Annie’s love for Monsters has been going strong for well over a year and a half now. She still likes to pretend that monsters are after her, and she often goes on “Monster chases,” where she pretends Rigby is a monster and chases her around the house. But, just as Gramma predicted, a few nights ago Annie turned on a dime, and suddenly she is afraid of monsters (“But only at night, Mama. I still want to chase them during the day.”)
I’m still not entirely convinced that being afraid of monsters is now a bedtime delay tactic, but I didn’t want to discount her feelings. I remembered something I’d seen on Pinterest, so I told her I’d get some Monster Spray. Of course, she immediately wanted to know what that was.
“Well, it’s a special spray you get at the monster spray store. You tell them what kind of monsters you have, and they put together a special spray for your bedroom that keeps all the monsters away. It’s pretty great.”
I forgot about it, but of COURSE she did NOT, so the next day she had approximately one million questions for me about Monster Spray, including, but not limited to, the color of the spray, the shape of the bottle, the writing on the bottle, the smell, and the most fascinating subject of all, the Monster Spray Store.
Annabel wanted to go with me to the Monster Spray Store so badly. But she couldn’t because, you know, there’s no such thing. I told her an elaborate story that kids weren’t allowed at the Monster Spray Store because once, a monster tried to sneak in dressed up like a little kid. It taught everyone a valuable lesson, and that’s why no kids were allowed.
“So…I can’t go with you because of lessons?” Yep, nailed it.
I left for my evening sewing class a little early so I could swing by the craft store to get the stuff to concoct Monster Spray.I kept the whole thing pretty simple, just a squirt bottle, some letters, and stick-on eyes. At the last minute I remembered I had to put a liquid in the bottle, so I grabbed the febreze off my dryer and poured half of it in.
It also looks quite magical if you can illuminate it over a night light.
Annie flipped out over it, and asked if she could spray it in her room. I told her not until it was time for bed, and she immediately started asking to go to sleep. I love the Monster Spray.
I told her “two pumps a day keeps the monsters away.” She sprayed once in front of her closet, and then once under her bed. Before she climbed under the covers she said, “Mommy, I think I need to do a ‘No Monsters’ dance, too.” Then she started twirling and shaking her booty (some might call it twerking) while chanting, “Go away Monsters! You stink!” If I were a monster, I would have been convinced.
I’m not sure if it was the Monster Spray, or twerk-related exhaustion, but she fell asleep right away.
Now if only the Monster Spray would keep away the spiders.
Krystal says:
We have monster stray at out house too! Along with a very similar Monster Spray Store story! I put a bit of green glitter in ours, glitter makes everything better! Or so my daughter thinks!!!!
Skye says:
This is so adorable, but I can never get glitter to wash out of anything so I’m picturing your daughter’s room entirely covered in glitter! Ha! You must be a patient mom.
Rachel (sesame ellis) says:
Shoes work great on spiders. (I killed one with a shoe last night while changing Clover’s sheets at midnight.) We made monster spray here as well. Filled it with water and some drops of peppermint oil!
Katrina says:
In all my many parenting years, I have never had the need for Monster Spray. But it’s good to know that some exists! Because every now and then, when I’m up late and I hear things creaking and I try to convince myself that it’s only the “house settling” … well, lets just say that a bottle of that stuff might help ME sleep better!
wendy says:
If it kept the spiders away I would get a bottle.
Sue says:
What a great idea, Heather!!!! Just don’t let that spray get anywhere near your front door, tho,,,,with Halloween coming upon us soon!!! I’m sure there will be lots of monsters wanting treats!!!
MissyK says:
THAT is the cutest idea!! I’m going to remember this for the future. I have 2 grandaughters under two & it might come in handy.
amourningmom says:
What a great idea! Thanks for sharing and how great that the monster spray works so well! xo
Nellie says:
I think you should mass produce that Monster Spray cuz I know I’d be the first order! I can’t believe I never thought to do this…duhh, to me! My daughter was and still is afraid of going to sleep in her room for fear of monsters and of just being alone (in a room full of night lights and adorable stuffed animals and her precious Japanese fighting fish she named Almond). If I had her room as a kid, I’d love to fall asleep but not before I hug the heck out of all my stuffed animals and arrange and rearrange them a half a dozen times.
