Chatting With Lexi: On Fears
For a child who is remarkably self-assured it’s curious that Lexi also has a plethora of fears, ranging far and wide (and even into some territory where I just scratch my head and wonder “Huh?”) for better or for worse. Of course, though, she has no fear of strangers, and will indeed tell them her life story if given a chance in the line at Wal-Mart. She also isn’t afraid of failure, even though in many ways she’s a perfectionist. But the things she fears she REALLY fears. It’s like she freezes solid when the subjects even come up.
And it’s at those moments that she reminds me of… me.
Me: Lexi, I need you to go upstairs to put away the toys you got out.
Lexi: But Dad, I CAN’T GO UP THERE.
Me: Why not? It’s just for a minute to put those toys away.
Lexi: But I’m SCARED.
Me: There’s nothing to be scared of. Your mother and I are right down here.
Lexi: But I’m still SCARED. I don’t want to go up there.
Me: Well, you got out the toys, so you need to put them away. You’re going to have to go up there anyway.
Lexi: I can’t do it. I JUST CAN’T.
Me: What are you afraid of, though? Why are you so scared to go up there by yourself?
Lexi: Because she’s up there.
Me: Who?
Lexi: The gh-gh-ghost.
Me: Oh my. Lexi, ghosts aren’t real.
Lexi: You don’t know that!
Me: Uh, yeah, I know that. Ghosts aren’t real. And even if they were they can’t hurt you.
Lexi: That’s not what they say on Teen Titans. Continue reading “Chatting With Lexi: On Fears”