Lightbulb battle

Every night When I tuck Maxwell into bed, I turn on the fan and shut out the closet light. I do this because I know that his body will get better sleep when it is cool and dark. I believe a good sleep is key to feeling well and happy.

Maxwell is afraid of the dark. Every night he wakes up and is frightened by shapes and shadows in his room. To allay his fear, he turns on lights, closet lights, flashlights or bathroom lights. His fear is of greater concern than his desire for a good sleep.

There is the battle; nightlight vs no nightlight. I shut the light off at his bedtime. He gets up and turns it on. I shut the lights off at my bedtime, he gets up and turns them on. Tony gets up in the middle of the night to shut off the lights. Max gets up and turns them on. I take out the light bulbs, Max steals bulbs from lamps around the house. I threaten loss of privileges, shut doors and spankings. Max ignores me and turns on the light.

I am frustrated and worried. Maxwell needs good sleep. I don't want fears to rule his life. His fears are causing him to be disobedient, sneaky and dishonest.

Heavenly Father feels the same way about me. He knows what I need and what circumstances will allow me to be at my best. But I am afraid. I don't trust him and won't give up my control, my insistence on a lightbulb. My fear is greater than my trust in God's awareness of me. I go a few nights in the dark, but at the first sign of a shadows or unrecognizable shapes and sounds, I panic and turn on the light.

What can I do to teach Max to trust that he will be safe in the dark and doesn't need a light. What can I do to stop insisting on control of the light switch and to know that Heavenly Father will keep me safe in the dark




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