table talk: it’s all dreamy up in here

This week I offer a combo. A Table Talk prompt and additional questions on the same topic. Dreams. 

The other day Colt was telling me about a dream he had that scared him right into our bed. At first I was inclined to think he was lying just so he could sleep the night away in the coveted parental bed, but then he said something that got my attention, “I have this same dream all the time mom.” His dream was that he was trying over and over to find me but couldn’t.

It reminded me that when I was about his age (five) I used to have a recurring dream. I was driving a VW Bug and my brother was in the passenger seat. I would drive up this giant hill and then as soon as I got to the top, I tried to hit the brakes but they wouldn’t work and we would careen down the hill at unspeakable speeds. I would always awaken, heart pounding and dripping with sweat. 

I asked my other two boys if they had a recurring dream. One said yes, the other no. So, if two out of three of my kids do, maybe yours do as well.

Monday: Ask your kids if they have the same dream over and over. If they say no, ask them if they have ever had a scary dream and what it was about. In my life I have noticed one thing. Nothing takes the scary out of scary more than discussing it. Tell them when they wake up to think about their most favorite thing. Candy? Trains? Girls? Sports? Whatever. Tell them to lay there and focus on that thing.

Tuesday: When you fall asleep tonight what do you wish you could dream about?

Wednesday: Have you ever had a dream where you could fly? If you could fly, where would you go and what would you want to see?

Thursday: If you could dream a night spent with one person, who that person be and what would you do?

Friday: Ask them to tell you what they think other people at the table dream about. Start with everyone saying what they think the person to their left dreams about and then switch and go the opposite way.