Sweet Dreams, Smarty Pants

Corrine lately has been having nightmares. I remember my other children begin to have them at about the same age. After a few months, they seem to taper off.

Last night, she was crying for me, so I went in and found her sitting up in bed, saying there were bugs and mud on her bed. (No, she didn't have any meth before bedtime!)

I picked her up, comforted her and said it was just a dream. I was hesitant to try to explain to her about that, we had never talked about dreams before and that is a difficult concept for a two year old to grasp. She just nodded and we cuddled.

As I put her back to bed, she said something that let me know she had been processing what I said and putting two and two together.

She said "Mom, dreams disappear and go away," while making a "poof" and gone gesture with her little chubby hand.

I hadn't said that to her, those were her words. Amazing. I didn't even know she understood the concept of disappear.

Here I was witnessing her comprehension of a very abstract concept.

Then she said that a giant sometimes came to her dreams.

So sad. Broke my heart, but at the same time, I am sitting here thinking," I am having the most amazing conversation with my little smarty pants at 2 in the morning. "

She goes on to explain a little more to me about her dreams, and chats with me a bit. I kiss her head, and say,"Dreams can be good too. You can dream about a big ice cream, or playing at the park, or making cookies with Mommy. Go back to sleep and dream good dreams."

I am so amazed at her thought processes at such a young age. Maybe it comes from being the fourth child and having the influence of 3 older sisters, but this little one is smart.