Nap Strike

Behold, dear reader, my two beloved children. One of whom is well rested and peacefully content. The other has refused to take a nap for three out of the past four days. Can you guess which little urchin is sleep deprived?

Yes. I know. She is three years old. Many children give up their naps by this age. This does not change the fact that she still seems to *need* her nap. If she refuses to nap, she is a wilted, frayed, dazed looking little thing by approximately 5 PM. And I *refuse* to put her in bed by 5 PM. If I do this insane thing, she will wake me up at 3 AM, ready to watch the Waltons and start her day. Thus, I am in a pickle. Perhaps this is just a phase. Perhaps she will return to regular napping and all will be right with the world. Couldn't she just settle for a happy medium? An hour's nap in the afternoon would be just the ticket. As it is, she either sleeps for 2+ hours, or not at all.

Three year olds are wonderful in so many ways. I am amazed daily by the conversations I am able to have with Miss Peanut. However, she will not understand my exhortations to take a "good nap," or my assurances that this will help her to enjoy the remainder of her day. Ah well . . . my three short years of parenting have taught me that There. Is. Always. Something. I am always concerned about the latest transition, and how painful it will be and how long the painful part will last. But, these things always seem to work themselves out, and the difficult part of it all becomes a distant memory.

Poor Miss will always be, I fear, the victim of this worrying parent, since she is the first child. I remember my sense of panic when, at three months, she learned to roll over onto her tummy, and would get stuck that way in the middle of the night. She would cry and I would have to go roll her back over. I was so worried that my good sleeper would now become a high-maintenance child. I was constructing theories and methods for coping with this challenge. The challenge only lasted for two nights, for she had learned by the third night to roll the other way.

I suppose that I should let this history be a lesson to me, and realize that she will soon be able to function in the evening hours without a nap. Yes, I'm sure that is true. Just another little stepping stone on the path of growing up. This has been helpful and therapeutic. Thanks for listening.