R.C. Anderson
My daughter’s ghosty friend
August 10th 2007 13:01
Mackensie is growing up fast … she even has a friend now and she’s only two and a half months old.
My littlest daughter has a friend who’s a ghost.
It’s funny; babies have a tendency to stare off into space. One minute they’re crying the next minute they’re not … and you can’t work out why they stopped, or why they are now smiling … at nothing.
Mac will do just that. I’ll catch her staring intently at the ceiling or a wall and when I turn to see what has caught her attention so strongly, I find … yes, that’s right … nothing.
We’ve decided that she has a ghosty friend who only she can see. A ghosty friend who hangs around our house making our daughter smile, never making her cry and entertaining her at times when no-one else is.
Thankfully our ghostly lodger seems to be a particularly friendly ghoul with no poltergeistic tendencies and no obvious desire to possess any of the people around him or her. Ghostie is quiet and clean (no slimy deposits from this ghost) and Mac just seems to adore him (or her).
I have read, somewhere in the distant past, that it’s possible for very young children and animals to actually see ghosts … that’s considering that ghosts exist of course! Young children (babies) haven’t been told that ghosts don’t exist, they see it and believe it.
It’s only as they grow older that they are told about the non-existence of ghosts that they stop believing and, consequently, stop seeing.
I don’t know, maybe that’s just a load of codswallop, maybe not. All I know is that Mac is happy when her ghosty friend is about…
… you figure it out!
My littlest daughter has a friend who’s a ghost.
It’s funny; babies have a tendency to stare off into space. One minute they’re crying the next minute they’re not … and you can’t work out why they stopped, or why they are now smiling … at nothing.
Mac will do just that. I’ll catch her staring intently at the ceiling or a wall and when I turn to see what has caught her attention so strongly, I find … yes, that’s right … nothing.
Where is the ghost?
We’ve decided that she has a ghosty friend who only she can see. A ghosty friend who hangs around our house making our daughter smile, never making her cry and entertaining her at times when no-one else is.
Thankfully our ghostly lodger seems to be a particularly friendly ghoul with no poltergeistic tendencies and no obvious desire to possess any of the people around him or her. Ghostie is quiet and clean (no slimy deposits from this ghost) and Mac just seems to adore him (or her).
I have read, somewhere in the distant past, that it’s possible for very young children and animals to actually see ghosts … that’s considering that ghosts exist of course! Young children (babies) haven’t been told that ghosts don’t exist, they see it and believe it.
It’s only as they grow older that they are told about the non-existence of ghosts that they stop believing and, consequently, stop seeing.
I don’t know, maybe that’s just a load of codswallop, maybe not. All I know is that Mac is happy when her ghosty friend is about…
… you figure it out!
| 105 |
| Vote |
Add To: 
Subscribe to this blog
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
That's great, I love it. All 3 of my kids as babies, when they would wake in the morning, would babble; as if having a conversation with someone.
I always loved listening to them through the monitor.
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by David
I don't feel so bad after reading this, about staring into space and holding convesations when I'm the only one in the room.
That's one healthy Little Mac you've got there. I hope you've cancelled your gym membership. You won't need it if you carry her everywhere.
David ...
Comment by Andrea
V8 Supercar Pitstop
Well, there you go ... they had ghosty friends too.
I'm just wondering if our ghostly housemate will accompany us when we move house in a couple of weeks!
A.xx
Comment by Andrea
V8 Supercar Pitstop
It's when you start arguing that you have to start worrying!
I've just realised that I keep posting photos of Mac that make her look a wee bit ... um ... podgy. She's actually not that big, it's just the way her sister is holding her!
Just for the record, Mac does have a neck!
Enjoy your weekend
A.xx
Comment by David
I'm in big trouble then. That started years ago.
I didn't realise it was her sister holding her. The pic doesn't make her look podgy, it makes her look like a giant. A giant Little Mac?
You should go to McDonalds and take a few pictures of her with a Big Mac. Borrow a burger though. Don't buy one and eat it).
Have a revved-up, hotted-up, petrol-head type of weekend.
David ...
Comment by Andrea
V8 Supercar Pitstop
If I ever get a chance, I'll take a photo of her with a Big Mac and post it. She'd definitely be the most attractive of the two.
I'm tightening my seatbelt as we speak ...!
A.xx
Comment by David
That's great news about strapping yourself into the couch.
You'd be quite proud of my efforts this morning. I was settling in on the couch for my bi-daily grandpa nap, channel surfing, and watched two petrol-head shows.
No idea what the first one was all about. It was at Phillip Island. These guys were going around this circular track in the rain. The races lasted about two laps. What on earth is that all about?
Then I watched a bit of the US motorbike Grand Prix. At least I understand what those blokes are on about.
Thank goodness there's some Aussie Rules on the TV tonight. It's going to take a huge effort for someone to convert me into a petrol head.
