We asked our 2.5-year-old daughter a simple question one evening: “How many people live in our house?” We expected her to say four—me, my husband, her, and her baby brother. Instead, without hesitation, she said, “Five.” We laughed at first, assuming she meant the cat. But she shook her head firmly. “No, Mommy. Daddy. Me. Little brother. And…”
Her voice trailed off, and she pointed toward the hallway. A hallway that was completely empty. My husband and I exchanged uneasy glances. “Who, sweetheart?” I asked gently, trying not to let my voice waver. “The nice lady,” she whispered. “She sings to me when I can’t sleep.”
