I am seeking advice or maybe just a few people to say "Don't worry, it is normal"... lol! Peyton is almost 8 (October). He seems to be completely obsessed with death. He is always wanting to talk about it lately. It really scares me. Is this normal? He goes to a Private School, a Christian Private school here. All of the teachers probably teach a little differently (according to their own spirituality) of course but he has Bible study every week, they have school Prayer in an assembly every morning, and they pray before they eat and before they leave. Great right? I thought so. Last year was not bad, his teacher was great, she knew of his condition (ADHD) and she really did a good job of working with Peyton. She understood that he can get really aggrivated with himself really easy and he can become quite obsessed about things. That was last year, this year... new year... new teacher! I have noticed in the last 6 months that he talks more about how he needs to repent for his sins every night and if he doesn't he won't go to heaven. I have always prayed with my kids every night when tucking them into bed but noticed that the last 6 months or so as soon as I walk out he says his own prayer stating the above. I didn't think much of it at the time until about a month ago he was freaking out in bed. I went up there and he was having a full on anxiety attack. Once I got him calmed down a bit I asked him what was wrong. He said he didn't know. I asked him what he was doing when he started feeling this way. He said he was saying a prayer to ask God to forgive him for his sins and be in his heart so he could go to heaven, then he said he got a really scary feeling and couldn't breathe. Anxiety... the poor kid is so worried that if he hits his sister and forgets to repent for it he will go to hell. It doesn't matter how many times I have tried to explain to him the repentence process he can't understand it. I am really concerned. Any advice?
Like a waterfall in slow motion, Part One
3 years ago
3 comments:
Remind him that Christ is the great mediator and that He died so that, even when we do "sin," if we try our hardest to be better He will be there at Heaven's gates telling God that we have been wonderful and deserve to be there. It doesn't get much better than Christ, Himself, vouching for us on Judgment Day!
I agree with Liz. Also remind him that Christ is the only person who was perfect on this earth. There is no sense in us driving ourselves crazy trying to be perfect. There is no point at all in repentance if we weren't imperfect & if Christ didn't know that we could not make it through without making mistakes. Sins & mistakes are two completely different things, help him understand that. Christ is so merciful & loves us so much that we will be surprised as to what he might overlook as long as we have always tried our best. And Christ knows what our best is, so remind him that his best (even if he hits his sister & forgets to repent) will always be good enough. You may have already thought of all that, but I hope that some of it helps. You could also go onto lds.org & find some great resources about repentance that would help. A few years ago, we had Maddie in to see a psychologist, because she was terrified of death, in general. She didn't want to die, she didn't want us to die. Even with what we had told her about what happens after death & heaven, she still couldn't get rid of the fear. We couldn't leave her side for 3 months without her having an anxiety or panic attack. After a lot of talking her through things & seeing the psychologist, she worked her way through it. It is very scary when your child has a fear so complex. The doctor gave me a bunch of info on why the brain reacts the way it does (causing the attacks) & how to literally teach it to react correctly. If you need it, let me know. I feel your frustration & I am so sorry. It does sound like his teacher may be laying it on a little thick for his age group. I hope things get better for him soon!!
although i can understand where they are coming from; thier own spirituality, as far as our home goes, religion is not pushed on kohen and he is not forced to believe or think anything but what is right for him. I personally feel that telling kids that they're going to go to hell if they sin (which sin isn't a factor in thier lives at such a young age) is absolutely horrible and setting them up for the type of reactions that peyton is having. Especially telling them that God is a judgeing and unforgiving God. That's aweful. That's just my opinion, all opinions will differ, we have different beliefs when it comes to religion, but do what's best for him and yourselves. It's not fair to push that on such a young spirit and expect that it's going to make him a better person. I seriously feel that it will only turn him into a paranoid freak and unable to think for himself. Let him tell you what HE believes in his heart.
Post a Comment