Way OT - I have heard of Imaginary Friends, but my daughter has an Imaginary Ghost?..

[Love the Mouse]

This all started on Christmas Eve when DD(2.5) begins telling me that we have a ghost. I asked her where the ghost is right now and she points to the hallway outside of the bathroom. Then when she went to show me a little bit later, the ghost was gone and she looked down the steps and said "Oh there it is, downstairs". This went on the whole time that we were getting ready for Church, about 30-35 min.

Driving to church, she tells me that the ghost is with us again. This time I asked and she says, "side me (beside me) in chair". I have to say it was starting to scare me a little.

One thing that I do have to mention, our first child died 4 years ago, about 2 weeks before Christmas.

I kept asking if it was a boy or girl ghost. She doesn't asnwer, she just acts like I didn't even ask her a question. I asked if she knows the ghosts name, she doesn't answer.

The other night while I was giving her a bath I thought to myself that she hadn't mentioned the ghost since Christmas Eve, and not even 30 minutes after I am thinking about it, she mentions the ghost again, and has been for the last 2 days.

Has ANYONE ever had their child experience this? One time she said she was afraid of the ghost, all of the other times she is always asking me to help her "catch it".

Does this sound crazy, because as I write it I can't believe it. I know I have heard that children are innocent and can see ghosts.

I know that after she was born I used to like to think that she was smiling at her brother watching over her when I would change her and she would look over my shoulder and smile and laugh at nothing.

Not sure what to do, if anything. Does she just have an active imagination?

Any help or info would be appreciative.

Michaela

 

[JacobsMommy11002]

I think she probably does see something. I had someone tell me once that children can talk to the dead. I was like, "yeah, right!" Then a few weeks ago my DS4, Jake, starts telling me how much he likes playing with his old grandfather who died? My dad died when I was 8, so Jake has never known him, and his other grandfathers are alive and well. I ask some questions, and he tell me he played with him at our old house, even described what he looked like to me. Well, our old house was the house we grew up in, and my dad died of a heart attack in that house...my parents bedroom was actually Jake's room. And he described my dad to a T. So, long story short, yes, I think she can see a ghost.

 

[mouseketeer_mom]

okay, you are probably going to get responses all over the place on this one. Keep in mind, this is just my opinion I think 2.5 is really young for an imaginary friend. Also, I tend to think that she is really young to remember consistantly something imaginary over a period of weeks.

We've had an imaginary friend "Jim". Jim lived with us for about 18 months or so and is still talked about although he no longer lives here. He came to live with us when my DS was about 5.5. I could go on and on about Jim, his parents had been eaten by a bear (he came to live with us shortly after DS saw Brother Bear).

I can only imagined how flamed I'm going to be for saying this, but here goes... considering your daughters age, what she seems to be seeing, and your past, I'd probably consider consulting someone reputable in the field of psychic abilities.

 

[lchadwick]

My 4YO has been seeing our dog who died 9/04. She doesn't talk about her as much, but every once in awhile. Our dog was old and lazy for the whole time Ryleigh knew her, so she was never really interested in the dog, so we think it's odd.

She has also (only once, thankfully) refused to go in the back door because someone was standing there. When I told DH, he menioned that he sensed something dark standing on the back porch from almost the first day we moved in. He and members of his family have reportedly have "gifts."

And Ryleigh can also describe my father perfectly, although we only have one picture of him up in the house, on the fridge (my parents wedding pic). He passed away in 1995. She even called him Papa.

So, I believe children can see things.....

 

[Feralpeg]

When I was about 5 years old, my family lived in an old house. My brother, who was 3 at the time, used to talk about the "kissing lady" all the time. It was very odd. He said she would kiss him each night after my folks put him to bed. No one took him seriously. I was too little at the time to join in the speculation, but I also saw someone in that house. At night, I'd be lying in bed and an older man (no one from my family) would stand in the doorway to my room. I can still distinctly see the bathrobe he wore. I never told my parents about it because I saw how they reacted to my little brother. No one else in the family ever mentioned seeing anyone.

