Have I ever told you how I feel about naps? I love them. No, I need them. I think a good nap can really change your entire perspective on your day. Not ready to fold the laundry? Take a nap. Can’t face putting the dishes away? Take a nap. Can’t commit to filling out your Publisher’s Clearing House Sweepstakes finalist form? (After all, someone with my initials is about to be a big winner) Take a nap. The right amount of shut-eye can do wonders for the mind, body and soul.
So, itwould stand to reasonthat being the proponent of napping that I am I would extend this belief onto my children. And I have. Avery, my soon-to-be 7 year-old took naps through her Preschool years and even into the first half of her Kindergarten year. Naps gave her some much needed rest and gave me some much needed time. Jack, my 3 year-old has followed suit. He has been a steady napper from the beginning and benefits greatly from a little extra shut-eye.
Until recently.
We have spent the last two evenings battling a sudden night-owl. Jack, who used to go to sleep at eight o’clock on the dial, has started behaving like a frat boy gearing up for a party. All we have missing is the keg of beer and giggling coeds.
This change became increasingly obvious to me last night. Let me explain. I was walking through the hallway, my arms loaded with folded clothes. and went quietly into a sleeping Jack’s bedroom (or so I thought.) I gently set the clothes down and turned around to tiptoe out of his room. As I stepped into the hallway, this is what I saw.
Okay, if I sit real quiet here and cover my eyes, no one will notice me.
Well, he’s partly right. I am pretty sure I passed by Jack at least once before finding him in the hallway. I bet he was feeling pretty smart as I breezed past him. Until I found him. And then I bet he was feeling pretty crappy as I marched his little butt back to bed.
After sharing some choice threats with my son, I left him to go to sleep, and continued on with my laundry, fully trusting my authority as a mother.
About 30 minutes after finding Jack crouched in the hallway, sending him back to bed and laying the smack down so-to-speak, I was getting ready to go to bed myself. I shut down the living room and headed towards my bedroom for some well-deserved REM.
And here’s what I found…again.
Hehehe…I am in like Flynn. These people have no idea I’m sitting here. Mom’s going to bed. Party’s on.
Crap.
Napping aside, Jack is certainly not the first kid to fight his bedtime. And he definitely will not be the last. Myfear is that ithis daytime sleeping that is causing this PM uproar. We will begin playing around a little bit with his sleeping schedule to see if we can find a solution that works for both Jack and me. If this little nighttime bruhaha keeps happening we may very well be giving the old he-ho to naps.
Lord help me.
Did I mention how much I love naps?
Mindy
You poor thing! Naps are an essential part of every day sanity. I love how he thinks he’s all hidden because HE can’t see beyond his hands. Too cute! LOL
Yep…I’m definitely mourning the nap. Deep mourning. =)
Mindy
My niece used to do that when we’d play hide-n-go-seek. She would guy stand by the fridge and cover her eyes. That always cracked me up. Well, if he’s not going to sleep, at least he’s good entertainment value! Kids and their stages! They certainly keep their parents guessing sometimes. Is it allowable to give them sleeping pills???
This man keeps me in total limbo…I’ve given up even trying to guess what he’ll come up with. Sleeping pills? Not usually. Benadryl? Without a doubt. =)
Mindy
Why do they not appreciate naptime while we would almost kill to be able to take a nap?!
I know…I ask him that very question and he always looks at me with a blank face. =)
Mindy
It was my plan that my son nap well into his college years. My plans often did not turn out the way I expected.
Once the napping precluded bedtime happening before late-night TV had wrapped up for the night, I stopped insisting on sleeping. But there was an afternoon “quiet time” that lasted an hour or so where he was required to lie on his bed, looking at picture books or playing quiet games with his stuffed toys. And although I claimed that this was so he could have some restful de-compression in the midst of a busy day, it was, in fact, so that I would not lose my mind.
It mostly worked.
I definitely plan on enforcing a “quiet time” if naptimes are no longer. But, judging how easy it’s been to keep him in his bed at bedtime, I’m sure quiet time’s going to go over REAL well. =)
Mindy
I knew we had a special connection beyond our names. Napping is my hobby.
As for Jack? 3 words: Ben A Dryl!
Three words back…PLAN ON IT. =)
Mindy
I hope you don’t lose your naptime. I wouldn’t make it, if it wasn’t for the naps. Good luck!
It’s not even the actual nap…it’s the thought of NOT being able to take one if I want. Oh, the pain. =)
Mindy
Hey,,,at least he is reading, or appears to be anyway… could be worse 🙂 …..from the person who no longer has kids that need naps 🙂
Hang in there, haha
Wendy
Oh, it’s been worse…much worse. At least he hasn’t (so far) been getting up when the rest of us are already asleep. That fear is enough to almost keep me awake at night. =)
Mindy
I’m no expert but it does seem the nap could be keeping him up. I know experts have recommended not napping beyond 3 p.m. and if you do nap, keeping it to a certain length. 20 minutes? Something like that. Anyway, if I nap, I either can’t go to sleep at my bedtime or I wake up at 3 a.m. and can’t go back to sleep.
I think I have heard that same advice. I’ve always enjoyed a nap here and there but hate it when I (or my kids) sleep too long and wake up hating the world and everything in it. Those naps aren’t very productive. =)
Mindy
Enjoyed my visit..Cute blog!
Julie
http://www.ridingaside.blogspot.com
Thank you Julie! I appreciate the visit AND the comment! =)
Mindy
Get a sitter for your naps.
There. Problem solved. Your welcome. 🙂
Great…are you available, at say, 1:30? =)
Mindy
So sorry. I know the feeling. You’ll soon find you may actually be able to live without a nap, like Jack. But, I still like one now and then.
Come on, Sara. You know me. You know Jack. See the need for a nap?
=)
Mindy