The Heart Behind Fidget-Wear
If you’ve followed Fidget-Wear for a while, you probably know that it all started with my boys—my original product testers. In the beginning, my designs were just for my oldest, since my younger two weren’t quite at the age where they needed the solutions Fidget-Wear provides. Over time, though, each of my boys has shaped this journey in their own way. Before I go any further, I want to share something important: anything specific I share about my boys, they’ve read and approved. Their stories are theirs, and I tell them with love and respect.
The struggles my boys faced when they were younger were very real. They were personal, and they came with plenty of tears—ours and theirs. It’s easy to brush off kids’ struggles with, “Oh, they’re little,” or “That’s not a big deal.” But those challenges mattered, and my husband and I always took them seriously. Did we always handle them perfectly? Nope. But we learned. And when we couldn’t find solutions, we got creative and made our own.
Meet My Inspiration
Forrest
My oldest. The reason I created my very first design. Forrest struggled emotionally from an early age. Academically, school was a breeze, but emotionally? It was tough from day one. Teachers tried fidgets. The OT tried fidgets. But they always ended up getting lost, forgotten, or “creatively” repurposed—meaning they were usually taken away. Around first grade, I realized if a fidget was built into his clothing, it would always be there when he needed it. And so, Fidget-Wear was born.
Reid (Not His Real Name!)
Oh, Reid. Just when we thought we had parenting figured out, he came along and tossed everything we knew out the window. He was a completely different challenge (said with the most love possible). Like Forrest, he was bright, and academics weren’t the problem. But from the moment in preschool when he grabbed the principal’s tie to “talk to him on his level,” we knew school was going to be…interesting. Remember that “someday you’ll have kids just like you” warning our parents use to give us? Let’s just say he might be my “someday” kid.
Tucker
The “easy” one—so we thought. Red hair, freckles, and my mirror image (though a quick glance at my husband’s side of the family reveals a whole lineage of redheads). Tucker didn’t struggle in the same ways as his brothers, but maybe that’s because by the time he was in school, we had structures in place that supported everyone. Then, in kindergarten, we found out his eyesight was terrible—mom of the year moment right there. In second grade, we discovered he was seeing double. Another not-so-great moment. Lesson learned: sometimes the challenges aren’t obvious, and even “easy” kids have their own hurdles.
Lessons They’ve Taught Me
Each of my boys has been my greatest teacher. Here are just a few things they’ve shown me:
From Forrest:
- The importance of advocating for our children
- The struggles of hidden disabilities
- How critical social-emotional skills are
- Executive functioning and why it matters
- Navigating late diagnoses and embracing differences
- Transitioning through the special education system into adulthood
From Reid:
- ADHD and impulsivity—it’s not about being “naughty”
- The fine line between discipline, consequences, and self-esteem
- The ongoing debate of nature vs. nurture
- Why making sure “the punishment fits the crime” is so important
From Tucker:
- Life challenges evolve at every stage
- The teenage years hit differently
- Sometimes, kids are harder on themselves than we could ever be
- No two kids can be parented the same way (seriously, how do parents of more than three do it?)
The Journey Continues
My boys have shaped Fidget-Wear from the start, and their experiences continue to inspire where we go next. You’ll hear more about them along the way because their lessons are woven into every part of this journey. And trust me, I have no doubt that they’re not done teaching me yet.