One of my favorite early 19th Century oil paintings by German artist Wilhelm Von Kaulbach – “The Guardian Angel.”
Hopefully this doesn’t freak anyone out…or cause you to think I’m crazy, but I’m pretty convinced my 2-year-old sees angels.
You see, I’ve been obsessed with angels my whole life. Back when wallpaper was cool, my room was decked out with an angel border and purple paint. I had angel artwork and statues in my room. It all started when I visited a traveling exhibit about angels at the Detroit Institute of Arts years ago. I loved the massive paintings from the 14th and 15th centuries depicting little chubby cherubs watching over people of the past. I felt a connection for a reason I can’t explain.
Then, I swear, my camera took a photo of my hubby’s grandpa, who we’re sure watches over our family. No biggie, right?
Well, lately I’ve been trying to coax my 2-year-old into going to sleep {she’s anti-nap right now} so the “dream fairies can bring her a dream.” Every time I say this, she corrects me and says “angels.” So I decided to change my story to say angels, not fairies. One day while I rocked her before her nap, she said “angels!” all excited. For kicks, I asked her, “Do you see angels?” She then pointed to a corner of her room. She actually has an angel hanging from her curtains, so I didn’t think much of it.
A few nights later, as I rocked her, she said “angel” again, completely out of the blue. I asked her, “Do you see an angel? Where is it?” She then pointed to a different corner of her room and moved her finger from one end of the room to the other. I kind of got the chills, but kept my cool, explaining they are here to protect us, not knowing what the heck she really thought she saw.
To top things off, the other day, my husband was holding her and out of the blue she said “Peek-a-boo, angel!” as if she was playing a game. With her angel. Like this was a normal thing to do.
Kind of odd, huh?
She’s also talked herself to sleep for as long as I can remember. Mostly gibberish, but sometimes we hear phrases and she’s always telling little stories. Now we’re starting to think maybe she’s talking to her angels.
This all could just be coincidental. Maybe I’m reading into it too much because I love the book Angels In My Hair, and the book (supposedly true) explained that children see angels when they are babies, but eventually they outgrow it.
Either way, I know in my heart angels are watching over us…and making my kids smile. I find such comfort in these things. And it’s darn fascinating to me.
This post was inspired by Mama Kat’s Writing Workshop. The topic: Write about something that fascinates you.
LOVE this post (and the one about your grandpa). I believe in Angels too – and as crazy as it sounds, believe I have seen a couple in my lifetime as an adult too.
Not crazy. That’s awesome!!!
Doesn’t freak me out, but then again, I’m convinced the children in our family have all at one point or another been visited by deceased relatives (sad to say, mostly children themselves) in their infancy. Similar to what you are saying here, they will be laughing and pointing, “talking”, saying names you didn’t even know they knew, names that are kinda hard for kids to say, like “Bernadette” and “Fiona” (names of their siblings/cousins). I’m sure they talk to their guardian angels as well. Have you ever read a book called “Angel in the Waters”? It’s by Regina Doman (www.reginadoman.com) and you sound like you’d love it. Stopping by from Mama Kat’s.
Very cool. Thanks for sharing the book – totally will have to check that out!
What you are talking about doesn’t freak me out, I think there are lots of things in this world that can’t be explained and angels are as good an explanation as any. It can be comforting to believe in angels.
Absolutely! If she was saying it was something scary, it would freak me out. But angels? Totally comforting.
It doesn’t freak me out! It gives me chills a little, in such a good way. I hope that by talking with her and not discouraging what she’s seeing that maybe she can hold onto it for a little while. How comforting.
That’s kind of what I’m thinking. It would be really something if it continues. Wish she could hold on to her innocence forever…
I believe that children can see angels because they’re minds and spirit haven’t been corrupted by the world. God talks about the importance of children and basically their innocence so I think your daughter is seeing them! Dropping by from Mama Kat’s
Thanks for your kind words! I sure hope you’re right 🙂
This isn’t odd at all. It is often reported that young children see angels, spirits, etc. Lily has said things similar, like “who is that?” While she’s pointing to a corner of her room. She hasn’t said it in a long time (over a year) but I will admit it gave me the chills when she did, only because I know that our last house was haunted. (Don’t want to freak you out with that part!)
I wouldn’t worry about it too much, if it bothers you. It is fairly normal.
I remember when I was younger, my family went to a funeral for my uncle’s mother. One of my cousins who was about 3 at the time kept pointing to the celing. My aunt asked her why she kept pointing and she said “there’s a lady up there momma!” When asked what the lady looked like, my cousin described my uncle’s mother perfectly.
Pretty cool, actually.
That is super crazy – I love it! Kids are so lucky. If only we had half the perceptions they do.
Thanks for chiming in, Sarah!
This whole post gives me chills. I think if you’re open to it, you can absolutely be cognisent of angels. Most people aren’t.
Oh my goodness! That is crazy! It made me think of that song “She Talks to Angels” by Black Crowes…so good. I totally believe she could be seeing something.
I think that she’s totally normal! My girls did similar things when they were little and I believe that children are more open to things that we as adults aren’t simply because we’ve been told time and again that this isn’t real or that isn’t real and so on. So I think that kids can see Angels, ghosts, or whatever.
That is so awesome!! I agree – I remember reading a long time ago that children are more open and therefore see things that adults don’t…how wonderful that she sees her angels! And like Emily, I believe I’ve seen my guardian angel – and she’s spoken to me a few times, too, during some of the most pivotal moments of my life. 🙂 I hope your daughter always has these memories!
This is so wild because my almost 2 year old does the exact same thing. Glad im not the only one experiencing this.