Sleep and Monsters

Jackson has never been the easiest to put to bed. I think he's somewhat like me, his mind just keeps going and going so he has a hard time calming down and falling asleep. Lately he's been getting worse again, now it's monsters in his room. I don't know where he got the idea from, he hasn't really ever watched anything scary like that. He has also said that he is afraid a bad guy will come into the house and kill us all. Again, where does he come up with this stuff?

It's been a struggle to keep my own calm and hold my temper when all I want is for him to finally just go to bed. I tried telling him there is no such thing as monsters, which I'm given to understand is not helpful. I have gone on one "monster hunt". That worked for awhile. Then I gave him a special night light to scare the monsters away. That worked for a short time too. I know he has some stuff going on in his head that he needs to work out. I understand some of it because I have done the same thing. I get a thought stuck and cannot move past it until I either talk it out or write it down. He can't write yet.

I am going to find some kind of meditation or visualization for him to use at bedtime, not sure if it will help but I hope so. I know I need to do some of the same. I have been stressed lately, justified but still it makes my stomach hurt and my head sad. I have trouble getting a full night sleep, wake up more tired than when I started. And I know that it doesn't need to be this way.

So for now I will perhaps need to shuffle up our bedtime routine, start earlier, add in more talking during the day and evening. He needs to work through things. I suspect I need to turn off the TV. Which I should do any way, but it's hard and he likes it. I know some things we need to do more of, and some less. I do feel like I can barely take care of myself right now, how can I take care of him as well? I guess I need to just do it.