DEAR ABBY: My husband started working the graveyard shift two months ago. It has been a hard transition for us, but even harder for our 11-year-old son, "Ryan."
For the past couple of weeks, Ryan has been overly concerned about someone breaking into our third-floor apartment while we're asleep. I've tried my best to reassure Ryan, but he keeps having nightmares about someone breaking into our place -- or my parents' apartment -- and harming or killing us. He wakes up screaming and crying.
Do you have any suggestions about how I can make him feel more secure? -- SLEEPLESS IN NEW WESTMINSTER
DEAR SLEEPLESS: It would be helpful to know what triggered your son's insecurity. Is he watching too much television? Is he playing violent video games? Has something happened at school or afterward that he is not telling you? Talk to your son. If the problem persists, take him to his pediatrician for evaluation -- and a referral to a psychologist, if necessary.