Our 3-year-old son is going through a fearful phase. Anything can trigger his anxiety: a stray cat, a noisy lawn mower, a flushing toilet.
Not even his “lovey,” a monogrammed security blanket, can completely ease his jitters.
His worries get worse at night. At bedtime, I sometimes lie on the floor, hold his hand and sing “Itsy, Bitsy Spider.”
Our older son, now 8, went through a similar phase. Fortunately, with a second child you don’t assume every change in behavior is a reason for panic.
Still, it hurts my heart to see my 3-year-old son whimper. Often, he says he just wants to be held. “My Daddy,” he says, and wraps his arms tightly around my neck.