David ...
Comment by Andrea
V8 Supercar Pitstop
Motorbikes ... not my thing, I'm afraid. Dusk likes the bikes, though.
But I am impressed with your petrol head practice ... keep up the good work. Try watching
Skaifeythe next V8 round next weekend, then you'll see what I'm on about.and it'll take a huge effort for someone to convert me into an AFLhead.
Enjoy your vegging, David.
A.xx
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
ahhh your little Mac is sooooo cute! I just love how little kids hold their baby siblings - you can see them squirming thinking, 'Mum ? can`t you see her trying to strangle me here?'
yeah cats do this too... and it really freaks me out! I think I`m going to start mine young, like holding a tape recording on my belly that says, 'There`s no such thing as ghosts, there`s no such thing as ghosts.' By the time the kid pops out the message should be well and truly absorbed.
Teddy bears also make kids smile. And mobiles. And lots of other things....
ash
Comment by Andrea
V8 Supercar Pitstop
One of the beautiful things about babies is that almost anything can make them smile ... unfortunately, they can go from smiling to screaming in the blink of an eye!!!
My daughter's pretty good with Mac now, although she did start off a bit stiff and unsure about whether she was doing it right at first. My four year old son, on the other hand, either holds her as if she's a porcelain doll or a rag doll, depending on his mood.
She still ends up smiling at him though.
A.xx
Comment by Candice
Fascinating post! I'm sure they do see 'spirits' or whatever. The first time my daughter ever laughed she was staring into the centre of our supposedly empty lounge room. She really looked as though she had just seen something really funny!
My niece used to 'talk to' her friends all the time. Maybe it's just their way of practising their newly found vocal skills, but sometimes it really seems as though they're looking at someone or something hey??
Comment by KylieW
Celebrity Obsession
I was goin to say that it's often said that children are quite receptive to things like ghosts and spirits because they haven't built up defenses like many adults.
Ghost or not, if it's keeping Mac happy. That's great!!!
Kylie
Comment by Sarah White
coolgirlsar to the rescue
One Too Many Chocolate Bars
Firstly I just gotta say that Little Mac is just sooo adorable!
Ghostly friends, I love your way of summing them up. I remember reading too about Babies and young children seeing ghosts, I know my Mum has told me (and I vaguely remember) about seeing ghosts too while younger. It's a shame as with a lot of growing up that we loose that innocence. I hope Ghostie stays around for a while and keeps Little Mac happy for a long time.
Take Care.
Sarah. xxx
Comment by DuskDevi
Rucks and Rolls
Rugby World Cup 2007
Does anyone else get/do this?
...watch the fluid on your eyeballs go past in interesting shapes?
Maybe that's what babies see but can't figure out the perspective?
(and no, I don't have too much time on my hands...)
Then again...does anyone remember that Robert Downey jr film 'Heart and Souls'...that was such a lovely and funny film...
He had 4 ghosty friends...and they were lovely!
Guardian Angel?...
And Mac does not look anything other than adorably beautiful...and this is all that matters;
By the way Cara...have I never mentioned that our Resident Poet Extrawordinaire was a full fairing race machine bikie boy...found that out in his alter ego days way back when...
So he's a semi revhead.
Give Mac abig kiss and hug for me...
Dusk
Comment by Portsmouth
Little Mac does NOT look podgy....she looks beautiful! We used to think that our dog, Tosha, could see ghosts. She would sit and stare at the ceiling for ages. Wonder why they were always on the ceiling. Floating ghosts perhaps?
Lots of love as always from Pompey xxxxx
Comment by Andrea
V8 Supercar Pitstop
It's quite eerie at times how realistic their conversations with thin air are. And how intently they stare and smile at something (nothing?) we can't see.
A.xx
Comment by Andrea
V8 Supercar Pitstop
Spot on. Now it's my turn to go and make her happy ... she's just woken up.
A.
Comment by Andrea
V8 Supercar Pitstop
I too hope her ghosty friend keeps her happy for as long as possible.
A.xx
Comment by Andrea
V8 Supercar Pitstop
...watch the fluid on your eyeballs go past in interesting shapes?
Yep ... I sooooo need to get a life!!!
Haven't seen Heart and Souls but I always used to love the movie Harvey with the six foot tall white rabbit. Yes, I know ... Harvey was an imaginary friend rather than a ghosty friend but ... what the hell ... same sort of thing, right?!?!?
Guardian Angel? Maybe. I am one third of the Orble Angels after all.
Cara.xxxx
PS Bikie Boy? Well, that explains a few things.
Comment by Andrea
V8 Supercar Pitstop
Maybe Mac is catching up with ghosty Tosha. That would explain why her friend makes her so happy. Tosha was a very easy-to-love dog.
Hope you are well.
love A.xxxx