2.8 y/o, afraid ?

[mamaofonetrying42]

Well, is it just me or is it just to young for a 2.8 y/o to be afraid? My son will be 3y/o in Nov. and last night we had some good lighting/thunder, and as I laid with him to go to bed, I looked at him and he had his hands over his eyes and I’m like “Ethan, what are you doing?” and he just pointed to the window and I asked him again and he said “outside” and I’m like you don’t like the lighting (because it wasn’t really thundering, just a lot of lighting and bright lights) and he said ‘yes”. Well, I call in my hubby because I just couldn’t believe he was doing this and we talked to him about how its ok and stuff. Right before hubby walked out of the room Ethan jumps down from the bed and runs to his bed and grabs his blanket and as he was jumping back into our bed (hubby had already turned the lights off) he had the blanket over his head and I’m like “what are you doing”? and he said “I’m hiding” and I’m like Ethan I’m here you don’t need to hide and he would not let me take the blanket away, even when he was half sleep.

I just cant believe that my baby is already afraid so something like that. It brakes my heart. Is this normal? Its prob. Is……But…..I just couldn’t believe what he was doing……

[April2]

Yes, it's normal. My just turned 4 year old has just started showing signs of fear to thunderstorms and loud noises. We are trying to desensitize him a bit by making it not a big deal. We took him to see the fireworks and even though he sat on my lap and hid his face once in awhile, he still peeked out and watched the fireworks. We kept reminding him about the fireworks and all the pretty lights and he'd grin and remember. Still, he's afraid of thunderstorms and it does seem like most of them happen at night. I do rock him for awhile and let him settle down and wait for the thunderstorm to die down but I try to point outside and show him the rain and talk about how it's watering the grass and trees. Sometimes I sing "It's raining, it's pouring" or "Rain, rain go away", and he tries to sing it with me. I try to keep it light but he's still a little afraid of loud noises and the lightening, etc. I don't know what else to do except try and be patient and keep reassuring him. I figure it's a phase and he'll outgrow it. Just try and be patient and keep reassuring him. That's all I can suggest.
Best wishes.