Please help me figure this out!

[alvaa]

I put my daughter (She is 7) to bed tonight (she goes back to her mom tomorrow). I went to get her medication for strep throat and she was crying. She told me that there was a bad thought in her head. I asked her what it was. She said it was that she hated me and didn't want to be my daughter anymore. She then said that those thoughts weren't true and that she loves me. I tried to help her get those thoughts out but she said she couldn't!!!

Please Please Please!!!!!! I need some advice or something. She is my one and only child.

[alvaa]

Thank you again.

It seems weird to say that I am new to parenting but heck, I guess I am. This is the first time I have had a 7 yr old. So I guess I am new to it! Thank you for your replies and patience with me.

[nursegirl6572]

Gotcha.  Sure isn't something a parent wants to hear, although, let me warn you, you'll be hearing it a lot as she gets older and is a teen, LOL.

Sounds like she went to sleep fairly quick, that's good.  That means it wasn't bothering her too much.

If she brings it up again, just barely acknowledge it, and change the subject.  I think it's probably over.  Hopefully she won't remember and the worst thing you could do would be to bring it up.  I'm sure you know that, I'm just saying!

Glad it worked out!  :0)

[alvaa]

Thank you! I did sort of make her think it was a passing thing. I asked her again, well, do you love me, and she said yes. About 10 minutes later she fell asleep. I was just freaked out because I have gotten the "You don't love me" spill when I tell her no on things. I have never had the "voice in my head telling me that I hate you" spill.

[nursegirl6572]

Don't give it too much thought.  At that young age, kids don't know how to process when they get strange thoughts in their head (which can happen to anyone for any reason).  

The very best thing you can do is to NOT react, and spend VERY little time talking to her about it.  My advice to you is to simply tell (with a smile and a hug) her that YOU know that isn't true, you know that she loves you and you love her, and then let it go.

You definitely don't want to bring it up again.  With any luck, she'll forget about it by morning.