My son was between 3 and 4 when he woke up and was saying, “Daddy fell in the shower and cracked his head!” The most recent was yesterday morning, and he said to me, “Mommy, you were dead. There was blood everywhere. There was a guy with a big gun.” Could he be seeing the future, or is this just a dream?

–Gwenda, 45, Las Vegas

Lauri:Don’t worry. Your son is at the age when nightmares typically begin ... and believe it or not, it’s a healthy sign! Nightmares begin when children start to process negativity in their minds. He is realizing that bad things can happen, people can get hurt ... and even die. His world right now consists mainly of Mommy and Daddy, which is why you two are the ones getting hurt in his dreams. Is there anything going on right now that would make him worry about you two? You can help stop these dreams by helping him re-create the ending. Perhaps he could transform into a superhero and save you. Ultimately, it is his awareness of having no control over bad things that causes the dreams.

Gwenda replies: This makes sense. I thought maybe the dreams were from something he saw on television, but they started right before his dad left and we started going through a divorce. Although his dad and I are seeing each other again, it hurts to see how our son has been affected by all of this.