It all started on a Thursday evening. My family and I were gathered in the living room, enjoying a dinner of takeout while watching the latest Disney flick available on Netflix. My 2-year-old daughter, who I affectionately call Peanut, decided to climb off her cozy spot on our makeshift picnic blanket and snuggle into my lap.
“Hey sweetie,” I said softly, running my fingers through her beautiful curls. This quiet end-of-day moment was my favorite; she was just sleepy enough to be extra cuddly, but not so worn out that she was a little whirlwind of chaos.
“Mommy,” she whispered, looking a bit solemn. “I think there’s a girl who’s sad.”
Surprised, I instinctively placed my hand on my belly where her little sibling was growing. We had just begun explaining that the bump in mommy’s tummy was a real person she would soon meet. I assumed she was simply trying to connect with her future sister, and my heart swelled.
“Awww, sweetheart! Your sister isn’t sad. She’s super happy because she has a wonderful big sister like you!”
Peanut shook her head, casually munching on a chip. “No, Mama,” she said, her mouth full. “Not the baby sister.”
Alrighty then. I was going to need some clarification. “Which girl are you talking about?”
Without hesitation, she pointed behind the couch where my partner sat. “The one with the red eyes.”
Wait, what?!
Pause for a moment. My child was only 2, and I was pretty sure she wasn’t plucking this idea from a cartoon. Even with her impressive Play-Doh creations, I doubted she had the imagination to conjure up something like that.
Then things took a turn for the worse.
Peanut raised her finger and pointed again, adding, “Right there, Mommy.”
Oh no.
In that moment, I felt an overwhelming urge to pack up and move far away, preferring to start fresh in a new city rather than face the idea of sharing my home with a red-eyed apparition. I mean, who cares about the dream house we just bought? No stove or oven is worth living with a potential demon child.
What are you supposed to do when your toddler casually mentions something like that?
Well, I ended our picnic session rather abruptly and carried her up to bed, then rushed back downstairs to search online for “how to get rid of ghosts.” Let me tell you, the results were a bizarre mix of helpful tips, humorous anecdotes, and downright terrifying advice from the internet’s finest.
First, I needed to rule out any non-paranormal possibilities. So, I verified that we didn’t live near a dumpster where rats or raccoons could be scratching at the roof at night. Even if they were, I doubted Peanut would confuse their noises with something supernatural. So, we still had an issue at hand.
Next, the online experts suggested making “friendly contact” with the spirit. I’ll admit, I consider myself quite open-minded, but I have a slight bias against red-eyed, crying entities. So, friendly chat was definitely off the table, which left me with only one option: an exorcism.
As a child of the ’80s, I was not about to go down that path. I’ve seen that movie, had the nightmares, and even got the T-shirt.
After an hour of scrolling and shaking my head at the lack of guidance for “Red-Eyed Ghost Child in My Living Room,” I ended up clicking through various threads, including one on essential oils (because why wouldn’t that help, right?). I was disappointed to find that even the most devoted oil enthusiasts didn’t have a remedy for ghostly encounters.
Feeling completely defeated and anxious about possibly going to bed in a house shared with a crying specter, I resorted to the most desperate measure a parent can take: I turned to Facebook.
Imagine how desperate I must’ve been to post: “Hey, everyone. My kid just saw a demon-faced girl in our living room, any advice?” But I was that desperate, so I hit “Post” and waited.
To my surprise, I didn’t have to wait long before responses started rolling in. It turns out, I wasn’t alone! Numerous parents shared their own stories of children who saw spirits. One mom told me about her twins who had a tea party with a woman named Matilda, who just so happened to be their late great-grandmother—whom they never met. They even poured her a cup of her favorite tea, vanilla rose.
As more parents chimed in, I felt a sense of relief knowing this wasn’t just my cross to bear. I decided to research my century-old home and discovered there had once been a little girl who lived there in the 1900s.
Okay, not exactly true; that didn’t happen. But over the next six months, Peanut continued to mention sightings of our little red-eyed girl, whom she affectionately named “Shadow Whisper.” Yep, just when I thought it couldn’t get creepier.
I’m happy to report that after the birth of her sister, “Shadow Whisper” seemed to fade away. This could mean a lot of things, but I’m choosing to interpret it as a positive sign and not delve into the horror-movie potential of that scenario.
So, here’s the takeaway: nobody told me kids might possess this unusual ability to see spirits. Apparently, it’s a real phenomenon. I feel it’s my responsibility to share this with you before your family’s cozy movie night is interrupted by a ghost and you decide to set your house ablaze.
Remember, you’re not alone. Let’s hear your spooky stories! And by the way, if anyone is in the market for a charming historic property in the Coastal Southeast, ours just hit the market. No particular reason for sharing that. Just thought you should know.
Summary:
This article explores the unsettling experience of a parent whose young child claims to see a spirit with red eyes. The narrative highlights the humorous yet eerie moments of navigating the paranormal through the innocent eyes of a toddler, and the sense of community that arises when sharing experiences with other parents.