Don’t Be Afraid of the Monster

"Mommy!" he calls from the other room. I sigh deeply, wishing I could stay in the warm embrace of my bed. I roll over and prod my husband, "Love, would you check on him, please?" My husband lets out a loud obviously fake snore. I roll my eyes, grudgingly get out of bed, and hit him with my pillow as I leave the room.

"Mommy!" I hear again as I walk barefoot down the hall to the door with a large sign 'No Girlz Allowed.' I open the door so that the hall light shines on my little boy's face, "Yes, beau?" I hear a little sniffle from under the covers, "Mom, the monsters are back." I try not to let my frustration show as I walk over to his little twin bed, sit on the edge, and take the cover from over his head.

I look at his bright puffy eyes, just like my own, and his runny nose just like his father's, "Beau, I told you there are no monsters here." He tells me in a whiney voice, "But I heard a creaking noise in my closet like somebody was moving around." "Beau," I tell him as I gently coax him to lie down, my hand ruffling his hair, "Do you know why there are no monsters in your closet?" He shakes his head.

"You see, Beau, monsters have no interest in little kids. Monsters only come after evil people who have done terrible things." His face scrunches up, "What if I did something bad?" I shake my head, "No, no, baby. I mean people who are so evil that they have no love or kindness in their hearts. Monsters like to hunt people who think they're better than everyone else. Monsters like to feed on people who take advantage of other people. Monsters like to hurt people who like to hurt others. So, you see, no monster is ever going to be interested in children. Monsters grow stronger off hatred and greed."

My son just looks back at me with wide eyes. I continue, "So, the next time you think a monster might be hiding, if you've done nothing hateful or greedy or hurtful... you have nothing to worry about." My little son looked thoughtful down at his hands. After a moment, he told me in a quiet voice, "Mommy, I pushed Sissy off the swing today."

I nodded knowingly, "Did you say sorry?" A few tears squeezed out of his eyes, "No. She wouldn't get off when it was my turn."

"Are you sorry?"

"Yeah."

"Are you going to tell Sissy sorry tomorrow when she gets up?"

"Yeah."

"Ok. That's very good, baby. That's a kind thing to do."

I kiss my little boy goodnight, and he falls asleep again almost immediately. I wander back to my own bed, snuggling back under the covers with my husband. I think he's asleep when I hear him mutter, "You're traumatizing them. How do you think they'll feel when they realize you're lying?" I smile to myself, "I'm not, if you think about it. People who do bad things always get their comeuppance. Monsters have always been real."