tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357415193462649988.post1279044850746027980..comments2023-11-22T21:30:35.388-06:00Comments on My Own Mind blog / Homeschool Atheist Momma: Ghosts and BedtimeKarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03309932952235453461noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357415193462649988.post-66182845524117519132018-01-19T13:42:15.049-06:002018-01-19T13:42:15.049-06:00When I was maybe four, I uncharacteristically beca...When I was maybe four, I uncharacteristically became afraid of monsters in my room at night. My mom had me get up and draw a "monster catcher" with colored markers; I remember it looking sort of like a big caterpillar with teeth and many arms. I slept fine after that. But later on I developed an interest in astrology (uuuuughhhh...) that basically derailed my critical thinking ability for the next twenty years. I say this because the attitude toward mysticism in my practically-nonreligious family was "eyeroll/whatever," when it would have been better if they'd said outright, "That stuff is as made up as Santa Claus and if you take it seriously you'll end up compromising your ability to think clearly about things that matter a lot more." I guess this is by way of saying, if she *keeps* believing in ghosts or ventures into other territories with just as little evidence, maybe consider teaching her the importance of not being credulous.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357415193462649988.post-44830429239305557582016-06-03T22:48:48.443-05:002016-06-03T22:48:48.443-05:00Aww, thanks for the blog post! Thinking back, I re...Aww, thanks for the blog post! Thinking back, I remember believing in ghosts at around the same age. I even wrote a story in sixth grade called The Ghost of Holy Trinity (name of the school I went to at the time). And my family was a big believer in spirits. In fact, I'm pretty sure my brother still believes that it was our grandmother who warned us that our house was on fire when I was seven. She had been deceased for nearly five years at that point. They also believed in ESP and that playing with a Ouija board was a BAD idea because it opened portals (so you can imagine their reaction when a friend and I found an old one up in our attic and played around with it).<br /><br />Some really good suggestions here and I really appreciate it. She does have an app on her kindle that plays relaxing melodies and she says that helps her sleep (especially when I try to put a curfew on it). Probably not the best way for her to get her zzz's but I have a feeling she has inherited some of my sleeping issues (at the very least, she doesn't crash in two seconds like her dad and younger sister are prone to).<br /><br />I do have to wonder if some of it is explaining the occasional odd thing that has happened around here. What the more skeptical of us would try to find a scientific explanation for it, one her age will jump to something more mystical. I certainly can't explain why certain things happen (like the TV just going on or off on it's own) but can also be at least somewhat okay with not knowing. That may be too out of control for someone her age and therefore, an explanation of ghosts would (for her) make more sense.<br /><br />She does have a great imagination which can be both a blessing and a curse (I say that having one myself).Janeenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12085755609836623027noreply@blogger.com