son won't sleep in his room anymore

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-12-2004
son won't sleep in his room anymore
2
Mon, 07-18-2005 - 11:47pm
My son keeps coming to my bedroom at night, refusing to sleep in his own bed for at least the last week. I have been moving to the couch and not getting much sleep myself. But tonight I told him he had to sleep in his room and asked why he was afraid. He said he isn't afraid of anything, just afraid. I asked him if something in his room bothered him. He said yes, that the man sneezing bothered him. I was a bit surprised and asked 'what man?'. He said the man who was sneezing of course. His room is on the ground floor with the window in the backyard. My room is also next to the garden. He then said 'Oh! I heard him again!' from my bedroom. I considered if there was some truth to what he was saying and got up to roll down the metal shutters of my window that I left open. The shutters on his bedroom window were already down. I asked if he had heard the man before and he said yes. I then asked if the man ever said anything to him. He said no, but that the man wanted to steal something. I asked what and he said 'his (the man's) shoes'. I asked why and he seemed annoyed and said 'because he says they are his'. Of course I wanted to ask a bit more but the poor guy had droopy eyes and so kissed him goodnight and left him in my bedroom. I didn't have the heart to make him go back to his own room now. Because of all I have been through, the story kind of sends a bit of a chill down my spine. I considered the possibility of AHL stalking around the house in one of his fits of depression. But then why would the son be so frightened? And what's this thing about the shoes? Where did that come from? Any thoughts from anyone?
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-12-2003
Tue, 07-19-2005 - 12:14am

I could give you all sorts of pop psychology babble, but it won't do any good.

CL-Blueliner4

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-14-2003
Tue, 07-19-2005 - 12:58pm
Just a thought, Lucky: talk to him about it in the daylight. Tell him he can tell you anything. Given his age, he might have been half aware when he talked about it - unless he's mentioned this before? The anxiety makes all the sense in the world, and my kids' therapist says kids come up with some wild stuff when they've been through the wringer. Give it time, watch your back, and the very best of luck.