Young parents observed their eldest
A Fear Takes Hold
Seven-year-old Leo Miller’s sense of safety unraveled after a nightmare convinced him that
“an unseen danger hovered over his infant brother, Toby.”
Each night, he left his bed to stand guard by the crib,
believing “only Leo could stop it,” blurring dreams and reality.
The Weight of Responsibility
Protecting Toby became “a duty” that exhausted Leo and filled him with anxiety.
Reassurance from his parents initially failed,
as the fear followed him into waking life and made leaving the nursery “unthinkable.”
Listening Instead of Dismissing
One morning, Sarah found Leo “drained and trembling.” Instead of correcting him,
she listened as he whispered about the darkness he feared, honoring “the love beneath” his worry.
David explained that dreams feel real but “cannot cross into the real world.”
From Fear to Purpose
By involving Leo in small caregiving tasks and nightly “safety checks,”
his parents replaced fear with purpose. The nightmares faded,
leaving a bond built “not on terror, but on love and steady presence.”
