Today I am feeling more optimistic again. New ABA company and new assessments are exhausting, but worth it, right?? We hope! My youngest non-verbal son is a bundle of over-exhausted energy at night with the time change. My oldest wants to be up LONG before I am ready to function. Fortunately, my 5 year old will sleep in even if he falls asleep too early. My big kiddo who is 7, is like clockework though, so he finds adjusting a bit more challenging. Fortunately, we have the “OK to Wake!” light to help him adjust to the hour difference in the morning!
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We bought our first one about 3 years ago when A. was getting up earlier and earlier every morning and I was losing sleep. This happy little light became his buddy. It took a couple months, but eventually he more or less understood that if he woke before the little clock turned green, he could get up and play in his room quietly. When the light did turn green, he could come get me for breakfast. Of course, ASD kiddos struggle sometimes with these constraints and sometimes he would be too hungry to wait. Mostly, this worked though and now he does not even need the green light to signal that he has to be quiet until I wake, he just is! This light broke recently, thanks to his younger brother tossing it over the bunk bed and into a wall when he was angry. I tried to fix it but the little LED bulb inside was busted and would not light. A. uses this light mainly for a sense of security now. It has an easy button to push to turn on the timed night light when he is falling asleep or wakes during the night. I ordered another one on amazon.com just a couple weeks ago, thankful they still make them! Because A. sleeps on the top bunk, we use only the battery option, however, there is a USB cable that you can use to plug it into the wall with battery as back up in case of power outtage.
It is a durable light inspite of our recent experience of it breaking. Over the years it has been tossed and dropped and bumped and never broke until recently. This last toss was a good one and probably due to the various other knocks it has had, finally gave up! With the time change (clockes going back for fall), this little nightlight has been very useful for regulating A. Plus, as he and his younger brother share a room now, he knows that he is not allowed to wake his brother until the green light goes on. We allow him to watch his ipad on his own with headphones, or play quietly in the livingroom. As the light is portable, s(ince we do not use the cable), he is able to bring it with him and wait for the green light. Also makes it easy to travel with!
This is ideal for young ones or kiddos who have trouble with the concepts of time. Great for kids afraid of the dark and gives them some control over the light in their room. We have found that even on it’s brightest setting, the light is not invasive to his brother who stays asleep undisturbed. I find it a useful little light to turn on so I can find my way OUT of the bunk bed once I have gotten my boys to sleep as well!
Bonus is that it is not expensive, pretty durable for a clock, can be chordless, travels well, and not too bright! Great for kiddos still learning time, has an actual alarm mode which we have not needed yet. Also customizable with two faces, one is a purple flower face, the other we call a green alien-robot face. Makes a great gift as well for those kiddos transitioning into big kid rooms/beds or learning about time and needing to wake for school etc.
Author: Vic.E.
I am a Mom. I am a Caregiver. I am an Advocate. I get paid in unconditional love, in progress and by the amazing support of my very hard-working husband who is the greatest Dad to our two boys.
Our first child came in 2011. He was orange haired and big, 9.5lbs…yikes! He was a butter ball. Just perfect and delicious! His eyes came out green like Momma’s and his skin tone white with freckles like Dad’s. He will be taller than both of us, over 6’ according to the trajectory of his health chart! He has his great grandfathers build. He is smart, has an amazing memory, is super creative, and is sensitive, so empathetic. He is my first born and just perfect. He is also diagnosed with Autism-mild, ADHD, Anxiety, dyslexia, possible dysgraphia and possible other things…really, just all things to help him get the supports he needs to thrive in life. At his core, he is who he is. Full of silly laughter, big smiles, a warm heart, intense loyalty, a strong justice gene, and a fundamental belief in the good.
My second and last child, was born in 2013. The boys are a year and a half apart. He was born looking like an old man. Poor kid was induced early, for fear of another large infant and my ignorance I had a say. He had the umbilical chord wrapped around him and was blue as can be. He recovered fine though, no need for oxygen or anything. But he was checked on a lot to be sure. His skin would be tan like mine, but he won’t go outside much in the daylight. His eyes are closer to Dad’s and his Gran’s (my husband’s mom)…hazel green/dark blue. He has moles rather than freckles, but other than the should be darker skin and moles, he looks just like his Dad. A little mini-me of my husband. Same sandy dark blond hair, same darker eyes, same features. His body is more like my husbands as well. However, he is due to grow over 6’ and will most likely be taller than his big brother! He had a level 4 tongue tie. Something I thought would stretch and break on it’s own. I was a naturalist momma. Keep those sharp objects away from my babies!!! He was able to nurse just fine, and we got to take him home. He was diagnosed first, his symptoms were classic…development fine and then massive regression. He was around a year old when we noticed. The doctor at my other son’s check up saw it, and referred us to an “evaluation” which I did not understand at the time. Anyhow. He is Severe-Autism, ADHD, non-verbal. Although, 10 years on, I don’t like that term for him. He chats all the time, mostly scripts, mostly needs and wants. Rarely anything novel comes out, but when it does it is brief, but magical!!! He progresses every day.
My life went from social to isolation pretty quick. Other’s noticed the differences with our kids, my youngest was unsafe to take out for years. So, here are our stories. Jumbled up, in reflection, looking forward, retrospective. I try to write about our progress, our hopes and show the raw side of living a life in a house of neurodivergence. You are not alone, we are many. It’s time we showed ourselves to the world and stopped hiding our kiddos away. They deserve to be celebrated, included, loved.
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