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Yesterday I told you about my own Little Miss Muffet and I want to thank you for your great suggestions.
Last night we first started with a heavy dose of patience (thank you, Charlotte), and a few minutes before bed we swept the floors and the walls and under the bed and inside her canopy (thanks, Jamie). We thought we would use the canopy as a mosquito netting of sorts (thanks Christine), but at the last minute she changed her mind. I keep asking if she wants me to take it down, but she doesn't. I think sweeping it helped and we opened it up so she could see there were no bugs.
We sprinkled the bed with holy water and blessed her well, said her prayers and gave her the option of turning on the light. I mentioned the possibility of putting a jar in the room to catch any bugs she might see, but I think she was hopeful there would be none and she declined. It's always an option (thanks, Mary). I'm also leaving open the option of listening to music while she falls asleep (thanks, Beth), or I know I can go and pray the rosary with her while she doses off.
So, for now she (and we) has several courses of action to take, and though I don't think this fear is going away any time soon, we can do something besides just get frustrated. Thanks, friends!
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I had a canopy when I was little and I remember having a love/hate relationship with it. It scared me to think of something hiding above it but I didn't want it taken down either. I think my mom finally took it down to "wash it" or some sort of excuse like that and after giving me a chance to see that I felt more comfortable without it, it never went back up.
ReplyDeleteMy girls and my boys both use a CD player on low volume when the lights go out and the one of them who gets most scared at night has been known to turn it on again in the middle of the night if she needs it. Also, for my two that have the hardest time at night, I got them these nightlight/stuffed animals. They turn themselves off after about 45 minutes but if they wake in the middle of the night, they just push a button and they come back on. They love them and even take them with us when we travel.
It can be so frustrating for us moms who can see the irrationality and unreasonableness and just want it to stop! Tell yourself, she's not choosing this reaction to her fears, she can't help it. She would choose to turn it off if she could because it's not enjoyable for her either. Hugs to you both!
Yay!!
ReplyDeleteMy 2 oldest girls are moving to the basement (what used to be our extra living room, where video games are played on weekends) so, we will have this issue soon, I'm sure. I'll just put that vacuum down there, it will be the cleanest room in the house!!
=) Yay! I'm working on Luke's sleep issues. Today was the first nap he fell asleep on his own in a long time. Thank you Narnia Audiobook!
ReplyDeleteDo these nights occur more on days when you have had little time together? Ours had/has these on days when I am paticularly busy. When i stopped reading to her and she read to herself, it was an adjustment. Her neediness helps me gauge my activities.
ReplyDeleteDoesn't Jamie just crack you up?!?
ReplyDeleteI love how you reached out to this community to ask for help! You are also wonderful to employ some of their suggestions. You are wonderful mamma!!! I hope all this stuff works so that you can stay calm and Lil Miss Muffet gets her rest.
Late to this little bug party here...my neighbor has just had this issue with her daughter (who's 11). They should be back from vacation today so I'll see what worked for her. I know there was much washing of all bed linens (which they then hung out on the line). That kid has a lot of throw pillows, haha!
ReplyDeleteMy question to you is: is this really a "bug" issue or rather an "I don't want to go to sleep because I might miss something with so many teenagers doing fun stuff after I go to bed" issue? (That's what we've got going on HERE...)
I just stumbled upon your lovely blog. I am enjoying it. Thank you!!!
ReplyDeleteHi Barbara, I haven't had that issue since I have a son but I'm thinking I would do the whole washing the sheets, febreezing the mattress, and vacuuming all around the bed to make sure the spiders are gone. At least, she's ok about the insects during the day and doesn't stay inside because of them! Good luck!
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