Most of us have intuitive thoughts, where our inner voice says something bizarre. But being functional adults, we don’t let that voice win. Children, however, haven’t yet developed the ability to filter out what’s socially (un)acceptable when they're overwhelmed. And so, they sometimes say and do truly weird things.
#1
When we got our house, we did extensive remodelling inside. One thing we did was to cover up a doorway in one room, and build a new doorway in a different location. All this happened years before our daughter was born. When our daughter was born, that room became her room. One night we were putting her to sleep, when she suddenly sat up in her bed, pointed to where the doorway used to be and said "nobody walks through there anymore". No, there was no way of knowing there had been a doorway there, and we hadn't talked about it.
The house was built in 1890.
The house was built in 1890.
35points
#2
After "Simon says touch your nose" and "Simon says touch your ear", I got hit with "Simon says your days are numbered".
30points
#3
When my son was about 3 or 4 he didn’t talk very much and when he did it was very hard to understand him, but one day he was telling me very clearly and in great detail about how he used to be one of those guys with no hair and that wore a big orange cloth instead of proper clothes and they used to sit on the floor and be quiet all the time… after a while of trying to work it out I showed him a picture of a Buddhist Monk and he said ”Yeah Mum just like that but then I got trampled by a lots of elephants and it hurt so bad and then when I woke up again I was your baby and it didn’t hurt anymore” 👀 I was glad my older son was there as no one would of believed that I had such an in depth understandable conversation with him if not. He would repeat the story up until he turned 5 and if I’ve ever repeated the story to him since he turned 5 he doesn’t have a clue what I’m talking about.
30points
As Lawrence J. Cohen, Ph.D., points out in a piece on Psychology Today, parents can feel overwhelmed when their kids say terrible and scary things. The important thing is to stay calm, cool, and collected.
“Take a breath, stay calm, and respond to the emotion the child is trying to express. With your empathy and support, children will learn to express their emotions in a less dramatic way,” Cohen writes.
You shouldn’t punish your children for saying these things. Nor should you demand that they stop talking like this or try to convince them that they don’t mean what they said.
“These responses can’t reach a child who is in such an overloaded state, and our own emotional flooding is likely to increase the child’s emotional pressure. Then they may dig in and keep repeating the words that had such a dramatic impact. We, in turn, may panic and react as if our child is at serious risk,” he warns.
#4
When my son was around three, he gazed out the car window and mused, “I remember when this used to all be trees.”.
26points
#5
When my daughter was 3 she would put chairs in a row to watch a movie and told me it was because it reminded her of when she “would go see motion pictures at the movie palace” but that she liked it better now “without all of the people smoking around her”.
25points
#6
My son (4 at the time) and me were having a conversation one day when he said “I can’t wait to be grown again like you Mom.” And so I said “what do you mean, you were never old - you’re a kid haha” and he looked me in my face with a serious look and said “No, I was old like you before my house caught on fire” And it just honestly creeped me OUT. Like I still think about it very often.
He also swears he remembers when he was in my stomach, he always tells me about how I used to poke him and he would kick me back, and that I used to eat alot of good drinks and food that he really enjoyed in my stomach. He says one day he remembers I pushed a lot of times and all of a sudden he was with me. I have never taught him about pregnancy or labor, and he’s never seen anything about it, so it creeps me out.
He also swears he remembers when he was in my stomach, he always tells me about how I used to poke him and he would kick me back, and that I used to eat alot of good drinks and food that he really enjoyed in my stomach. He says one day he remembers I pushed a lot of times and all of a sudden he was with me. I have never taught him about pregnancy or labor, and he’s never seen anything about it, so it creeps me out.
23points
Some things that parents can say in response to their children using terrible language include phrases like:
- That’s a very strong way to say you’re angry.
- That’s a very strong way to let me know how sad you are.
- Those are such strong words, they really show me you are feeling a lot right now.
The important thing here is to be calm and empathetic. You, as a parent, should show your child that you can handle the emotions they’re throwing out into the world. On top of that, you can help them handle these emotions, too. Then, you can come up with ideas for how to express those feelings differently, in a less scary way.
#7
My son was 3 and kept telling his mom about the metal man who talked to him. She just brushed it off but eventually told me and I was creeped out. I got the house I live in from my great uncle after he died and he had his legs amputated and guess what? He had metal legs. There have been a LOT more things happen that are unexplained but that was the creepiest.
21points
#8
My son when he was aged around 2 or 3 was obsessed with feet. He would shout at a particular female children's TV personality "take your shoes off" every time she came on the screen, and when a young female relative would come to our house he would lay on the floor and cuddle her feet. I'm pleased to report that he has grown out of it.
