Bad Dreams

The littlest boy has been having bad dreams on and off, which is perfectly normal.  But what he apparently dreams about is...well, sortof humerous.  Or would be if it didn't happen to be while the rest of the world was sleeping.

The "alarm" sounds when he starts wailing like a siren.  It's high pitched and loud, without care for any who may be sleeping.  It can be punctuated with little kicks under the covers (and if he has happened to crawl into our bed before having one of these little nightmares, waking up this way is something SPECIAL).  In fact, it looks a lot like a temper tantrum....except....he is not awake.  He is still sleeping.  

"BUUUUUT I WAAAANT COOOOOKIES!" He will wail. His eyes are still closed.  It's the only part of his body that appears to be still. 

We try shaking him and calling his name, "Dylan, Dylan, wake up!"  He seems to feel this but takes it negatively and the wailing goes up a notch.  "Dylan! It's a dream! You are dreaming!" 

"BuuuUUUT I WAAANt COOOOKIES." 

It is 5 a.m. just before sunrise.  There are no cookies in the house and besides, his eyes are still shut.  Finally, I pick him up and lay him on my chest and rub his back.  "Hush, hush.  Wake up, wake up.  It's a dream." 

"whaaat?" His eyes finally open.  

"It was a dream. You are dreaming.  Look, it's still dark outside, everyone is asleep.  It's OK."  

His little body shudders as the sobs begin to diminish and he starts to relax.  Snuggled up he finally drifts off again.  All is quiet.  Now the first glimmers of light are appearing in the sky and the birds are singing.  I am wide awake.  On mornings like this I am so thankful for coffee.  

When he wakes up, I ask him if he had good dreams or bad dreams.  He tells me, "bad dreams."

I ask him what he dreamed about. 

"Ghosts." He said positively. "Big scary ghosts.  Right in the closet!" 

Uh-huh.