| Title: | Parenting |
| Notice: | Previous PARENTING version at MOIRA::PARENTING_V3 |
| Moderator: | GEMEVN::FAIMAN Y |
| Created: | Thu Apr 09 1992 |
| Last Modified: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
| Last Successful Update: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
| Number of topics: | 1292 |
| Total number of notes: | 34837 |
A few weeks ago, the family and I went to Florida to visit relatives.
A terrible - and I mean terrible - thunder and lightning storm hit us.
My 2 year, who has slept through the night since he was 2 weeks old,
came running when the storm hit late in the night. The storm went on
for more than an hour and he trembled for hours after.
Well, now we're home and he still can't shake the thoughts of this
storm. He needs/wants someone to be with him until he falls to sleep
and then wakes two/three/or more times during the night. Always saying
- no rain!
I'm now at a loss as to what I should do. This has been going on for 2
weeks. The baby has the option to sleep during the day - but mom and
dad don't. I had hopes that when we returned home he would feel
comfortable sleeping in his own bed/room. But no go.
Your thoughts as to how I can relax him to sleep again during the night
would be greatly appreciated.
Chris
| T.R | Title | User | Personal Name | Date | Lines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 983.1 | USCTR1::HSCOTT | Lynn Hanley-Scott | Mon Jul 17 1995 12:12 | 11 | |
See if the library has any simple, children's books about thunder
storms. Sometimes an explanation can help.
I had a similar thing happen a few summers ago. It took a couple weeks
for the fears to lessen and the night time routines to go back to
"normal". We found we had to be really clear on respecting the fear
but also firm on setting limits each night so it didn't snowball into
always sleeping with mom and dad, etc.
best of luck,
z
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| 983.2 | getting better, thanks. | WMOIS::PINEAU_C | Mon Jul 17 1995 13:55 | 8 | |
Thanks Lynn. Last night Andrew only got up once and went right back
down. As you said, it takes time.
I just hope the next couple of days doesn't set him back (t-storms are
due).
Thanks again,
Chris
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| 983.3 | Fear is real. | NPSS::CREEGAN | Mon Jul 17 1995 14:44 | 28 | |
I agree about not minimizing the fear. Ask questions,
expain what you can, tell silly stories, draw pictures
about it and put smiling faces and happy plants drinking
rain water.
I had a dog that trembled for hours after a thunder-storm.
There was nothing I could do for him, no reasoning powers.
I approached thunder-storms the same way my parents did
(role-models). They were excited about them. Running
from window to window. Pointing their fingers and
shouting from excitement, who got to see the biggest one,
which window had the best vantage point. "Yippees" for
the biggest noise. Exclaimations galore, "Wow, did
you see that?" "That one split in two!" "That one
went sideways."
The family couldn't help but be excited. My parents
used to tell me it was God bowling (Yah, right!), but
I explain to my kids it is a cold cloud and a warm
cloud bumping into each other. It's the loudest
noise that nature makes. The first kid to hear
thunder now comes running with excitement to inform
me a storm is coming. Thunder; natures gift. We
sometimes go out in a rain storm driving to a high
spot to see the lightening in the distance. I guess
it's how you look at it.
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