20points
#9
Last year. Daughter was 3. Just me and her home in the living room watching tv. It’s after sundown and we aren’t the type of people to leave lights on all over the house, we just have them on in the rooms we are residing (keeps electricity bill down). She’s not afraid of the dark since there are always dark places in the house once the sun sets. Daughter looks to the dark hallway and asks me “what is she saying?” I reassure her no one is saying anything over there because it’s just me and her home. She keeps looking towards the dark hallway, I start to get anxious. She asks “who is that? What is she saying?” Again, I look, no one is there, tell her it’s nothing. She forgets for a bit and I think we are good. She’s playing, laughing and being silly again. Then she turns once more, looks straight into the hallway and very seriously says “mom she’s right there”. This is where I freak out (internally). I convince myself to go turn on the light. I do so, hallway is empty and show her no one is there. That was the last of that and I kept the light on til my husband got home.
18points
“Parents often say that their children don’t listen unless the parents yell. Well, the same is often true for children. They often feel that they can’t get their parents’ attention unless they are very dramatic. No need to beat yourself up about this; just increase your efforts to listen and accept what you hear. Remember that acceptance does not mean agreeing. When a child says terrible (and untrue) things about you or their siblings or their life, then you can listen with respect and care, and reflect back what you heard without correcting them,” Cohen explains in a post on Psychology Today.
#10
My son, 2.5, had barely begun talking in sentences. As I rock him to sleep, “remember when I was the dad and you were the kid? I would do this for you. Remember?”.
18points
#11
My mom says that when I was really little I told her that I had picked them out. I was raised by completely atheist academics, it kinda freaked her out, lol.
17points
#12
Well. Last night I awoke from a deep sleep to my 5 year old 6 inches from my face just standing completely still in the dark. I gasped violently which caused my husband to fly up into a sitting position, also gasping in pure terror.
She wanted a “better blanket”.
She wanted a “better blanket”.
16points
Once you’ve finished reading through these parenting stories, we’d like to hear your thoughts in the comments below, Pandas.
What are the scariest, most bizarre, creepiest things that you’ve personally ever heard kids say? How do you, as a parent, react when your kids say these kinds of things? How do you support your partner when things get tough at home? Let us know down below.
#13
My toddler once whispered to an empty corner of the room, telling an invisible visitor to leave, sounding genuinely scared.
16points
#14
My kid had a really elaborate imaginary friend named Dr. Brown that they'd create whole scenarios around. This is normal. In developmental psych they taught us that it is developmentally typical and healthy for children of a young age to have imaginary friends, and has even been shown to correlate to high intelligence.
Dr. Brown showed up when Charlie was about 3 and a halfish. I was surprised to learn the imaginary friend was a bonafide doctor! A family gp, apparently... This felt oddly specific coming from someone who'd recently declared they were going to be a crocodile when they grew up, but I tried to go with it as I'd been taught to do.
Dr Brown was also a st Bernard dog. This did not prevent our learned friend from becoming a family physician with a thriving medical practice that somehow didn't stop him from always being at our breakfast, lunch and dinners, as well as sitting in my seat and refusing to move.
Charlie: "He's tired, Mom. He worked nightshift."
Me:"🤨That's... probably very tiring, yes." (YOU ARE THREE YEARS OLD WHERE ARE YOU GETTING THIS FROM?!)
I'd observe my kid chattering away at the empty seat next to her, and repeat to myself in the kitchen: "prof said this was normal, prof said this was fine. Who cares if my toddlers best friend is an imaginary dog with better degrees than me😭".
I was really happy when Dr Brown got his much anticipated transfer to the Big City.
Dr. Brown showed up when Charlie was about 3 and a halfish. I was surprised to learn the imaginary friend was a bonafide doctor! A family gp, apparently... This felt oddly specific coming from someone who'd recently declared they were going to be a crocodile when they grew up, but I tried to go with it as I'd been taught to do.
Dr Brown was also a st Bernard dog. This did not prevent our learned friend from becoming a family physician with a thriving medical practice that somehow didn't stop him from always being at our breakfast, lunch and dinners, as well as sitting in my seat and refusing to move.
Charlie: "He's tired, Mom. He worked nightshift."
Me:"🤨That's... probably very tiring, yes." (YOU ARE THREE YEARS OLD WHERE ARE YOU GETTING THIS FROM?!)
