Four-Year-Old Fears

It isn’t uncommon for my four-year-old to wake in the middle of the night crying, particularly if she’s exhausted. Logic would dictate that the more tired she is, the harder she will sleep. But the longer I have been a parent the more I’ve realized that logic and children don’t necessarily mix. Especially when your child is a spirited, bossy, no-nonsense sort of girl.

I’ve always wondered what she could be scared of. What does a four-year-old have nightmares about? What are her worries? Her fears? Rest assured, ask and thy daughter shall answer.

“Mommy, I need to hold my baby because she’s so scared of the all bad things out in the world,” my daughter stated.

My heart stopped. “Bad things” in the world? What had I let her watch lately? Who had told her that phrase? What did she consider “bad things”? How had I not protected her better?

I calmly tried to use my fancy detective skills to get a better handle on the situation.

“What sort of bad things is your baby scared of?” I asked.

“Well,” she stated very dramatically, sighing whenever possible, “she is scared of all of the trampolines that are falling from outer space.”

I wasn’t really sure how to feel about this. Proud? I mean the kid doesn’t fear monsters or snakes or serial killers…that’s pretty good, right? If her biggest fear is that trampolines are falling from outer space than I feel like I’ve done an OK job as a parent.

BUT.

I didn’t know she knew what a trampoline was. No one we know has one. And outer space? The girl will not watch ANYTHING besides Octonauts right now…and the entire show is based under da sea. Who is providing her with these terms, phrases and insights?! Then again, if the worst thing in my child’s life is that someone is filling her head with scientific terms and words out of her frame-of-reference that are not profane…I think I call this one a WIN.