Daddy, there's a monster under my bed.

Post Reply New Topic

Let's think about the following:

A little kid keeps telling his father that there's a monster under his bed and he's too scared to sleep alone at night.

You're that father. How would you respond to such a situation? Would you automatically believe the kid was telling the truth? What would you do in this scenario? What methods would you use to find out whether or not there's a monster under the kid's bed? And how would you talk to your son about this?

1)Get a flashlight.
2)Look under the bed, with the kid safely on top.
3)Invite the kid to look under the bed too.
4)Leave the flashlight with the kid, so he can look for himself when he needs reassurance that there is no monster.

Yes, this. Or a variation on this. I've done this and so have most parents, or they've done a variation. It's one of those parenting problems that's so easy to solve it makes you wish that all parenting problems could have such an easy fix. But I'm not seeing a PPR-style philosophical angle to this. Wonder how it wound up here instead of the Parenting Forum.

The Ledimo was killed, his body hacked to pieces and thrown on the midden.After a while, a very large yam plant grew on the spot. One tendril went in the direction of the house and entered through a crack, just where the youngest sat.At supper, the yam tendril spoke to the youngest in a hideous voice, demanding food with threats. The frightened child handed over his meal. This went on for a week, until the parents noticed a change in the child. Next meal they watched and observed the transaction. The father realized this must be the Ledimo he thought he had killed. He rushed out and they destroyed the Ledimo yam with fire.

Look carefully under the bed, there could just be something.

Maybe even a wolf.

Here's the hypothetical situation that's yet to present itself:

Olivia says she can't sleep because there's a monster under her bed or in the closet.

I'll ask, "is it the orange one with the green horns or the red fluffy one?"

whichever she chooses, I'll tell her, "Oh, that's just Sally. I asked her to come over to make sure you have happy dreams."

Now that is cute.

I am not sure it would have worked on the THING that stood where the light from the street lamp shone on the spot where the chair had been.

But it is cute and deserves to work.

If I were male, and a daddy, here's what I would literaly do..

1: Question whether the kid is happy with day light quality time, or if they feel it's lacking.
2: If he's had a good portion of quality time from you, tell him to stop whineing and go to bed.
b: If he hasn't had quality time, give him about 20 minutes, at least twice a day.
3: If the problem persists for a few more days, perhaps something else needs an examination? Obsession? Just his pattern to relax? Bed wetting issues? ect.
4: During number three's tending or acceptance, finaly show him there is nothing in his room.

over analyzing, Linda.

As a parent, male or female, it's your job to make them feel safe and if that means to go into the room to appease your child several times a night and have to rearrange some stuff so the shirt hanging over the chair doesn't look like a monster, so be it.

Personally, I think it's best not to belittle or shame the kid for having an imagination.

Well said.

Mind you, I resented it when the hall light was left on so my little brother - who now despises me - would not be afraid. But it might have helped with that chair monster years before.

This assumes, of course, that you know your child well enough to be sure he is not a conniving little manipulator. But even my mother knew enough about us for that.

I would invest in a bed that is low to the ground, not allowing any space underneath the bed, whether for rubbish or monsters.

Spray bottle with label, water, color & scent.

Ha!! ! - Anit-monster spray
Use as often as necessary to rid room of Monsters.

I do like Sally the Monster too.

I had a hippie friend whose son slept on a futon (as did she and her husband). The monsters lurked in the closet instead. The monsters always find a way.

Actually, there is a philosophical angle to it. I'm very well aware of which section I put this thread in.

OH, MCalavera my dear, you forget, We are Aspies, We take things literally.

I just let my daughter sleep with my wife and me. Sure, it doesn't make her believe in monsters any less, but I suppose I'm just too tender hearted when it comes to my little girl.

-Bill, otherwise known as Kraichgauer

where do kids get the idea that monsters are just waiting to devour them?