In Defense of Naps

I don't know how I could get through my day if the kids didn't nap. And my three-and-a-half year old is getting dangerously close to giving up naps entirely. It has been a constant source of displeasure in our household for months now.

Clearly there are some days that he needs a nap. On those days he might complain a bit about napping but eventually he quiets down and sleeps for a good two hours. Then there are other days where he complains a lot and plays for a good hour in his room before collapsing somewhere on his floor.

But mostly he fights me on naps. We do our regular routine of lunch, a book, a song and then I tuck him in bed. As I am about to walk out of the room he suddenly has a new complaint which is usually in concert with kicking and screaming at me. I tell him that he needs to nap so that he's not grouchy in the afternoon. But as I close the door I just know that we will have at least two hours of battle. He'll play loudly in his room, open the door several times to swear that he has slept or he'll poop in his Pull-Up and need me to change it. Sometimes I meet this struggle with calmness and determination. Other times I turn into "savage mama" with unkind words and veiled threats of punishment. These are the days I abhor.

Mainly because I need a break so badly during the day. I eat my lunch uninterrupted, catch up on my email, study for school and best of all, nap. Yes, I too am a huge napper. The couch and I get along really well. It takes me about five minutes to fall asleep once I lay my head on the couch. Call it exhaustion or sleep training or the just being a mom, I can fall asleep easily in the afternoon.

So, I don't know what happens next. I know that I need downtime and I'm pretty sure that despite his clamoring my big boy needs some downtime. When naps go away completely I'll have to come up with something else to ensure that sanity remains in this house. Until then I'll vehemently defend naps.

Just out of curiosity

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