?’”

— from 'The Backside of the Moon'

The story of a little girl who wanted to know if the moon was cold, and wouldn’t give up until she found out, even when all the grown-ups insisted her question was ridiculous.

(Suitable for all ages.)

The Backside of the Moon was written by Jessica Laurel Kane; music by Jerome Rossen at Freshmade Music.
New episodes every Wednesday!
For illustrations, episode transcripts, merchandise and more, visit www.onceuponanupset.com.

How To Find Your Anchor When You're Feeling Swept Away Feb 14, 2022

Show notes

“Once there was a girl who wanted to be a hairdresser. All growing up she would style her hair, her friends’ hair and even her grandmother’s hair. She had a gift for making people sparkle. She loved how they looked at themselves in the mirror when she was through, as if their best selves had emerged and were waving hello.”

—from 'How To Find Your Anchor When You're Feeling Swept Away’
When a girl becomes flooded by intrusive thoughts, a friend teaches her how to find an anchor.
(Suitable for tweens, teens and adults.)
How To Find Your Anchor When You're Feeling Swept Away was written by Jessica Laurel Kane; music by Jerome Rossen at Freshmade Music.
New episodes every Wednesday!
For illustrations, episode transcripts, merchandise and more, visit www.onceuponanupset.com.

The Anxious Little Seed Feb 09, 2022

Show notes

“Hello. I’m a flower. A beautiful, one-of-a-kind flower. If you saw me, you would have to stop and look. Even if you were running late, you would have to just look for at least a second. You might even want to snap a photo.”

— from 'The Anxious Little Seed'

The Anxious Little Seed is a story about one little seed in the garden who refuses to be happy, because she's too busy wanting to be a flower.

(Suitable for all ages.)

The Anxious Little Seed was written by Jessica Laurel Kane; music by Jerome Rossen at Freshmade Music.

New episodes every Wednesday!

For illustrations, episode transcripts, merchandise and more, visit www.onceuponanupset.com.

The Land Of I'm Better Than You Feb 02, 2022

Show notes

The Land Of I’m Better Than You is a poem about a boy who wants to be better than everyone else, until he realizes he’s made a mistake.
(Suitable for all ages.)
New episodes every Wednesday!
The Land Of I’m Better Than You was written by Jessica Laurel Kane; music by Jerome Rossen at Freshmade Music.
New episodes every Wednesday!
For illustrations, episode transcripts, children’s books and more, visit www.onceuponanupset.com.

Fact-Checking Your Fears Feb 02, 2022

Show notes

“I once knew a little boy who had a lot of fears. During the day, he wasn’t scared of much—he’d run around feeling pretty great—but once the sun set, his fears would wake up.” —from ‘Fact-Checking Your Fears’

Fact-Checking Your Fears is a conversation about understanding where our fears come from, and how to use our brains to decide if something is dangerous or not.

(Suitable for all ages.)

Fact-Checking Your Fearswas written by Jessica Laurel Kane; music by Jerome Rossen at Freshmade Music.

New episodes every Wednesday!

For illustrations, episode transcripts, merchandise and more, visit www.onceuponanupset.com.

No Joking About Choking Feb 02, 2022

Show notes

No Joking About Choking is a very short poem based on true events. For some odd reason, when I’m upset with my son, I often rhyme inadvertently.
(Suitable for all ages.)
New episodes every Wednesday!
No Joking About Choking was written by Jessica Laurel Kane; music by Jerome Rossen at Freshmade Music.
New episodes every Wednesday!
For illustrations, episode transcripts, children’s books and more, visit www.onceuponanupset.com.

Tip Tapping: A Meditation for Kids Jan 26, 2022

Show notes

Tip Tapping is a guided meditation for kids, that requires a bit of assistance from a grown-up.

It's a story I tell my son when he can’t sleep at night, when he’s scared or anxious or just has an abundance of maniacal energy.
There’s a lot of room for improvisation, but I’ve shared the framework along with a recording of the story, in case you’d like to try it out.
Basically, a grown-up tip-taps their fingers as if they’re little legs, on all the parts of the child’s body that the story mentions.
It can be silly and a lot of fun and it also helps to call my son’s attention back from all his video games and friends and other worldly stuff, and back into his body where he can feel like he’s home, safe and comfortable.

(Suitable for ages 2-10.)

Tip Tapping was written by Jessica Laurel Kane; music by Jerome Rossen at Freshmade Music.
New episodes every Wednesday!
For illustrations, episode transcripts, children’s books and more, visit www.onceuponanupset.com.

When My Child is Suffering From OCD Behavior: A Piece For Parents Jan 20, 2022

Show notes

“When my child is suffering from OCD behavior, one way I can help him is by helping myself first. By asking myself: Am I catastrophizing here? Am I afraid that my child’s behavior is not normal? That I have to fix it immediately? Am I in panic mode about his behavior and worrying about his future? ”

—from 'When My Child is Suffering From OCD Behavior: A Piece For Parents’

Some ideas for how parents can support themselves while their child is experiencing OCD Behavior.

(Suitable for adults.)

When My Child is Suffering From OCD Behavior was written by Jessica Laurel Kane; music by Jerome Rossen at Freshmade Music.
New episodes every Wednesday!
For illustrations, episode transcripts, children’s books and more, visit www.onceuponanupset.com.

Am I a Somebody: Two Stories Jan 13, 2022

Show notes

“I remember when I was 11, wanting to write a memoir. I had a stepmother at the time who laughed when I told her my plan. “Don’t you need to be somebody before you write one of those?”

—from ‘Am I a Somebody: Two Stories’

Two very short stories—one for adults and one for kids—about the importance of sharing the most authentic version of who we are, without shame, and without needing an invitation to do so.

(Suitable for tweens, teens and adults.)

Am I a Somebody: Two Stories was written by Jessica Laurel Kane; music by Jerome Rossen at Freshmade Music.

New episodes every Wednesday!
For illustrations, episode transcripts, children’s books and more, visit www.onceuponanupset.com.

The Butterfly Who Was Afraid to Fly Jan 12, 2022

Show notes

"Most of the time when you hear a story about a cocoon, there’s a caterpillar inside. But not this story. This story is about a cocoon that had a butterfly inside. A butterfly who was afraid to fly."
— from 'The Butterfly Who Was Afraid to Fly’
A terrified butterfly is forced out of her cocoon and into the world where she meets an unexpected friend who encourages her to fly.
(Suitable for all ages.)

The Butterfly Who Was Afraid to Fly was written by Jessica Laurel Kane; music by Jerome Rossen at Freshmade Music.
New episodes every Wednesday!
For illustrations, episode transcripts, children’s books and more, visit www.onceuponanupset.com.

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