"Don't Lose Sleep Over It"

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Allegra

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People always say that and normally it’s not a problem for me, but lately it’s been a problem.

Long story short, I’m feeling very angry and betrayed by my children’s former babysitter, who allowed my daughter to be severely injured while in her care and didn’t even bother get her help or even call me until I got there to pick her up. My daughter was in the hospital for two weeks and suffered a great deal because of her negligence and during that time and until the present, the babysitter hasn’t apologized, visited my daughter, or even sent a Get Well card.

During the day I have enough things to do to keep me busy and I don’t think about my resentment, and I’m usually tired enough that I fall asleep right away at night, but when I wake up in the middle of the night for whatever reason, but especially when one of my kids wake me up, I can’t help but think about what could have happened, how my daughter might have been killed, how she might have been crying and asking for help the whole time she was at the sitter waiting for me to come get her, the permanent results of her injury, and I can’t help but get really mad and I can’t go back to sleep. Does anyone have a short, easy to memorize prayer that they can recommend for this situation, to help me get back to sleep?
 
This is a matter for the police to investigate. They need to determine how the injury(ies) were caused, and importantly, as well, that she hasn’t done/isn’t doing this to others. If you haven’t done so file a complaint with the police. You may want to file a civil suit, as well to recover medical costs and injuries done to your daughter.
 
This a matter to take up with a priest. I can see why you are angry, but it sounds like it is increasing and getting in the way of your normal life. while prayer is important, it is not a magic formula to change your feelings; you will have to deal with them first in order to heal and move on.
 
I am also a parent whose child was hurt in the care of another parent.

Could you post some details on what happened? And how old your child was, I.e. Was your daughter old enough to ask for you and babysitter said “no”? What transpired? I ask because this might be something you should talk to a lawyer about.
 
I agree with Della. That was a crime and may happen to someone else’s child. You may find some comfort in the Mary, Undoer of Knots prayer. Peace and prayers.
 
Della said:
This is a matter for the police to investigate. They need to determine how the injury(ies) were caused, and importantly, as well, that she hasn’t done/isn’t doing this to others. If you haven’t done so file a complaint with the police. You may want to file a civil suit, as well to recover medical costs and injuries done to your daughter.
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We know how the injury was caused. My daughter swallowed a battery that was accidentally left out in the house, probably by one of the sitter’s older children. There’s nothing to file a report on. The medical costs are being covered by her home owners insurance.
 
PolarGuy said:
I am also a parent whose child was hurt in the care of another parent.

Could you post some details on what happened? And how old your child was, I.e. Was your daughter old enough to ask for you and babysitter said “no”? What transpired? I ask because this might be something you should talk to a lawyer about.
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My daughter is two. I don’t know if she asked for me or not, but I do know that she was in pain the whole time a battery was burning a hole in her esophagus and by the time I picked her up she had obviously been crying for some time and her hair and clothes were drenched in her drool. It was obvious that she was in distress, but the babysitter didn’t call 911 or me or my husband. The insurance is taking care of the financial issues. I just need to figure out how to not let it keep me up at night. It often happens after I’ve gotten up to look after one of my kids during the night. I think the sound of them crying for me triggers the anxiety I had the whole time she was in the hospital.
 
Allegra said:
We know how the injury was caused. My daughter swallowed a battery that was accidentally left out in the house, probably by one of the sitter’s older children. There’s nothing to file a report on. The medical costs are being covered by her home owners insurance.
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So it’s the idea that your child has to pay the consequences of unintentional negligence that is bothering you? If so, there’s nothing to be resolved except to accept what has happened and doing what can be done for your child. Accepting bad things is hard, I know. Still, dwelling on it won’t change anything. We pray for the strength to do what we need to do, we do that, and leave everything else in God’s hands. You may want to consult a counselor about you inability to move on, if you continue to lose sleep. 🙂
 
Della said:
So it’s the idea that your child has to pay the consequences of unintentional negligence that is bothering you? If so, there’s nothing to be resolved except to accept what has happened and doing what can be done for your child. Accepting bad things is hard, I know. Still, dwelling on it won’t change anything. We pray for the strength to do what we need to do, we do that, and leave everything else in God’s hands. You may want to consult a counselor about you inability to move on, if you continue to lose sleep. 🙂
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I’m aware that it isn’t good to dwell on it. Also, it’s cutting into my sleep and I really love sleep. That’s why I was hoping there was some sort of prayer that might help me push those thoughts out of my head and go back to sleep. Something like the Divine Mercy Chaplet, but shorter.
 
