Our little girl is suffering from nightmares almost nightly. The poor kid comes running to our bed, sometimes in tears, sometimes very quiet. I just want to crawl inside her brain and rip out all the scary thoughts (mostly about Ursula from Little Mermaid - she only saw the movie once or twice for that very reason). I remember when my brother Matt had nightmares about alligators and my parents bought him a stuffed alligator toy to sleep with that would protect him from any bad alligator. So far we haven't been able to find a suitable solution for Hilde. I sing her I am A Child of God while she snuggles down for the night and we take turns listing things that make us happy, or things that we love. So far, not much success. Any advice?
Tuesday, 18 November 2008
Nightmares
Our little girl is suffering from nightmares almost nightly. The poor kid comes running to our bed, sometimes in tears, sometimes very quiet. I just want to crawl inside her brain and rip out all the scary thoughts (mostly about Ursula from Little Mermaid - she only saw the movie once or twice for that very reason). I remember when my brother Matt had nightmares about alligators and my parents bought him a stuffed alligator toy to sleep with that would protect him from any bad alligator. So far we haven't been able to find a suitable solution for Hilde. I sing her I am A Child of God while she snuggles down for the night and we take turns listing things that make us happy, or things that we love. So far, not much success. Any advice?
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9 comments:
Hi Michelle -
You may not even remember me - but have been watching your blog when I found it off Stephanie's blog. When my daughter Sarah was having trouble sleeping, she thought it was monsters in her room - and we took a can of that compressed air you can use to blow air out of your computer, and we put a cute label on it that said "monster spray", and she sprayed that all around her room each night before she went to sleep and it totally helped!! It was awesome! - Valerie
Mr. Caviezel said his wife beat up all of the monsters in the room and kicked them out so his kids didn't have any more nightmares...sorry- I don't envy Hilde, and I don't look forward to going through this with Aud!
This coming from someone who is entirely unqualified to be giving child-rearing advice - maybe she's old enough now that she won't find the movie as scary this time around, and she'll get over her fear of it?
Of course, it could be a total disaster if it didn't work...
I think you are on the right track- just comfort her till reality takes over again. The singing you are doing is a good idea, so is a prayer and the snuggling. I wouldn't try showing her the movie again now that she is a little older. She's not afraid of the character in the movie, but it represents larger fears she has about the world out there or the world within herself, and I think she will always be a little upset by watching it, even when she is a grown up, because of what her subconscious has grabbed on for a symbolism. Time and love will help her grow stronger to face those fears. PS. Disney movies are too scary for most kids and adults. The bad guys, or women, are just too realistic and not good for anyone to watch.
Poor Hilde. I think you know what is best and the only thing I can think of is drawing or making an Ursula puppet and putting on a funny skit with it. Maybe then she will have humorous dreams instead of nightmares. However, most of the things I've read about nightmares say that as long as you comfort and encourage them they will get over it with time. I am sure that does not make it any easier though.
Valerie - I definitely remember you, small world! The monster spray sounds cool, we may try it.
Rob - We did try to watch it a little while ago and she insisted we fast forward through the parts with Ursula, but I thought it worth a try.
Carol - it is amazing how scary those movies are when you watch them through the eyes of the "intended" audience. Sleeping Beauty is a big one for us right now and I can't see how neither kid is afraid of the evil witch Maleficent, and later on the dragon. It is very scary.
That is so sad Michelle! Poor Hilde and the nightmares. I wish I had experience with this to shed to you. We'll be praying that Ursula leaves pronto!
Hazel won't even watch Cinderella anymore - any part of it! - because it's too scary when the stepsisters rip her dress. They've got such tender hearts. This is totally untested but just an idea I had, that I might try in the same situation: you and Hilde together come up with a self-calming routine that she likes, and practice it together, like saying a reality-based mantra (i.e., "I'm always safe in my room at home and Heavenly Father is watching over me") followed by a trip to the bathroom for a drink then back to bed with a prayer or something, that she can do on her own instead of coming to you guys. Then when she comes in your room one of you can do it with her and eventually she can do it without coming in. Maybe. I'm all about not getting my sleep interrupted.
I totally agree with Carol on this one. I like Disco Mom's advice too.
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