There was once a little girl who was five years old who always wore long, curly-whirly pigtails. Her name was Poppy.

She lived in a small house in a town called River Run with her mummy, daddy, two year old brother Jax and goldfish, Spot.

Poppy’s nickname was Poppy Pickles because she LOVED to eat green pickles from everybody's hamburgers!

Poppy and Jax had one auntie, two uncles and five cousins! They lived far away but always got together for special family days. 

Poppy’s daddy’s parents lived in the city too and were a little bit old so she didn’t get to see them very much. They were Italian and Poppy and Jax called them Nonna and Papa. Nonna and Papa had a funny way of talking that Poppy liked very much. They laughed a lot and Nonna also made yummy food when she visited.

Poppy’s other grandpa - her mummy’s daddy, was very sick before Poppy was born and went to Heaven. Poppy’s mummy’s mummy – Nanny Jo, lived in the same small town as Poppy and her family. Nanny Jo’s visits were always fun and sometimes she even had sleepovers over when Mummy and Daddy went out for the night.

One day Nanny Jo showed Poppy and Jax how to make pancakes. It was a little bit hard but also lots of fun. They got flour everywhere! Nanny Jo even had flour on the very tip of her nose. Poppy even flipped one in the pan and caught it! The pancakes were very, very, VERY yummy.

Poppy and Jax loved Nanny Jo’s visits. She always played with them both and gave them lots of cuddles. Sometimes they would go to the park and sometimes they would push Jax in his stroller to the end of their street and feed apples to the horses in the paddock.

Because Poppy was five years old Nanny Jo had known Poppy even longer than Jax. Poppy and Nanny Jo were very close and Nanny Jo would often tell Poppy that she was the best granddaughter in the whole world.

One day Nanny Jo stopped visiting. Poppy asked her daddy if they were going to see Nanny Jo soon. Daddy told her that Nanny Jo was a little sick so they wouldn’t see her for awhile.

A few weeks went by and both Poppy and Jax really missed Nanny Jo. 

Jax wanted to make Nanny some pancakes and bring them to her to help her feel better.

Poppy asked her mummy if Nanny Jo was feeling better. Mummy said no, that Nanny was still very sick.

Mummy sat both Poppy and Jax on the sofa and pulled them in close for a cuddle. She told them that Nanny Jo was a different sort of unwell and they wouldn’t be able see her for a long time.

Both Poppy and Jax were a little bit confused and also sad.

Poppy wondered, if Nanny Jo was sick wouldn’t it be better for them to visit and take care of her the way she took care of them when they didn’t feel good?

Poppy wanted to tell her mummy this but was worried it might upset her so she kept her feelings inside. She bottled them right up.

This made Poppy feel even sadder and also made her worry more.

A few months later and it was Jax’s birthday. He turned three years old and had a little party.

When everyone sang Happy Birthday and Jax blew out the candles on his cake, Poppy looked around. She saw her mummy and daddy, Jax, Spot and all her aunties, uncles and cousins and a few of Jax’s friends. Even Nonna and Papa were there.

But Nanny Jo was not.

Poppy felt very, VERY sad. She ran into her bedroom and pulled out Emma-girl, the cute dolly with blonde hair and a purple dress that Nanny had given her for Christmas. She brushed Emma-girl’s hair the way Nanny had shown her. Poppy felt even sadder and started to cry a little bit. She hugged Emma-girl very tightly.

Just then, Poppy’s mummy came into the room. She closed the door softly and sat down on the floor with Poppy.

“What’s wrong, Poppy Pickles?” asked Mummy as she pulled Poppy on to her lap.

Poppy burst into tears. “I miss Nanny Jo so much. Please mummy, can we visit Nanny Jo?” Mummy looked very sad too. Poppy thought her mummy might even cry. She felt a little bad about that. She didn’t want to make her Mummy sad.

Maybe she shouldn’t have told her Mummy how she felt? Mummy sighed and hugged Poppy close to her.

“Poppy, Nanny Jo is very sick. She has what is called a disease. A disease means she has a sickness that may not get better. Right now Nanny Jo isn’t well and had to move away to get better.”

Poppy looked at her Mummy. She didn’t understand why they couldn’t help Nanny Jo. “But Nanny Jo must miss us too! When I’m sick Nanny Jo helps take care of me. We should help take care of her too. It’s not nice for Nanny Jo to be sick and we don’t look after her, Mummy”, said Poppy a little bit angry.

Mummy kissed Poppy’s forehead. She then told Poppy that Nanny Jo’s disease meant that Nanny Jo would sometimes be naughty and say mean things even though she didn't mean to. And because it was a disease Nanny Jo might not get well. Mummy said she hoped that Nanny Jo would one day get better but it would probably take a very, very long time. 

Mummy said that when Poppy was much older and a grown-up they might visit Nanny Jo, but only if she was better and not naughty anymore.

Mummy told Poppy it was okay to be a little bit sad sometimes and she also missed Nanny Jo too.

Mummy said to Poppy that although she missed and loved Nanny Jo very much, sometimes when people have a disease that makes them say and do things that aren’t nice they have to stay away.

Mummy explained that it was a little bit like when one of the kids in Poppy’s class at school was mean or naughty their teacher would put them in time-out until they were nice. Because Nanny Jo had a disease she needed a long time out so she could try and get better. 

Mummy said it was okay to be a bit sad but Nanny Jo would want everyone to be happy. Poppy hugged her Mummy tightly. “If Nanny Jo gets better can she come and play with me again?” Mummy kissed Poppy on the tip of her nose. “My little Poppy Pickles,  I hope so. But she might not. If she does it will take a long, long time."

Poppy nodded as her mummy continued. "When we get sad though, and we miss her, maybe we can do something that will make us feel a little better. Maybe you can draw something that makes you feel happy.

I think if Nanny Jo knew you were doing that it would also make her happy too.” Poppy thought about this for a minute.

“What about when I’m sad I draw red flowers and white clouds? Red is my favourite colour”, she said to Mummy. Poppy was still sad but felt a little bit better too.

Mummy nodded and gave Poppy a big smile. “That’s a great idea. And you give them to me and I’ll keep them in a special box in my closet for you.”

Mummy brushed Poppy’s tears away. “It’s okay to be sad Poppy. It’s also okay to cry. Crying can sometimes make us feel better. And you know what else? It’s good to talk about our feelings instead of bottling them up. If we don’t talk about something that makes us sad or worries us it can make things feel a lot worse.

Poppy was surprised; she hadn't thought about that.

Mummy continued. "You can always talk to me or to Daddy about your feelings, about anything. Or if you want to talk to your aunties or uncles, you can do that too. When you tell someone how you feel you usually feel a bit better.”

Poppy smiled at her Mummy. “Like now?” Mummy nodded and gave Poppy the BIGGEST HUG EVER.

Poppy giggled and hugged her back. “Like right now, Miss Poppy Pickles.”

Mummy looked at Poppy then stood up. “You know what, Poppy? I feel a lot better after talking to you, too.”

Mummy leaned over and gave Poppy a humungous, sloppy kiss on her forehead. “Ew Mummy. That made my head wet!”

Mummy smiled. She picked up a piece of paper and a red crayon from Poppy’s desk. “Do you want to draw your red flowers and white clouds now?”

Poppy stood up and took Mummy’s hand and pulled her towards the bedroom door. “I’m feeling happier now Mummy. Let’s go back and eat birthday cake!”

Mummy and Poppy hugged each other then went back to the party. Poppy had a super, duper awesome day.

And LOTS of cake!!