she thinks of everything
Babs was extremely upset when I told her about my surgery. I told her that I would be fine, that the doctor would give me some medicine to fall asleep so that I wouldn’t feel anything, and as soon as I woke up I would get to come home. She was absolutely beside herself, crying and clinging to me and begging me not to go. I thought that maybe she needed something visual to help her understand that I would be safe, so I got out a pencil and paper and sat down with her on the couch. I sketched out a crude stick figure with closed eyes and a big goofy smile, and told her that was me after I fell asleep. Then I drew a thought bubble that showed another stick figure holding the string of a kite. I told her I would be asleep just long enough to have a fun dream, and then I would wake up. I was planning on addressing each fear, and giving her another option for how things could go so she could create a less frightening scenario in her mind. Unfortunately, we never made it past the dream bubble, because my mind can never keep up with that of a four year old with an active imagination.
Frowning with disapproval, she pointed to the dream bubble and said, “No Mommy, it’s going to be a bad dream.”
“How do you know that?
“Because I know everything.”
“Ok, well maybe in my bad dream I’m really hungry, but the fridge is stuck and I can’t open it.”
“No, that’s not scary!”
“I think it is.”
“No, you’re going to dream that you’re stuck in a cage and you’re wearing those stripey zebra clothes.”
“How do you know about stripey zebra clothes?”
“I saw it on Arthur.”
“Ok, well if I was stuck in a cage, I would ask my mouse friend to run out and get me the keys to unlock it.”
“What if he’s too tired?”
“Then I would let him rest, and then ask him.”
“What if he’s always too tired?”
“Then I would call to you and ask you to save me.”
“No, I’m not strong enough.”
“Well, then you could ask Daddy for help.”
“But he’s not there.”
“You’d go get him then.”
“I don’t know how to drive home!”
“Then you could call him on the phone.”
“But what if he’s dead?”
Apparently I’m screwed.