So, yes, I believe that children can see people who have passed. Many different sources I've read have indicated that "heaven" resides in a different dimension in the same basic space where we reside. Because they are in another dimension, we don't see them. Children and certain individuals are more open to this dimension and are able to see and sometimes communicate with people from the other dimension. In fact, most people, at some time or other catch a glimpse of the other dimension. Those times, when you think you caught a glimpse of someone out of the corner of your eye only to find no one there, is actually a quick glimpse into the other dimension.

I know this sounds very odd, but many psychics and people who have studied psychic phonomena agree with this theory. The good part is that you have nothing to fear. If you DD is seeing your son, he would never harm her or you. As she grows older, odds are she won't see him after awhile.

Sylvia Brown has written many books on this subject. I found them to be fascinating.

 

[Jules123]

My 2 1/2 year old DS gave me a scare a couple of months ago. He had just gotten out of the tub and I took him into the living room to get him ready for bed. He started saying "That man's not going to get me, is he Mama?" I asked him what man and he said that man in the fire. He then pointed to our gas fireplace. I asked him about it and he said "Mama don't you see that man in the fire?" Where he got this I have no idea. When I tucked him into his bed, I had to reassure him SEVERAL times that the man in the fire was not going to come in his room and get him. Freaked me out!

 

[Love the Mouse]

Thank you all for responding. I just wrote a response and somehow it got deleted....anyway, I just want to thank those of you who responded. I, myself have always believed and have been facinated in ghosts. I have watched shows on TV about them and the only time I actually watched Montel was when he had Sylvia Brown on the show.

I just wish that she would tell me a little more. Although I did just ask her if it was a kid and she said no. But still nothing on if it is a man or woman, or the name. She did say that the ghost does not kiss or hug her...I got that out of her. But it does play with her. Maybe I will see if I can find some books on the matter. Thanks again.

Michaela

 

[meeskamouska]

I would like to disagree about 2.5 year olds being able to engage in extensive imaginary play....my daughter would constantly talk to her numerous imaginary freinds as well as be other characters for days and weeks at a time!!! She is 3.5 now and still has a goblin, giant and a witch that live in her bedroom. I do think it is possible for her to see someone....I also think she my be intelligent and be engaging in pretend play!!

 

[Ariel8676]

My dd who is 4 now, started telling me about the "shadows" that were in the house(started about 2-2.5)..sometimes she was fine with them, but sometimes she seemed really scared. One time she was standing at the top of the stairs and wouldn't come down, she was hysterical crying saying the dog wouldn't let her down and he was growling at her..weird. We moved from there a few months ago and she said she really loves the new house because there aren't any bad shadows here..
Anyway she also talks about our dog Chance that died 2 years ago and my grandfather who died last year. She says that Poppy plays hide and seek with her and comes to see her a lot..also he isnt sick anymore and has 2 legs now(he had his leg amputated a few years ago)
Anyway..i Do believe that children can see spirits and would love to read more stories.

 

[disnut1149]

Hi
I've never seen a ghost in my house, but there have been signs of this. I do believe that some people can see them. When my children were younger, they would swear that they would see the rocking chair rock. All 3 children would tell me this at different times. Also, my dog died last year and since then, I have heard him bark. I didn't tell my DH at first since he would think I was nuts. But when I did tell him, he told me that he has heard him too. Also, last Christmas my DD's and I were baking Christmas cookies and my DD got the canister that I usually keep crackers in and she said "mom, there are already Christmas cookies in here. Well, there were really old old cookies in the canister, filled up to the top. I know I recently had washed that canister, because I just finished using it for crackers that I keep in there, and there is a window in my canister, so I can see what is in it. My husband had been complaining for weeks that he didn't have Xmas cookies, so I think it was probably his deceased mother that put them in there for him. One kind of cookie is one that we hadn't baked for two years!!!! Also just last month, I came home from work and my dishwasher was on. I asked my son, home from college if he had turned it on, and he said no. We stared at it in disbelief. So since this has happened, I was really hoping to come home to a house that was vacuumed and dinner all cooked. Why stop at just running the dishwasher?

 

[mommytomy3]

I kept asking if it was a boy or girl ghost. She doesn't asnwer, she just acts like I didn't even ask her a question. I asked if she knows the ghosts name, she doesn't answer.


