If you want a taste of living in a spine-chilling horror story, I suggest you have children. And if you don’t have any of your own, borrow a friend’s for a weekend and witness the nighttime antics that unfold. When the moon is high, and the world is draped in darkness, the witching hour approaches.
The sounds of your home come alive: floorboards creaking without anyone walking on them, dishes clattering in an empty kitchen, and whispers that vanish as soon as you try to focus your ears. And then there are your little ones, rising from their beds to engage in all sorts of bizarre behavior.
I’m already a naturally anxious person, so it doesn’t take much to rattle me. Since becoming a parent, I’ve had to summon a lot of courage—unless I want to spend a fortune on therapy for us all. I have to dismiss my fears, or I’ll never sleep again. It’s a survival tactic. Here are some of the creepiest moments I’ve encountered as a parent:
- Laughing in Their Sleep
There’s nothing humorous about hearing your child chuckle after midnight. - Night Terrors
This is the one moment in parenting that sent chills down my spine. After fits of screaming, my child would gaze through me, not at me. Then they would wander the room, moving as if they were in a trance. - Silent Shadows
Waking up to find a child standing silently by your bedside is a surefire way to send your heart racing. And when they whisper, “Hello, Mommy,” it sends chills up your spine. - Panic Over Imaginary Fears
One night, my daughter crawled into bed with us, terrified of something she claimed was lurking in her room. Moments later, she sat up in a panic, insisting she wanted to go back to her own space. I carried her back, but the thought of whatever she feared now being in my room haunted me. - Sleepwalking Shenanigans
I once woke at 2 a.m. to check on the kids and found one of them sitting upright on the couch, blanket draped over her lap, eyes half-open, and completely unaware. - Bizarre Questions
While snuggling with my daughter one night, she suddenly asked, “Which direction do Grandma and Grandpa live?” After I pointed north, she looked out the window and asked about “her.” - Fear of Closed Doors
In our previous home, my kids went from being fine with their doors shut to panicking if they were closed. They would cry and shake, leading us to prop the door open with heavy objects and keep every light on. - Crying Over an Open Door
I once left the door open only to hear my child sobbing because they thought it was shut. - Strange Lights on the Monitor
Over the years, our baby monitors have captured bizarre lights and shadows. Sometimes, my kids’ eyes would glow eerily in the dark. - Curiosity About Outside Noises
After I’d spent what felt like an eternity reassuring my kids that outside noises were nothing, I’d finish with, “It’s all good,” while I peered out the window, half-expecting to see a stranger lurking.
Who needs a Ouija board when you have little ones and a baby monitor? Kids don’t just amplify fear; they attract it. I’ve lost countless hours of sleep over the mysterious things my kids do and react to. Though, I’ll admit, I was also haunted by shadows after watching Paranormal Activity. It’s a topic that the What to Expect books overlook, and they really should address it. After all, who wouldn’t want to know that one day they’d wake up to the presence of a small figure standing by their bed, softly whispering, “Hello, Mommy”?
In summary, parenting at night can feel like a horror movie, filled with strange noises and unexplainable occurrences. If you’re interested in more parenting insights, you might want to check out this resource for some excellent information about pregnancy and home insemination. Additionally, this link provides a great overview of home insemination kits.