Oh FFS!

[neverputasockinatoaster]

DS has developed a fear of corridors. We live in a bungalow. We have a long corridor that runs from the living room to the bedrooms and then divides in a T shape.

Today I asked DS to put something in our craft box. it lives at the end of the corridor opposite the living room. You can see the bloody thing from the living room. Ds wouldn't go unless his sister went with him as it meant he had to pass the opening to the arm of the T........

DS will walk donw the corridor if the lights are on. As fast as I turn the lights on so DS will travel normally about the house DH turns them off.......

DS will now go INTO the bathroom alone but refuses to come OUT into the corridor unless someone is there......

I know it is a non problem but just aaarrgghhh!

Can you leave a trail of chocolates?

Hopefully it is just a phase.

Star - I have considered it! But I'd probably eat them myself because I'd forget why they were there.......

He goes into the bathroom, slams the door shut, locks it and does whatever it is he needs to do. Then he yells 'MUMMY' and if I do not immediately teleport myself to the door he yells louder. 'Yes DS?' says I. Cue door opening and DS appears. 'Nothing really Mummy, I just needed you to check the hall was clear'

Today, whilst standing in the hall that is lit up like a Christmas tree (DH still out at work) I asked him why he didn't like the hall. His answer was that he was afraid of the dark. I held his hand and turned off the light to show him it wasn't even dark with the lights off. I pointed out that he had put all the lights on before going into the bathroom....... He shrugged and said 'Yes Mummy, but things change all the time and you never know when they will...'

His teacher is off on long term sick after an operation. He has had mostly the saem supply teacher. He has always been afraid of the dark but to be afraid of the corridor is a new thing.

zzzzz I hadn't thought of a head torch! Brilliant! I have one I use when doing walking events that he could trial. I won't tell him it is a trial mind but if he likes it I will get myself another one....

But then I'd still have to buy 2 as DD will see the torch and suddenly become afraid of the dark!

Tomorrow DH and I will be having words about his obsession with turning lights out.........

Oh, and DS is now obsessed with closing doors. I hate a closed door - makes me feel hemmed in. In the morning when me, DS and DD are in the bathroom doing teeth DS keeps closing the door, I open it then he gets all anxious in case the dark gets in so he closes it and I get all anxious because I am in a small space......

Ah well! I shall get a head torch out tomorrow and see how we go..... I might still lay chocolate trails though!

oh no I have goosebumps reading this bless him. I was terrified of corridors as a child more so with the ones with rooms off them I would put my back to the wall opposite and edge my way quickly with my eyes shut! The ones with a T well its like you have that feeling that someone is going to pop round and say boo! its not nice I do feel for him. I drove my parents nuts screaming the place down lol.

Torch sounds a great idea! I hope it works x

I also dont like mirrors and even now have none in my bedroom or downstairs. Cant stand curtains open at night and have to go round shutting every one before dh goes out anywhere. I got a right boogeyman feeling now

If you keep turning the energy saving bulbs on and off.... It'll cost more in the wear and tear of the bulb than it will in electricity.... (Try it at the "actually its costing us more money" angle)

I think the pound shop have head torches. Certainly Decathlon sell them reasonably cheaply.
My NT DD is terrified of the bathroom and won't shower unless I am sitting on the loo talking to her.
I blame her hearing the soundtrack to a film called Mama while we were waiting for Les Miserables to start.

I used to be terrified of corridors too. They were creepy places! And I hate undrawn curtains and black glass at night. Leave lights on at all times. Mine still demand this. Not much to ask...there are tigers out the don't you know Ds1 who is NT, and 12/13, still can't go upstairs to dark landing...

ds 7 has recently developed a fear of the dark, unless its his bedroom then the dark is fine! he causes massive dramatics to go up the stairs if the top lights been turned off i have no idea where its came from.

Also with zzzzz saying her dc asks permission to go to the toilet, ds does this too! i dont know why he will jump and flap about clearly bursting saying 'i neeeed a peeee' GO THEN! why are you asking!

Actually I'm a bit scared of corridors too...........

Must remember to ask his teacher if these anxieties are coming through at school.....

Off shopping now for headtorches!

Actually DH has an ace baseball cap with LED lights in the brim.... might get more of those!

You have my sympathy. Dd has developed a fear of her own blooming bedroom thanks to an episode of Hello Bloody Kitty which had a dust monster coming out of the wall in the night! She only went into her own room just before Christmas and adored her pretty new bedroom, choosing to spend most of her time up there playing. Now she won't even go upstairs on her own, insists on sleeping with the wardrobe doors open to be sure nothing is going to jump out and has been waking several times a night with nightmares.

Would those little plug in lights that come on when they detect movement help at all? My sister had them for the long corridor upstairs in her house.

These ones from B&Q look like they'd do the job.

Coff, I have the mirrors and curtains thing too! I cannot have even a tiny crack in the curtains and I will not have a mirror in my bedroom. Thinking about it, I used to hate staying at my Grandma's as a child because I was scared of the corridors (bungalow) as well.

zzzzz ds1 has to wake the whole house if he needs the toilet in the night. He can't just go, because he still has the rule stuck in his head to call me or dh, which comes from from when he was tiny and couldn't reach the door knobs on his own, let alone navigate the dog-gate etc - he's 10 now and still lies in bed yelling "Daddeeeee ... I'm desperate!"