There are Monsters under my Bed!
As a parent or a caregiver
we have all heard the words at bedtime "I'm afraid". Whether it is monsters
under the bed or in the closet, or a simple fear of being in the dark, all children
experience some form of it. Dutiful parents will march into the bedroom and
check under the bed, or in the closet and reassure their children that there is
nothing there.
But what if your child
shows genuine fear? What do you do when your child still insists that the enemy
is there?
There are simple steps to
take regardless of your faith to dismiss these errant beings who terrorize,
wittingly or not, our little ones. The
first thing to do is check the room, however do not dismiss their fear. "I don't
see anything honey, but I can show you what to do if it comes back." Then sit
with the child in the dark and let them know it's okay to tell the thing to
leave very forcefully. They can say it in their minds and still be heard.
Practice together.
They can call for their
guardian angel to wrap their wings around them for comfort and protection.
Practice doing this by requesting the angelic assistance and then breathing
deeply to help the child relax and feel the angelic presence. Whether you
believe in angels or not the deep breathing will alleviate the child's anxiety
and help them to relax.
Teach them a prayer of
protection. It can be any prayer you choose from the Our Father to The Spirit
of the Great White Light. Or you can teach them a simple mantra like "I am a
child of God and I am safe!" Again they need to breath deeply while saying this
forcefully. Any of these verbal methods need to be repeated 3 times at least.
Empower your child against
the darkness, don't dismiss it. By acknowledging their fears you are supporting
your child's emotional development. You are helping to create a self aware,
confident person. At no other time in recent history have we been afforded the
opportunity to come together and discuss our children's needs. The information
is out there. Raise a healthy adult.
Parent Coach Geralyn St. Joseph is a single parent. She holds a degree in communications with a concentration in Law and Psychology from