There was a witch and a cage...

...and what do you do when you're a mom or a dad and your child has their first real nightmare? That was last night-around 5:20AM I hear footsteps coming up the stairs. I look at the clock and think, "No...it's way too early to be up for the day!" A was standing there by the bed with her pillow, 2 stuffed animals and her blankie.
"Honey? What are you doing? Why are you awake? It's too early to be awake."
"Mommy, I had a bad dream and I came to sleep with you."
"Ok, you can snuggle in, but you have to close your eyes, ok?"
"Ok, I will."
"What was your dream about?"
"There was a witch and a cage. The bad witch had me in the cage and wouldn't let me out."
"Oh...that doesn't sound very good."
"No, it wasn't."
"Goodnight, sweetie."
"Night, Mommy."
That was the conversation we had and I slept for another 45 minutes before my alarm went off. I didn't think any more about it, but the dream obviously had an impact on her because tonight she was sobbing! I mean sobbing...and I wasn't even there! The kids stay at my mom & dad's house on Wednesday nights. Well, A told my mom about the dream before bed and after being in their room for a bit, she started crying, saying she didn't want to sleep in her brown bed (crib) and she wanted Mommy and Daddy! Oh to not be there, holding her! I know my mom and dad were doing that, and trying to console her, but I was about in tears, hearing that. She finally fell asleep in my mom's arms after an hour of crying on and off. Before she fell asleep, she said, "Mamma, I want to go to Heaven with Jesus." She obviously knows that's a great place to be and that she would be safe there...just not yet! Then she said to my mom, "Mamma, I just want to sleep with you and Papa in your bed until the sky turns blue and the sun is shining." Clearly she had been thinking about strategies so she wouldn't have been left alone. Poor honey...

I hope you are sleeping soundly now, Love. Mommy and Daddy love you so very much! Mamma and Papa will keep you safe and Jesus will help give you sleep with sweet, sweet dreams tonight!