Does this sound crazy, because as I write it I can't believe it. I know I have heard that children are innocent and can see ghosts.

I know that after she was born I used to like to think that she was smiling at her brother watching over her when I would change her and she would look over my shoulder and smile and laugh at nothing.

No, it doesnt sound crazy at all.. I have heard the same about children, and I really hope it to be true. My second child also passed away, when he was 2 years 8 months old.. and I can totally relate to you about the above where you wrote about her smiling at him. I ask occasionally, my other children, things about Christopher, like does he ever come in your dreams, etc. They always say No .. but occasionally my 3 year old will say or do something that stops me, like, how do you know that!?

(((hugs)))

 

[Mouse House Mama]

We live in a house that the preciuos owners lost a grown child. When our kids were babies they used to stare and laugh at nothing. Even my non believing husband thought the same thing that I did. Perhaps this sweet girl was playing with our children. We never felt anything bad. We also have a mystery coffee and toast smell every morning at around 4am. My Mom has even smelled it. The smell is so strong that you would think I was perking the coffee. There are no neighbors up at that hour and they are not close enough for their cooking to smell in our house. We also get a cigarette smell by one of our couches occassionally. We don't smoke and nobody is allowed to smoke in our house. Weird. I think your dd definetly sees something. If she is not afraid then I wouldn't worry.

 

[bunny213]

I too believe that children can "see". We had neighbors who lost their oldest son Dave to cancer, he died at home....about 6 months later, their first Grandson celebrated his birthday at their house. They are a big family with 6 children, and all the remaining siblings were there. After the party, his mother asked him if he had a good time. (He was 4) yes - he said, he did. And went on to say how happy he was to see Uncle Dave! His mother asked...where did you see Uncle Dave? Christopher answered..."He was standing over there in the corner, smiling with Jesus". Children do not make things like this up.....children are precious....and a blessing. I soon will have 13 grandchildren...and my deepest prayer is that they all have angels forever watching over them. Barb

 

[dementia412]

My older two loved playing with and trying to catch the ghost... freaked my DH out, but it's perfectly normal. I don't believe for one second there was anything there, nor do I think your child is seeing anything real, but some people believe in that sort of stuff. In the end does it matter? She'll grow out of it, and in a couple years she won't remember the ghost.

 

[tatooed goofy]

When my DD was 4 she used to talk to someone in her room all the time. We assumed it was an imaginary friend. Finally, I asked her about it. She told me whe was sitting next to her on the bed. She couldn't believe I couldn't see him. His name was Ed. She described him and how he would ask her how she was doing and how dance class was and so on. After a while of this, I asked my parents about it. My dad said his father was called Ed. Something I did not even know as my grandfather died when I was 2 of a massive heart attack. My DD would describe how he looked and I had her talk to my father. My dad got out a picture of my grandfather and showed DD. She said that is Ed, my friend. How do you know him and why do you have a picture of him? That totally freaked me out! I did not believe in the ghost thing but, that experience really opened my eyes. It went on for about 8 months. Once she started Kindergarten, it seemed to stop as quick as it started. Maybe he was there for a reason?????? There is no way she could have known about my grandfather. TOO WEIRD!! I will never forget this. She used to look up in church too as a small child and smile and follow things: As if looking at angels or something. God works in mysterious ways....

 

[joliesmom]

I think that concensus is that children often see spirits because they are innocent and have not been tought that they shouldn't see things. My daughter had a friend for years starting at 2.5yrs she began talking about "Tony" her dead friend. When she was in her crib she used to talk and play with him. She has also reported other spirits that had died before she could have remembered them (one day she told me her Uncle Joe was sleeping on our guest bed and he died when she was 6 months). The important thing is not to make your child think that something is wrong. Unless your child is scared let them talk about it. I will say my DD id 5.5 now and she doesn't mention Tony at all anymore.

 

[lclark0621]

On the imaginary friend thing, yes it is possible for a child that young to have one. My DS is 3.5, and since he turned 2, we have had his friend Rock who is a Moose living with us. I hear about Rock all the time, and it has been a year and a half, so yes, it is possible.

