WHO WANTS SOME CRAB?

Do you know those dreams you wake up from and are so relieved that it wasn't real? I can remember having those as a child and even though I was awake, I was still terrified that whatever or whoever I was dreaming about was somehow around me. It would take me a moment or two of really waking myself up to realize I was safe. 

Mags had one of those dreams last night. At 4AM she ended up by our bed shaking and refusing to go back into her room. Once Chris and I talked to her about it, she calmed down. As I carried her back to her bed and laid her back down, this was the conversation we had:

Mags: "I'm not going in there, Mama. There's a giant crab. He's trying to pinch me."

Me: "It was just a dream, Mags. See? Look in your room, there's no giant crab."

Mags: "Of course you can't see him. That's because he's invisible."

Me: "I will carry you in so you don't have to walk across your floor, okay?"

Mags: "Okay. Just be careful he doesn't pinch your butt."

Me: "I'll be careful. See? We are at your bed and no crab. Nothing pinched either of us. All that's in your room is the big mess you guys made."

Mags: *giggling* "Tuck made most of it."

Me: "Alright, let's get you tucked in and put all your stuffed friends around you. That will keep any more bad dreams about stinky crabs away."

Mags: "And silkies, too. Can you lay with me until I fall asleep, Mama?"

Me: "Yes. Let me just climb in over here...."

Mags: "NO! Mama! You sleep on the outside of the bed. That way if the crab comes back he'll pinch you first!"

Me: "Good plan. Night, Mags."

Mags: "Night, Mama. Night, invisible crabby."

All I knew was if anything pinched my butt, it was getting boiled.