By Vanessa Ressler, volunteer and mommy of 1 3/4 daughters
I recently joined the Open Tent’s discussion group for the Blessing of a Skinned Knee, though I first started reading and reflecting on this most interesting text when my daughter Orli was born 22 months ago. For those of you that haven’t read it, the book is written by a mother/therapist/teacher that has undertaken a spiritual journey of sorts to find relevant solutions to raising children in today’s world using Jewish teachings.
During our first chat, all of us moms got a chance to voice a particular challenge that we are having in our own homes. Some talked about completing homework, some talked about shyness, and I talked about sleep! My fiery little one has gotten into the unfortunate habit of waking and calling for me every day between 5:30 and 6am. ”Mommy, leche! (milk in spanish) Moooommmmmmmyyyyyy!” is all I hear until I stumble in there, bleary eyed and slightly annoyed, preaching to her about the value of sleep and the need to stay in bed until dawn (which she obviously does not care to hear).
After this session, I went home determined to find a new tactic for dealing with this early waking behavior. Someone had recently told me about a stoplight clock that is parent-programmed – a red light shines all night until the desired wake-up time, at which point it turns to green. There is no noise, so if the toddler happens to still be asleep at, say, 7am, it will not wake him/her. I went on the prowl and found an adorable clock online [can we add this stoplight sleep enhancing clock on amazon to our astore and hotlink to it here??], complete with a little girl in a convertible car with a butterfly on the side, and had it shipped express.
When the package arrived, we sat down together and explored the new toy. I demonstrated the red and green lights, and explained that she couldn’t call for me and ask for her bottle until the green light came on. (It’s ok to wake up and even play quietly in her room, but no yelling.) We are now 5 nights in – and she has waited until 7am for 4 of 5 of these nights! The first morning, instead of “Mommy leche!” I heard “Light? Mommy, light!” It was like music – I haven’t woken up with such a bounce in my step in a long time.
This experience was a valuable lesson not only for me, Mommy, but for Orli as well. She is giving me a little sanity to wake up and have a cup of tea or a little cereal before our day begins, and she is learning how to tell when it is time to get up. She is also being given the freedom to play on her own until I come to her, which I always do. Now I’m just a little more rested (at least for the next 5 weeks until the new baby is born). :)