I'd observe my kid chattering away at the empty seat next to her, and repeat to myself in the kitchen: "prof said this was normal, prof said this was fine. Who cares if my toddlers best friend is an imaginary dog with better degrees than me😭".
I was really happy when Dr Brown got his much anticipated transfer to the Big City.
15points
#15
Not a parent, this is a friend's kid. Was teaching french to young kids and a particular boy seemed to gravitate to me. I asked about his weekend (giving me a chance to teach him the days of the week in french) and he told me his parents got divorced. I'm not good with kids so I kinda lock up and then go "Oh. I'm sorry. Did you get to do anything fun?" he states his mom's boyfriend might take him fishing. I say "Oh that sounds like fun! My dad would take me fishing!" and he said his dad divorced his mom because he was "afraid he would do something bad" in the kid's own words.
I still think about him. I hope he and his mom are safe. I haven't seen her since I moved and I only knew her through the school system.
I still think about him. I hope he and his mom are safe. I haven't seen her since I moved and I only knew her through the school system.
13points
#16
My daughter (6): Mommy, what does skin taste like?
Me: .. I.. don't know. Why would you ask that?
Her: You don't know what human skin tastes like?
That's enough thinking for today, sister.
Me: .. I.. don't know. Why would you ask that?
Her: You don't know what human skin tastes like?
That's enough thinking for today, sister.
12points
#17
Have a niece that told me one time she had a bloodlust. She was about 8 years old when she said that. She's a bit older now and steals everything she can get away with, been kicked out of school, banned from family members houses, kicked out of every baby sitter within 20 miles. I told her mother one time that I wasn't sure if her human skull collection will be public or private when she gets older. Love her she's my niece but I have a feeling she's going to spend a big chunk of her life in contact with law enforcement.
11points
#18
My sweet boy, he’s 4, when he could start speaking would tell us stories of years past. At first, it just seemed coincidental to things we spoke about (“I went to that restaurant before, 15 years ago. I ate noodles with sauce” when WE as a family were going for the first time. Or “I drove in the mountains before. I saw a goat” where we as a family have never been to the mountains but we have spoken to him about them). Plus other things. It’s gotten to the point that we try to ask for more information, see what he can share. He said he had a mommy and daddy before but that they were very very very old. He also told us he worked on a farm.
Anyways. Recently, he told us he had a heart attack. I asked when and he said “15 years ago, before mommy and daddy”.
I personally do no believe in reincarnation BUT a lot of what he talks about resembles my husband’s maternal great grandfather; it’s more interesting than creepy. For a kid who basically just watched Paw Patrol and True and some science show, he talks a lot of surprising things.
Anyways. Recently, he told us he had a heart attack. I asked when and he said “15 years ago, before mommy and daddy”.
I personally do no believe in reincarnation BUT a lot of what he talks about resembles my husband’s maternal great grandfather; it’s more interesting than creepy. For a kid who basically just watched Paw Patrol and True and some science show, he talks a lot of surprising things.
11points
#19
When my niece was like 3, she and my sister were living in a house mate situation with a dude called John. One day, niece started asking for John's lady, where's John's lady, I wanna see John's lady.
Except John didnt have a girlfriend, never brought anyone to the house.
So they ask her, what does John's lady look like? When did you see her last?
And she describes a woman that looks like a long time late friend of John's. Except we're in Australia, the friend lived back in Ireland, had never been over, and John didnt have any pictures of her.
So John and my sister are ready to call an old priest and a young priest, when suddenly she races into the lounge and says JOHN'S LADY IS HERE!! She had been napping in her bedroom, so this freaked them out even more.
Turns out it was a pair of tweezers John had, where the handle had a picture of a lady! Niece had seen it and loved it, so she'd stolen it to put in her treasure box, but forgotten where she'd put it 🤣🤣🤣.
Except John didnt have a girlfriend, never brought anyone to the house.
So they ask her, what does John's lady look like? When did you see her last?
And she describes a woman that looks like a long time late friend of John's. Except we're in Australia, the friend lived back in Ireland, had never been over, and John didnt have any pictures of her.
So John and my sister are ready to call an old priest and a young priest, when suddenly she races into the lounge and says JOHN'S LADY IS HERE!! She had been napping in her bedroom, so this freaked them out even more.
Turns out it was a pair of tweezers John had, where the handle had a picture of a lady! Niece had seen it and loved it, so she'd stolen it to put in her treasure box, but forgotten where she'd put it 🤣🤣🤣.
11points
#20
My son went through a phase at around a year and a half where he would laugh every time we drove by the funeral home. His infant cousin had been cremated there the year before my son was born.
10points