You’re Going to Nap If It Kills Me

Everyday it’s the same battle. I prepare my 3 year old for it. Two hours before, I start talking about it. That’s what the parenting books say you’re supposed to do right? When transitioning you keep remind them at intervals so the kid will be ready.

So how come that never works with nap time? She gets tired, cranky, and the littlest thing creates a meltdown.  Like if I forget to give her a reward sticker for using the potty. Am I holding on too long to nap time? Other 3 year olds I know don’t even nap anymore.

My daughter definitely needs it. And I’m drag her kicking and screaming to nap time. Everyday.

That’s what I said. I’m not giving not giving up nap time yet. Everyday, between 1:30 and 2:00 PM, after I’ve fed her lunch and read her a story, we lay down for a nap. She literally kicks and screams. “I’m not tired!” she yells at me. “I hate nap time” is the other mantra. As long as she’s laying down next to me, she can yell whatever she wants. The yelling and screaming lasts about 10-20 minutes, depending how tired she is. Eventually she wears herself out and falls asleep.

It’s not like I do anything productive during her hour and a half nap. I would love to say that after she falls asleep, I get up and do the dishes or make work phone calls or answer emails. Nope, I sleep. It’s a guilty pleasure necessity I’m not ready to give up.

Remember when kids still napped in Kindergarten?  Give me 2 more years of napping please. So nap time, please don’t break-up with me. I know you don’t get much in return, but it makes me a better mother and wife.

Original DC Metro Moms blog post.

Thien-Kim has been too busy napping to post on her blogs, Passion & Art, and Laugh in Bed. But she will soon. After her nap.

Photo by thejbird via Flickr