We are a family who puts a lot of stock in our dreams. It is not like we are casting our fortunes or anything, but we do manage to connect on a daily basis with discussions about our dreams. When I think back, I’m sure I am partially (if not completely) to blame since I used to ask the children at breakfast if anyone had any good dreams the night before? Now, we just spill the beans on all of our kooky and interesting dreams and often look them up in our tattered dream book to see what they might mean (I’ve written about the dream book in a blog months ago).
The great thing about talking over and sharing dreams is that it gives us a way to connect, while we’re also flexing our creativity and individuality muscles. After all, our dreams belong to us and even though they might not make a lot of sense, it is a way to share what is going on in our lives without getting into touchy or more charged situations. Plus, I’ve been able to gain all sorts of insight into what my kids were going through over the years just by listening to them share their dreams. It’s made me a pretty good listener—not to mention someone who is a little more in touch with symbolism and such.
Any conversation that begins with “I had this dream last night…” is bound to be fun, yes. But it also tells you something about the dreamer. There is a good reason dreams figure so prominently in all sorts of personal endeavors—from creativity to psychological therapy. Since they are a gateway and a great representation of what is going on in a person’s subconscious—it is not only fun conversation, but interesting and personal too. Knowing what your kids are dreaming about is a way parents can stay in touch with what is really going on.
See Also: Do Dreams Really Mean Anything?