I salute you, my healing warrior. Even with my considerable childcare experience, that request would have me trembling in my boots. Even when I know them well and they trust me, up close and personal, children can be so-o-o-o hard to predict. Still. . . It remains a fact of life that village members can reach places parents cannot. Outside support can be priceless.

For what it's worth:
I use "Enchanted" items to help children ward off nightmares, etc. I place the "Enchanted" item under their pillow so they can use it for tactile grounding as they fall asleep. Perhaps an item similar to one the child might know from the church that brought you together could be a well-connected "Enchanted Gift" for you to carry to the visit for her. Just a thought. . .

Support and prayers ongoing. . .

There is no one-sized-fits-all with kids. As such, I would just follow the parents' lead on what to do.


One of the things that makes me angry are people who scare kids. My daughter doesn't remember but I'm still not-happy with the person who told my daughter that she was "going to hell" when she was about that age.

Sending prayers with her. Nothing silly about it in my mind.. Hugs for her family as they ride the wave and good they have you Muji. Hug to you too brave soul!

Good luck muji. Ur such a kind man.

I think it would help to start off talking about fears. then telling the child about a fear you have had. letting them know you understand would be very important....my daughter was 15 when it came out she believed spirits lived in her closet. she was scared to tell me much. there was absolutely nothing i could say to help her. but she was 15....sounds like this girl is quite young. i think you have a much better chance at helping....also i would highly suggest to parents that room be redecorated how the child would like it....for a fresh start... sending a prayer now.

and remember....because people say no abuse is going on....does not mean thats true.

Thanks, y'all, I'll be taking your support and advice with me as I head over there today. MOMBI, sure thing, just a say-so about abuse or no abuse isn't enough. I'll keep my eyes peeled for the signs we abuse survivors know all too well. Your advice about talking to the little girl is well placed, too, I think a big part of relieving anyone's fear is for them to feel heard. Sure is true with me, anyway.

Reporting back in thanks for the support. It went great. The little girl A's grandma R was there, along with A's mom J. They filled me alone in about how A was so scared to sleep at home with mom J at her place that she kept running off to grandma R's place. They wanted to calm A's fears so she'd sleep at home in her own bed.

Then they brought little A out to meet me. Fortunately, she wasn't afraid of me. We talked about how she felt at night when she was scared. So I told her I had a gift for her.

I gave her a "prayer shawl" for her to put on at night whenever she was afraid. It had a little prayer of reassurance fastened to the fringe with a safety pin. I read it to her.

Then I gave her a night light in the shape of a candle so she could remember her guardian angel was watching over her. Nothing bad could happen to her with her very own guardian angel on guard.

Then I asked if I could hold her hand and say a little prayer with her, and she said yes, so I did. She seemed to be really happy with her prayer shawl and her new candle night light, so I figured it was time to leave. I asked if I could say a blessing for their house, and they said yes, so I did.

Grandma R followed me out to my car and seemed happy, so I gathered it was the kind of calming they'd called for. I went away relieved that I hadn't made it worse, and that it seemed things might be more peaceful for them all.

Thanks for the support in my doing this. I was a kid when I lived through scary times as a missionary kid overseas, scary traumas like surviving a car bombing when we lived in a war zone. My parents got PTSD and there was no one there to me, so I figured I'd give this a try.

It seems to have worked out. I never had kids, so I didn't know now to calm a child, but with your support it looks like I managed. Fingers crossed.

That's so lovely Muji…….. Beautiful...… Big squishy hug.....xo

Sounds like you did a great job. You're so awesome Muji!

Thanks, SC, PP, means a lot coming from you!

Oh Muji you are such an earthbound angel. Well done. BTW I believe some of us can see and talk to spirits.

Thanks, Loo, "earthbound angel" is a very kind moniker to have applied to me, I'm very grateful. And as for talking to spirits, it's a world view I was raised in in South America among the native people there. Whether or not folks here in North America agree, it kind of prepared me. In Australia there you live the indigenous people believe in such things, too, don't they?

This is so sweet Mujica. Thanks for sharing :)

Kind of you, Pukka. Thanks for taking the time to say so.