PARENT SPOTLIGHT- JANIE PETERSON
By Ginny Hermann

At one time or another, most parents have problems getting their children to sleep. Just one more story, another drink of water or an extra trip to the bathroom can push even the most patient mommy or daddy to the brink. When Janie Peterson, a licensed mental health practitioner, was faced with similar bedtime struggles with her own daughters nearly two decades ago, she set out to find a child-friendly solution to this age-old battle. By combining her expertise in childhood behavior with the desire to connect with her children, Janie developed a charming bedtime ritual that encouraged her girls to drift off to dreamland and rewarded them for staying in bed until morning. Today, this Omaha wife, mother, business owner and author is celebrating the publication of her first book, The Sleep Fairy, based on this original bedtime ritual, and she relishes the fact that the simple strategy that once lulled her own children to sleep is helping parents across the country overcome their bedtime battles.

Janie and her husband, Roger, who is also a mental health professional, are parents to three daughters -- 22-year-old Molly, 19-year-old Macy and 14-year-old Katie. The magic of the Sleep Fairy originated when the two oldest were mere babies. "In 1985, when Macy and Molly were 2- and 3-years old, we moved our family from Omaha to Philadelphia for career reasons," Janie says. "Roger and I both grew up in Omaha, so we were used to being surrounded by family and friends, but when we moved, we didn't know a soul. Roger and I felt so guilty about taking the girls away from their grandparents and friends, we coddled them a bit more than we should have. In the process, we created a problem that lead to regular struggles at bedtime." The Petersons searched through books to find a loving way to guide their children into more acceptable bedtime behavior, but the only material they found stressed the advantages of letting children cry themselves to sleep. "Throughout our careers, we've always believed in the power of praising and rewarding children for good behavior instead of punishing them for naughty actions. So, we decided to create a magical figure, much like the Tooth Fairy, who would leave a special reward under the girls' pillows whenever they followed the bedtime rules and stayed in bed until morning," she says. The token was always very small, like a penny or a sticker, but it provided big results - the girls began going to bed with no further problems and the Sleep Fairy was born.

After the Petersons moved back to Omaha 2 and half years later, they began telling parents about the magic of the Sleep Fairy. Both she and Roger worked at Boys Town and had ample opportunities to share the method with co-workers and clients, thus the power of the Sleep Fairy grew.

In 1999, the Petersons adopted their youngest daughter, Katie, who was then 10 years old, and Janie left her position at Boys Town to be at home for their newest family member. "People who experienced the power of the Sleep Fairy first-hand often said I should write a book, so I took this opportunity to put the story down on paper in an effort to spread the word about this effective bedtime tool," Janie says.

Janie got busy writing the text for the story, which focuses on two little girls, Molly and Katie, and their first encounter with the Sleep Fairy. She also began sketching the first illustrations that would serve as a springboard for the artwork and began the process of self-publishing. She also enlisted the talents of local artist Shawn Newlun to create the paintings that serve as illustrations for the book. "I worked very closely with Shawn to incorporate some of our personal possessions into the artwork. I gave him photos of the girls' bedrooms and pointed out specific items I wanted included in the paintings," Janie says. As a result, the illustrations include quilts based on those made by Janie's mother, mirrors and cradles representing actual pieces built by Janie's father and softball memorabilia signifying the family's love for the sport. Even the Peterson's pet Yorkshire Terriers made it into the book; they can be seen sitting on the steps and sleeping on the girls' beds. The striking resemblance between Macy and the Sleep Fairy is no coincidence, either.

Janie is quick to admit that creating The Sleep Fairy was a family affair. "Macy wrote the Sleep Fairy's poem, Roger edited the text and Molly critiqued the paintings," she says. "It really was a community effort. What started as a simple project ended up costing us a lot of time and money, but the book turned out exactly how I wanted it. I am so happy with the outcome."

In addition to being an author, Janie serves as director, president and "Queen Bee" of Be'haven Day Center, a daycare center for children with severe behavior problems. The center is based on a program devised by the Petersons that uses praise and rewards to teach proper behavior. Roger is Director of New Behaviors at Nebraska Children's Home, where he utilizes the Be'haven teaching model.

Although the girls no longer need the services of the Sleep Fairy -- Molly, a softball All-American, is now a senior at Bellevue University; Macy is a student at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln; and Katie is an energetic teenager who loves to dance -- the magic of the Sleep Fairy lives on. The book is currently being used at a number of sleep clinics, including the Behavioral Pediatric Sleep Clinic at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. The positive effects of The Sleep Fairy have also been researched by Dr. Brett R. Kuhn and Dr. Ray Burke and have been proven successful.

Janie credits the support of Roger and their families and friends for helping get The Sleep Fairy from her mind to the printed page. "The magic of The Sleep Fairy lies in the shared experience between the child and the parent. The Sleep Fairy simply helps parents end the night on a positive note and provides an enchanted way for children to go to sleep."

The Sleep Fairy is currently for sale at and is available at amazon.com and most major booksellers. Janie and the Sleep Fairy, played by Macy in full Sleep Fairy costume, are scheduled to appear at local events, including a book signing and reading at The Bookworm in Countryside Village Shopping Center.