Allegra said:
I’m aware that it isn’t good to dwell on it. Also, it’s cutting into my sleep and I really love sleep. That’s why I was hoping there was some sort of prayer that might help me push those thoughts out of my head and go back to sleep. Something like the Divine Mercy Chaplet, but shorter.
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Do you know the St. Michael prayer? Pray it again and again if you need to. He has been commissioned to aid us. Ask him to help you sleep by asking him to defeat the devil’s attempts to destroy your peace, and he will answer your prayer:

St. Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou,
O Prince of the heavenly hosts,
by the power of God,
thrust into hell Satan,
and all the evil spirits,
who prowl about the world
seeking the ruin of souls. Amen…

I will pray with you and for you. :crossrc:
 
As well as the St. Michael prayer mentioned earlier, I find the Fatima prayer an effective one for all occasions.
 
I suffer from anxiety and when I have attacks it helped me to keep saying an Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be over and over. I would really just try to focus on the words and the meaning of each part of the prayers. Maybe this could help for you?
 
Not sure if any of these prayers are what you may be looking for.

Prayer To Overcome Bitterness and Resentment

Father, I acknowledge that I’ve held resentment and bitterness against (name). I confess this as sin and ask You to forgive me. I forgive (name). Remind me, Lord, to not hold any more resentments, but rather to love this person. Father, I ask You to also forgive (name) . Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. In Jesus’ Holy Name,
Amen.

Prayer for Relieving Stress and Anxiety

Lord, there has been too much change in my life recently, and I feel overwhelmed. Because I try to be a responsible person, I sometimes forget that it is unwise for me to allow my sense of duty to override my common sense.

Lord, help me to allow myself more time to rest, relax, and pray. Guide me toward something spiritual to read every day and a quiet time afterwards to reflect on what I have read and how it pertains to my life. I truly want to simplify my life and live more as Christ did. Help me remember that there is no loss or problem I must face alone. You are always near, with Your love and compassion to comfort me.
Amen.

For Inner Peace

Lord, please put Your peace in my heart. I’m worried and anxious. My mind races and obsesses. I can’t help thinking about my problems. And the more I think about them, the more depressed I become. I feel like I’m sinking down in quicksand and can’t get out. Calm me, Lord. Slow me down, put Your peace in my heart.

No matter what problem I have, Lord, You are bigger, You are more powerful than it is. So I bring my problem to You. I know what I want. I know my will. I do not know Yours. I do not know how You will use this problem for my salvation. I do not know what good You will workout at this evil. But I trust You. I trust Your Goodness and Your Wisdom. So I place myself in Your hands. Please fill my heart with peace.
Amen.

Prayer for Physical Healing

Jesus, You are the wounded healer, heal me through Your wounds. You are the God, the Ultimate, Who alone can heal me. You are my Divine Medicine. O Lord! Just say one word, and I shall be healed. Jesus, forgive all my sins and iniquities through Your bloodshed. Have mercy on all my ancestors. O Jesus! Send Your Holy Spirit upon me and liberate me from all bondage. Jesus, my only Savior, deliver me from all my sins and sickness. Mother Mary, Mother of Good Health, I cry out to You for Your prayers for the mercy of Your Son to heal me right now! Thank You Mother Mary, Thank You Jesus, Thank You Abba, Father, and Thank You Holy Spirit.
Amen.

Prayer in Time of Sleeplessness

Lord Jesus Christ, During Your earthly sojourn You went sleepness at times and spent whole nights in prayer. But there were many other times when You slept. I cannot seem to get to sleep these nights and I cannot even pray.
Please help me cure this sickness, Lord, for I desperately need sleep to do my work and to behanve as a pleasant human being as well as to act in a christian manner. Enable me to get a goods nights sleep, or at least to spend my time in prayer with You.
Thank You Lord Jesus
Amen.

