Empowering Truths: I Can Do It

I Can Do It — And I Know When to Ask for Help

A story from The Human Equation Kids

Benny the Bunny woke up feeling brave.

“Today,” he said, puffing out his chest, “I’m going to do everything by myself!”

He brushed his teeth without help, picked out his favorite blue shirt with the carrots on it, and even poured his own cereal. Milk sloshed a little on the table, but he cleaned it up with a napkin and smiled. “Big bunnies clean up too,” he told himself.

But the real challenge was waiting for him on the porch: his sneakers.

Benny sat on the step, tongue poking out, ears flopping into his face, staring down at two untied laces.

“Loop, swoop, and… twist?” he muttered, trying to remember what Ellie the Elephant had shown him last week.

The laces had other plans. One bunny-ear loop flopped apart. The other got stuck under his paw. His nose wrinkled.

“I can do it! I don’t need any help!” Benny declared. He tugged harder, but the laces twisted into a stubborn knot.

He tried again. “Okay, loop around… no, wait… over and under?” His paws fumbled. The lace slipped. “Oh carrots,” he sighed. “Why won’t you work?”

One shoe was still untied. The other looked like spaghetti.

Just then, Ellie walked by carrying her backpack.

“Good morning, Benny! Need a hand?”

“Nope,” Benny said quickly, even though his ears drooped. “I can do it. I just need to try again.”

Ellie sat down beside him gently.

“You know,” she said, “trying by yourself is a really great thing. I’m proud of you for practicing. And sometimes, even when we try hard, it’s okay to ask for help.”

Benny looked at his sneakers. He remembered when Ellie helped him pour milk last week. “I can do it now,” he’d said then. This felt harder.

“I don’t want to give up,” he mumbled.

“Asking for help isn’t giving up,” Ellie smiled. “It’s choosing to learn. Want me to show you one more time?”

Benny nodded.

Ellie showed him slowly, guiding his paws gently through the steps. Benny tried again.

“Loop… swoop… and pull!”

The knot held. The loop looked like a real bunny ear!

“I did it!” Benny grinned.

“You sure did,” said Ellie. “All it took was a little try, and a little teamwork.”

Just then, Professor Paws walked up with his chart.

“I see teamwork at work,” he said cheerfully. He held up a poster titled: Try First, Ask Second.

The chart showed a bunny trying on his own, then smiling while learning with a friend.

“Being the boss of your own life means knowing what you can do, and knowing when to ask for help,” Professor Paws explained. “Every big skill starts with a little try. And every helper was once a learner.”

Benny beamed. “I like that. I’m a boss bunny!”

Ellie giggled. “The best kind of boss. One who learns.”

Later that afternoon, Benny showed Max and Sophie how to tie their shoes too. “I’m still learning,” he said, “but I can help a little.”

Ellie gave him a proud pat. “You’re becoming quite the teacher, Benny.”

Together, they hopped off toward their next adventure, sneakers tied tight, hearts full of pride.

Try First, Ask Second:
– Try something by yourself.
– If it’s too tricky, it’s okay to ask for help.
– Learning takes time, and teamwork helps us grow.