It’s exactly 1 AM. Gresham (almost five) has a fever. The doctor said his sore throat, head ache and stomach ache are from a virus that’s going around town. It should pass in a couple days. But without sleep it may take longer.
Gresham is my son. He’s screwed up in some of the same ways I am. When Gresham is very tired, exhausted like he is tonight, he sleeps in spurts, waking up every hour or so terrified, shaking, sobbing uncontrollably. I walk into his room and try to calm him down.
“Gresham, it’s Daddy, you’re O.K. Where are you?”
Seems like a strange way to begin but Gresham isn’t in the room with me. He’s being chased through the woods by a dinosaur or he’s on the roof of a tall building. I have to figure out where he is before I can guide him back to his bed.
“Up here,” he said a few minutes ago.
“Up where, Buddy?”
“The tree,” he cried. “Mommy? I don’t see…”
“Gresham, listen to Daddy.”
“O.K.”
“Can you climb down the tree?”
His eyes darted around the room wildly, wide open, searching. “Maybe,” he said, looking right through me. “He’s there,” he cried and them mumbled some things I couldn’t decipher, pointing at something invisible to me across the room.
“Gresham!” I said sternly, stopping his rant. He looked at me and stopped whimpering. “Gresham, listen to me.”
“O.K.”
“I want you to climb down the tree. Come on down to me. Don’t be afraid. I’ll catch you if you fall. Do you believe me?”
“Yes.”
I kid you not, the boy stands up in his bed and starts pantomiming a climb. He sniffled the whole way down, pointing a couple times at that invisible something across the room and rambling through his tears.
“Take my hand,” I said when he got to the bottom. “What do you see here?”
“Flowers.”
“What color are the flowers?”
“Pink.”
I had to chuckle. “Pink flowers?” He nodded. “Are you sleepy?”
“Yes.”
“Why don’t you lie down in the pink flowers? Here’s your blanket.” I handed it to him. He took it, smelled it once deeply and laid back on his pillow, in the dark, still sweaty and trembling and with his worried eyes fixed on the enemy across the room. “What do you see?”
“Thaaaaaat guyeee,” he stammered.
“Don’t worry about him. I’ll protect you. There’s nothing to be afraid of here.” I turned toward the emptiness and said, “Go away,” firmly but being careful not to wake the girls. “Gresham, close your eyes.” He did. “Take a deep breath with me.” He did. “Now say what I say. God is with me, I won’t be afraid.” He did. His face relaxed. His body went limp. His trembling stopped. And I prayed.
For the fourth time tonight.
So far he’s climbed down a tree, cleaned up a messy room, jumped over a hole and asked some kids to stop laughing at him before returning to sleep. I’m all for a vivid imagination but I’m not sure how much more of this kid’s I can take.
Becky’s home Saturday night. Then it’s her turn to play make believe at 1 AM. I’m getting some sleep.
We as dads can rock at these moments but there is just something about a “mommy!” that I can’t duplicate.
Take care Shaun and family.
By the way, american airlines called me today about that family you were getting miles for. They were following up on if you were able to or still needed a way to get family to FL.
geeee shaun that sounds tiring………..i was exactly like that when i was a kid, i still have the odd nightmare from time to time! and i shout at cherith from time to time in my sleep!! ha
Prayers for you and your family. When our baby is not feeling well—it breaks your heart. There is so much you want to do to make them better. Popsicles are a favorite! Sleep deprivation isn’t fun—been there.
Sorry that he’s not sleeping. I relate, although, my sleep-deprivation is from a baby. That’s a really sweet story, though. What a great daddy! He’s lucky to have you.
And you are entriely sure that he’s really awake when this happens? I know that his eyes maybe open but I’ve heard of cases of sleep walking where the person’s eyes are open. From what it sounds like he’s still caught in his dreams and from the sound of it it seems as if it is a matter of sleep walking…sort of.
Aww, poor Gresham! And poor Shaun. I hope he feels better soon.
Dude,
what kind of drugs did you get from the doctor…and where can I get some?
Dude…I TOTALLY used to see “that guy” too…it would freak my parents out when I pointed at “that guy” and screamed when I was having a nightmare or sick. Tell you’re little dude he’s not alone.
On a scale of one to Brant Hansen, how “unusual” would you say you are today, milepost13?
That right there Shaun is about the funniest thing I have heard all day.
Shaun,
By any chance do these night terrors and very vivid episodes occur only when Gresham has a fever? Has he been given Tylenol or it’s equivalent at these times? The reason I ask is that my nephew (age 12) cannot take Tylenol. He’s not allergic to it in the true medical sense, but it makes him hallucinate terribly and he also “acts out” his hallucinations as well. What Gresham is experiencing sounds eerily familiar. My nephew’s doctor says “no way, Tylenol doesn’t do that to kids,” but it’s very well documented in his case.
Just something to think about.
Beth
Shoot! Where’s that tylenol. Sounds like fun!
Pretty cool that he has a dad to come in there like that.
I still freak out at night occasionally. When my wife and I first got married I jumped off the bed face first into the wall because I thought I was a foot tall jumping off a curb to get out of the way of a garbage truck.
I also woke up on the back porch a few times.
My sister wakes somewhat “radically” at times too. She awoke with a start one night, rolled over to discover a man lying next to her in bed! She grabbed a vase of flowers that were on the nightstand and smashed them over his head! He awoke with a start, dazed to say the least, and said “honey, what are you doing?” She was in a hotel room on her wedding night and the “man” was her husband! They celebrated their 37th anniversary this past June so he didn’t scare off easily.
Beth
Poor little sweetie.
Awww, poor little guy. (him not you). I hope he feels better soon. You’re a good dad. I hope your wife had a wonderful time away.
1 to Brant Hansen? … I’m thinking today I’m on the verge of lunacy… by brain is working fine, but my emotions are in overdrive. I started crying when my friend asked if I missed Mancino’s (An Italian pizza and grinders restaurant). I wouldn’t call that usual.
whoops… that was not directed to the general public… sorry ^_^
My son has night terrors. They are exhausting to everyone. We declared that his stuffed piggy is the dream-keeper he takes away the dreams. Because my poor son (who is 3) panics at bedtime saying “I don’t want to dream!”. So the piggy has helped with that. But it comes and goes in spurts. It is freaky because his eyes are open and sound asleep screaming.