Prayer in Time of Anger

Lord Jesus, there is anger in my heart and I cannot root it out.
I know that I should calm down and offer the hurt and disappointment to You
but my emotion is running away with me.
Help me to overcome this weakness and give me peace of heart as well as mind.
Let me learn from this experience and grow into a better human being.
Amen.
 
I am so sorry that this happened… this is a horror story.

Have you prayed through Our Lady of Mental Peace? It is a special prayer for times like this.

Also as a side note.
It sounds like someone coached this babysitter not to apologize because it is admission of guilt to the court.
 
Della said:
Do you know the St. Michael prayer? Pray it again and again if you need to. He has been commissioned to aid us. Ask him to help you sleep by asking him to defeat the devil’s attempts to destroy your peace, and he will answer your prayer:

St. Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou,
O Prince of the heavenly hosts,
by the power of God,
thrust into hell Satan,
and all the evil spirits,
who prowl about the world
seeking the ruin of souls. Amen…

I will pray with you and for you. :crossrc:
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I should have thought of this myself! I often said this prayer for my daughter when she had nightmares.
 
Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion inexhaustible, look kindly on us and increase Your mercy on us, that in difficult moments we might not despair, nor become despondent, but with great confidence, submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy Itself. Amen.

I find this prayer from The Divine Mercy to be very comforting, Allegra.

I think if there is one, you should report your babysitter to the licensing board. She should have called you immediately, not waited for you to come pick up your daughter hours later.
 
Della said:
This is a matter for the police to investigate. They need to determine how the injury(ies) were caused, and importantly, as well, that she hasn’t done/isn’t doing this to others. If you haven’t done so file a complaint with the police. You may want to file a civil suit, as well to recover medical costs and injuries done to your daughter.
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This.I suspect your former babysitter is lying low not wanting to acknowledge her role in this unfortunate incident. She is no doubt fearful of what may come her way.
 
Allegra said:
I’m aware that it isn’t good to dwell on it. Also, it’s cutting into my sleep and I really love sleep. That’s why I was hoping there was some sort of prayer that might help me push those thoughts out of my head and go back to sleep. Something like the Divine Mercy Chaplet, but shorter.
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I think what you are going through is pretty normal for a parent to go through after such a sudden and serious injury to your child. No one expects something like this to happen.

I don’t know if you remember or read, my son suffered a ruptured AVM. It’s somewhat like an aneurism, but it forms in utero. We never knew about it until it ruptured. Even those a symptoms were not clear. He had a headache, then it got very bad, then he vomited and slipped into a coma. It just was incredible that he got to the hospital and got surgery. I didn’t know he was in a coma. I thought he had a flu.

I’ve had a number of sleepless nights and nightmares as well. I relived it in my mind. I blamed myself for not understanding what was wrong with him. Even yesterday, almost 2 years later, I heard a song that was on the radio the morning he got sick. It was a song that made him get the giggles. Hearing it changed my mood. It was the last time he was completely ok. He’s doing well now, but he does have to compensate for a brain injury.

I don’t want to make this thread about me. I just wanted you know I’ve gone thru similar sleepless nights. I actually see a psychologist 2 times a month to help.

I’ll keep you in my prayers, and your sweet little girl. I’m very glad she’s ok now.
 
Hi Allegra,

I know that feeling, it is the worst way to lose sleep, to wake up in the middle of the night in extreme anger at an injustice. I don’t know how it must feel when it it tied to the suffering of your child, it must be very hard for y right now 😦

My brother is a priest and he has advised me that when you feel angry at someone, the best way to get through it is to pray for them. Not for the anger to go away, but to pray for that person. I have applied this when someone was bullying me at work in a very unjust way, and it really helped. it’s very hard at first of course, but it becomes easier, and it makes it easier to feel forgiveness and also freedom from the anger.
 
I can’t imagine an adult sitter with children of her own not calling you or 911. Did she hear your child crying or screaming from the other room? She may have been unaware that anything was wrong.

But to not even ask about your 2 yr. old’s condition is unforgivable.
 
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