Part Three: The Solution!!

For a moment, I was in full panic mode…

I couldn’t believe it — now my next son was having the same sleep struggles. What was wrong with me?

Until I took a deep breath.

Yesterday, I shared the story of my 13-year-old son — a deep, solid sleeper his entire life — suddenly telling me he couldn’t fall asleep and was wide awake at 1 AM. Check out Part One here.

Then came Part Two, where I stayed neutral and asked gentle, curious questions instead of panicking or jumping straight to melatonin. Check out Part Two here.

And now, Part Three — the solution.

The Moment That Changed Everything

When my son said:

"Maybe I need melatonin… like Chaim did when he started yeshiva"

I froze for a second.

Because the truth is, when Chaim struggled with sleep, it went on for over ten years. Every night was a challenge. I gave him melatonin and felt guilty, knowing deep down that the root of it was in his mind, not his body.

So when my younger son borrowed that story, my instincts screamed: fix it!

But instead, I paused. I took a deep breath and asked one simple question:

"What do you think you need from me?"

He was surprised. I think he expected panic, lecture, or the “right answer.”

And then he told me… he wanted a recording.

Sleep Coaching Recordings That Work

Part of my sleep coaching program involves creating personalized recordings for clients. These are carefully written scripts that speak to the subconscious mind, helping the brain and body release whatever is holding them back from sleep. It’s a gentle, effective way to guide both children and adults back to natural, effortless sleep.

Motty believed that listening to a recording would be the solution — not because of what was in it, but because it had helped his older brother. That was the story he told himself: “This is what works — it helped Chaim, so it will help me too.”

And here’s the fun part: it didn’t even matter what the recording contained. It could have been Little Red Riding Hood retold in rhyme, and it would have worked just as well. His mind bought the story, and that belief alone was enough for his body to relax and drift off.

This is one of the most important lessons in sleep coaching: it’s the story our minds believe that drives the change, not the method itself.

Listening: Key to Sleep Success

Half the solution happened the moment I asked: “What do you need from me?”

By listening instead of immediately offering solutions, I gave him:

• Safety: He knew his feelings were valid.

• Control: He got to decide what might help him sleep.

• Calm: My neutral, non-panicked response reduced anxiety.

  
  

Parents often feel the need to “fix” bedtime immediately — melatonin, logic, routines, lectures. But sometimes, all it takes is listening and taking your child seriously. That simple act can transform panic into calm, even before any tools are used.

A Mother’s Reality (and Humor)

It was one week before my other son’s wedding. My house was a whirlwind — lists inside of lists, guests for Shabbos, a million things happening at once.

I honestly didn’t have time to make a recording. But I didn’t tell him that. I said:

"That sounds like a great idea. Let me think about what to record. Do you have any ideas? Give me a couple of days."

And he walked away so happy — because his worry, his request, his little panic… was being taken seriously.

That night? He slept like a baby. And he never asked for the recording again.

Top Sleep Coaching Tips

Watching my son work through his own story reminded me of some of the most important lessons in parenting and sleep coaching:

1. The mind creates stories. Kids and adults can convince themselves something is broken even when it isn’t.

2. Fear grows when we overreact. Neutrality shrinks the story; panic makes it bigger.

3. Listening is more powerful than fixing. Asking “What do you need from me?” can calm anxiety faster than any solution.

4. Belief is key. Sometimes just believing there’s a solution — whether a recording, a routine, or a shift in perspective — is enough to reset sleep.

Montreal & Online Sleep Coaching

If your child — or even you — are struggling with sleep, you don’t need to panic, debate, or reach for melatonin. You need the right guidance — and that’s where I come in.

As a sleep coach in Montreal, or via Zoom anywhere, I help families uncover the stories keeping kids awake, and guide both kids and adults back to natural, effortless sleep.

Don’t wait for another sleepless night — you can take action today.

👉 Book your complimentary call now