'I think it all started around two important transitions in her life.
Around 16 months ago I ran away with the girls from my husband due to domestic abuse. After some weeks staying at a shelter we got back together and he has been guided by professionals to stop his abusive behaviour. He never hurt the kids, he was just emotionally and sexually abusive towards me. My kids attended councelling for almost a year after that and now he isnt being abusive any more. At that time I was pregnant with my third child.
After we settled down at home I needed my said daughter to make adjustments to her sleeping habits. At six years old she wouldnt sleep unless I sat by her side, and each time (say around five times a night) she would wake up and ask me for a glass of milk and then to get back to sleep I would have to sit again for half hour or so every time. So there were some nights when she resisted the change and did the crying episode to get me to stay with her till she sleeps. I had to change that before the baby was born so she wouldnt feel neglected cos of the baby. And now that I think of it, the start of such episodes was around the time we were trying to get the sleep pattern changed.'