A childhood belief about in my closet

When I was young We lived in a large, very old house. It only had a coal furnace and the heat had to filter up to the sicond floor. Winters were cold. Most of the time you could see your breath upstairs. We just added a few more blankets. I remember how my Mom would shut the closet door in my room and place something in front of it. Then she would say, with a concerned look on her face, goodnight.
Now, My own family lives in the house that I grew up in. My son sleeps in the very room I did as a child. There's a new gas furnace in the basement now and the upstairs is warm in the winter. But now, if you'll excuse me, I have to tuck my little boy in his bed, shut a closet door and place something in front of it. Then, with a concerned look, say goodnight. Strange,,,huh?