We have a new bedtime ritual. As I noted a few blogs ago, we traded Mason’s nighttime bottle habit for me lying down with him to get him to sleep.
While I enjoyed the time that he and I laid in bed together, it proved too detrimental to my sleep patterns, as I’d often fall asleep before him.
Rashele would saunter into Mason’s room around 915ish to wake me up. The problem came an hour or so later when Rashele and I would retire for the evening. Thanks to my 30 minute power nap with Mason, I, now miraculously refreshed, would stare at our bedroom ceiling until somewhere around midnight before finally drifting off to sleep.
So in an effort to switch things up a bit I’ve stopped lying down with him at bedtime. Last week I tried telling him a bedtime story, being sure to incorporate his favorite setting and cast of characters, Disneyworld, and Mickey Mouse & Co.
We both have a great time with the story, switching it between a 1st person and 3rd person narrative throughout. This allows Mason to interact with dialogue during the story and add some of his own twists like tonight, when he asked Mickey to take him to dinner and feed him 15 chicken nuggets.
I really enjoy the Father/Son time we have each night. His eye contact throughout is phenomenal, and he hangs on every word, so I know he’s listening. So much so that on many occasions if I get stuck somewhere in the story, he interjects a piece of the story from the previous night, or week. He’s got a great memory, and he uses it to his advantage, and to our disadvantage.
The only downfall of our story time is even if I’ve stretched the story 10-15 minutes, he still hates for it to end, and the phrase “The End” sends him over the edge. He screams and cries and says “MORE! MORE! MORE!”
But thankfully it only lasts a minute, and a barrage of hugs, tickles, and goodnight kisses cure him, or at least calm him somewhat.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
I used to do the same thing with my now eleven year old son. For several years now he has been on medication so that helps him fall asleep and rather early too. My other son is also on the spectrum and turns 13 in two months. He takes melatonin to help him sleep. I take benadryl to stop the eczema itch when sleeping.
I really like the PT christmas present photo. That is a great idea. Is there a blog attached to that picture somewhere? I would like to mention it in an article on my site as a wonderful idea. There is a site to write reviews on products, and you might want to try to see if it is listed as many families with kids on the spectrum write there - http://www.epinions.com
Bonnie Sayers
Hi Bonnie!
Thanks for the note, I apologize for not responding sooner, but I hadn't been checking for comments lately.
We used to do melatonin for Mason, but stopped as:
1 - he stopped taking naps around age 3 and seldom needed help falling asleep
2 - we saw it backfire after prolonged use. On nights he had it he slept very restlessly, which I read could happen. Can't remember where I read it now. On nights that he didn't use it, he seemed okay so we stopped and have been off for about a year now.
You're right, I should blog about the Fisher Price Smart Cylce. I thought about it, but wanted to give Mason a couple of months on it before I wrote about it. So far it's been a Godsend. He LOVES it. We had friends over last weekend that each have sons on the spectrum and their kids loved it as well.
Thanks for taking the time to comment. I always look forward to reading comments good or bad from others.
And I always try to answer them ;)
Take care
Joey
Post a Comment