On the ghost thing, yep I think kids can see them. I saw & had a very in depth conversation with my Great Grandfather one afternoon. I then went to lay down. When I woke up my Mom was in my room telling me that my Great Grandfather had died that morning (Mom was at the hospital with him & I came home from school and no one was there).

Ever since then, I have caught glimpses of my Great Grandfather in the corner of my eye, or smell his cologne. On my wedding day, I was waiting alone before the ceremony & I felt a hand on my shoulder. I looked up & saw a shadow standing behind me. Then I looked in my makeup bag for something, and there was a pin my Great Grandfather used to wear all the time. I had not seen it in years & I lived in NY, but was married in Disney World. I also realized I did not have anything "old", but at the new, borrowed & blue. I guess my Great Grandfather knew I needed something & left it for me.

The day I was scheduled to have my DS, I was going through a box in my room. In the box was my Great Grandfather's Rosary Beads he would use to pray every night. I know they were not in the box, because I know what I normally keep in there. But there they were. I took them with me to the hospital & I know he was there with me that day also.

My DS has also seen things. He used to tell me there was a monster in our old house. When the "monster" was in the room my DS would freeze with real fright. He was honestly afraid of whatever it was. Sometimes the monster would be standing in the door way & DS would not leave a room (not somewhere he was playing, but like the bathroom or the bedroom after a nap). One time he was playing with some toys & dropped them mid play. He started crying saying the monster was scary & he did not want him in our house anymore. He was begging me to make him go away.

I started trying to get the monster to leave with all the normal things parents do. Nothing was working. Then evening after DS was alseep, I started just thinking of my Great Grandfather. I "asked" him to watch over my DS. I told him I would always have his love, but I did not need his protection, and my DS did.

The next day DS told me the monster was gone. When I asked him how. He said "Mommy, you should know, your Nonno got rid of him. Nonno told me he would take care of it & nothing scary would ever both me again. Then we played."

I used to call my Great Grandfather Nonno. At the time, I had not yet talked to my DS about my Great Grandfather. And no one else had either. My DS will still talk about Nonno & how they play sometimes. My DH once asked DS if Nonno was like Rock. DS said "No silly Daddy. Rock is my friend, Nonno is my Nonno! He was Mommy's Nonno when she was little to."

So yes, I think kids can & do see ghosts. And I for one, am greatful my DS has such a wonderful spirit watching over him.

 

[flying_babyb]

My sister used to see her dead grandpa that she never met. knew him by name before he was ever mentioned.

 

[bedgraynexl]

When my DD4 was 3 she mentioned dreaming about her grandma. I asked her what her and nana (my mother) did in the dream. She told me it wasn't Nana but Grandma Debbie (she died four years before DD was born). They played together in the dream and DD woke up giggling. I couldn't tell you if we had mentioned her name before or not, but she did say she had hair like mommy's.

After her mom died, DW had a dream that her grandmother (who died six months before her mom) came and told her that her mom was with her and would look out for her.

Whether it actually happened or not I don't know, but kids are amazing. Can sense things one minute and be into something dangerous the next.

 

[kimis]

Let me share something with you that happened in my home just a few months ago. My mother had moved in with my DH and myself because she was dying of small cell lung cancer. She had already buried two of her sons (Bill was 10 -died with non hodgins lymphoma and Eric-who was 33 and killed in a bike-car accident). She was having a bad morning so my sister stayed with her while I ran to the store for some of her needs. During this short period my 23 year old neice came over with her 2 year old son, Blake. My neice was on the phone talking to her mother (my other sister) when Blake began to stare at an empty chair. He than asked his mom who the boy was sitting in that chair. My neice replied that he was "freaking" her out because no one was in the chair. My sister (on the phone) said to ask him if it was a little boy or a big boy. Blake replied it was a big boy with brown hair smiling at him. A couple of minutes later my sister called back and suggested we show Blake a collage of pictures. He studied the pictures and finally came to a recent picture of my brother Eric and said that is the boy. Blake never knew Eric and 2 years olds can't make stuff like up. Pretty awesome. Later my mom would confirm that both boys were here with her. It wasn't scarey just a matter of fact happening.