Chez PLJ

Many times, often out of nowhere, Jon has often stated, “Dreams are not real.” This is said firmly but always as if looking for immediate confirmation. But on these occasions if we ask if he’s had a dream, he denies it, so we’ve never had an insight into what he might be experiencing. What are his wonders, conflicts, worries? Are his dreams strongly visual, or are they more audio in nature?

As I finished brushing my teeth last night, Jon started whining from his bed. This sound used to be very common: in fact, it’s only in the past year after the latest operation that Jon has matured and stopped waking up by crying or whining (whew!). Now generally, whatever the hour, he announces the interruption of his sleep with the words “Hey Dad!”. (d’oh!)

So to hear his whining was familiar, yet odd. I opened his door and asked what was the matter. He sleep-muttered something, and I didn’t think that I’d heard it right, so I asked again. He repeated, sleepy and stressful, “He’s taking the rainbow!”. So I asked Jon if he was dreaming or having a nightmare and all I got were shallow grunts in response. I don’t think he was really awake. I have a history of sleep-walking, and occasionally sleep talking, and Jon has a history of night terrors, so it’s quite possible that it wasn’t even as deep as a dream.

I told him that I was there, and that he was here, and everything was fine and immediately his breathing pattern changed and he began to snore softly.

I don’t know exactly what was going on, but worrying about someone taking (stealing?) a rainbow is certainly a worthy problem to have, and it’s a wonderful first insight into Jon’s dreamworld.