Lauren Remillard, a 26-year-old hairstylist and makeup artist from Georgia, had an unexpected start to her night when she woke up at 1 a.m. to find her 2-year-old daughter, Gentry, missing from their bed. What began as a confusing moment quickly turned into a hilarious discovery that has captured the internet’s heart.
Gentry, described by her mom as “the sweetest, funniest, most affectionate 2-year-old,” holds a special place in Lauren’s heart. “She came to us after a very hard season of our lives,” Lauren shared in an interview with The Bright Story. After the loss of their firstborn son, Memphis, during pregnancy, and another devastating miscarriage, Lauren and her husband were overwhelmed with grief. Then came Gentry, their rainbow baby, bringing light into their darkest moments.
“I remember holding her for the first time, looking into her eyes and knowing that God handpicked her for us,” Lauren recalled. For Lauren, Gentry isn’t just her playful, spirited child; she’s a symbol of resilience and hope. Their bond is filled with gratitude and joy, and every tea party, dress-up session, or spontaneous dance reminds Lauren of how far they’ve come as a family.
This connection made what happened one night all the more memorable. Around 1 a.m., Lauren woke up to use the restroom and noticed something unusual when returning to her bedroom. “Every single light in our room was on, as well as our TV,” she recalled. Even more puzzling, Gentry, who had been sleeping in the bed with her parents, was nowhere to be seen.
While the lights were strange, it was Gentry’s absence that caught Lauren’s attention. However, she remained calm, reassured by the sound of her daughter’s snoring somewhere in the room. “I didn’t panic too much because I could hear her snoring. I was a little confused but relieved since I knew she was somewhere in our room,” she said.
After a brief search, Lauren made an unexpected discovery. She found Gentry sound asleep under the bed, clutching a Christmas tree ornament. “I looked under the bed and saw her sound asleep holding a Christmas tree ornament. I was relieved but couldn’t help but laugh. I couldn’t understand why she had an ornament in her hand,” she said.
The humorous, yet puzzling, scene soon revealed something new about Gentry—she had sleepwalked for the first time. “That night, I realized she was sleepwalking. It’s not like her to get out of bed in the middle of the night. She’s never done this before, so I’m very thankful it happened in our room where we were,” Lauren explained.
Lauren herself has a family history of sleepwalking, as does her father, and she acknowledges the risks. “I think sleepwalking can be extremely dangerous. I haven’t seen any patterns or triggers that might cause it, but I definitely believe it could be genetic,” she said.
To prevent potential dangers, Lauren and her husband quickly took safety measures. “We’ve installed alarms on every door that will wake us up if she sleepwalks again,” Lauren explained. Thankfully, no further incidents have occurred, but Lauren is prepared. “If it does happen, I have confidence that we will know immediately,” she added.
Lauren’s lighthearted recount of the event didn’t end there. She decided to upload a video of the incident to TikTok, where it resonated with parents far and wide. “I had a lot of positive feedback from other parents sharing their stories of their children sleepwalking,” she said. The video’s humor and relatability have drawn in support and similar anecdotes from other families.
For parents with children who sleepwalk, Lauren offers valuable advice: “Take measures before anything occurs. Alarms on each door and extra locks on doors that lead outside are great ways to keep them safe and give peace of mind to everyone.”
Lauren and her family also share snippets of their life on their YouTube channel, @LifeWithTheRemillards, where fans can follow more of their heartwarming and entertaining stories.
Through this lighthearted yet meaningful experience, Lauren and Gentry’s story reminds us that even in moments of confusion, there’s room for laughter and learning. As Lauren puts it, “I was relieved, but I couldn’t help but laugh.”
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