never assume you know what the problem is
Nadia, stirring after we'd thought she'd fallen asleep: "I want you to carry me somewhere!"
Me: "Where?"
Nadia: "Somewhere out of this room!"
Me: "Well, it's sleeping time, so we're going to stay in the bed. But you can go somewhere in your dreams. How about you pick a place, and close your eyes and think about what it looks like and what you'll do there?"
Nadia: (brief pause in which I foolishly think she's taking my advice)
Nadia: (Howl of protest)
Me: What's wrong?
Nadia: I want to dream about CATERPILLARS!!
Me: "Where?"
Nadia: "Somewhere out of this room!"
Me: "Well, it's sleeping time, so we're going to stay in the bed. But you can go somewhere in your dreams. How about you pick a place, and close your eyes and think about what it looks like and what you'll do there?"
Nadia: (brief pause in which I foolishly think she's taking my advice)
Nadia: (Howl of protest)
Me: What's wrong?
Nadia: I want to dream about CATERPILLARS!!