Tami says:
Where were you when my kids were little? LOL. You have the neatest Ideas. I love the decorations on the monster spray and Annie is adorable as always even when she is sleeping.
Emily E says:
We use Febreeze Air Effects with some construction paper wrapped around it and ‘Monster Off’ hastily written on it. my daughter loves it though and we have to spray all over the room before bed. Fortunately, our Monster Off also wards off spiders, snakes, and whatever else might be on her scary list that day. They don’t like rooms that smell nice, you see.
Meg says:
This is too awesome, and definitely something I want to remember for when we have kids! I don’t remember being afraid of monsters, but I was definitely afraid of witches and other spooky things that linger in the dark. Too bad my parents didn’t visit the Monster Spray Store!
Angel says:
Oh yes… we have Monster spray. I had to explain to my son that monster spray is like garlic to vampires. They will not come near it… so we sprayed under his bed, under his sister’s bed, the closet, the threshold to every.door.in.our.house. and then put the spray away. I told him you only have to do it once! It hasn’t come out in over a year but I still have it, just in case.
Annalisa says:
I love that he wanted to protect his sister too (or was that mom’s idea? ;))!
Amy says:
This is so cute! Such a thoughtful Mom, you are!
Skye says:
Cutest thing ever and GENIUS! I wish my parents had taken a trip to the monster store when I was little. Too bad Pinterest didn’t exist then.
alimartell says:
Monster Spray saved our sanity once upon a sleepless night…but YES can we get on the spider spray so my kids will start using their own bathrooms again???
Kerri says:
This is the most brilliant idea ever.
Lisa says:
“Twerk-related exhaustion”… Best phrase ever, lol!
amy says:
Its great!
I could not stop laughing!!!
Untypically Jia says:
Aww, so glad it worked! I’d seen the Monster Spray on Pinterest before and have been wondering if it does work. I think you pulled it off flawlessly!
Shelly says:
My parents got my son a bug vacuum a few years ago so he could catch and study bugs. It has really never left the kitchen so that it is close at hand when I need to suck up a spider. You still have to be brave enough to catch it, but then you can release it outside instead of trying to smush the ones that are on the ceiling. http://www.amazon.com/Summit-2450904-Backyard-Safari-Vacuum/dp/B000YJMHLC/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1379008427&sr=8-6&keywords=bug+vacuum
Annalisa says:
We remedied our monster fears by reading “Go Away, Big Green Monster”. It’s about how monsters can’t be scary if we refuse to be afraid of them. It’s also one adorable book!
Jeanie says:
So clever, and what a cute bottle you made for the spray!
Paula says:
LOL @ twerk – related exhaustion. A clever idea indeed and I am glad it’s working. I am STILL afraid of the dark at 42 and make Mr. get up and go to the bathroom with me. In the master bath connected to the master bedroom that has a nightlight that shines in our bedroom.
Becca Masters says:
brilliant idea!!!! and you’re so creative!
Elise says:
You guys need the Go Away Monster game http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00001TPYA. It’s cute and perfect for this age (my 3 1/2 year old daughters love it, they are monster obsessed too).
@monsterdefense says:
Check out monster-defense.com. We have a wonderful-smelling spray available now & a fun, illustrated children’s story coming out in Dec 2013-Jan 2014 that tells the story of a little boy with a monster in his room, and how he overcame his fear of monsters. In researching online prior to writing the book, we read many articles from child & adolescent psychologists and parents about recommended methods for dealing with fear of monsters, and interpreted this into a fun, rhyming story which gives parents direction on how to help & gives kids the tools necessary to overcome their fear.