Napportunities is a word that I came up with which simply means opportunities for napping. I offer my boys a napportunity every day and my eldest two rarely take it. I mean, you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink. So while I have them lie down and "rest their bodies", they do everything but slap themselves in the face to stay awake. Wait, oh yes, I do believe that Henry has slapped himself in the face before in order to stay awake.
I have learned to let this go because the perk of your preschool age children not napping is that they will go to bed earlier at night. That sounds horrible but, let's face it, after 13 hours of parenting, it's time to clock out. I recently had a bout with 24-hour a day parenting while Elliot had Hand, Foot & Mouth disease. It was dreadful, the kid was in so much pain and had huge sores in his mouth. I felt awful for him but also a little awful for me because he couldn't sleep and would be up whining at all hours but, being two, often refused medicine at 3 a.m. or spit it all over my comforter (He was sleeping in our bed while Adam slept in Elliot's bed). The point being, I had a recent experience with 24/7 parenting lately and the Lord sustained me and I wanted to be there for Elliot but, on a day to day basis, I know that we need to shut it down at a decent hour if nobody's going to nap.
I get angry when my kids abstain during their napportunity and then try and fall asleep in the car at like 5 p.m. I am like, "Heck no! You missed your napportunity, son and now it's too late! You have to wait until BEDTIME, which will be at 7 p.m. tonight! Maybe you'll listen to me tomorrow during your napportunity!" (they don't.) I know that they are young and I shouldn't be upset about them not being able to keep their eyes open but I often do because we all need sleep, friends and my eldest son gets aggressive when he's super tired and my middle gets whinier and if everyone would nap, we could have such a pleasant evening.
But, alas, there is no point in crying over sailed ships. I just would be remiss if I missed this opportunity to introduce you to napportunity. Let's not take naps for granted. Over and Out.
P.S. I love my children, no one get their panties in a wad, please. This is all for funsies.
4 comments:
Bahahaha! I'm dying laughing. And I feel the same way when Eli lies in his crib for an hour talking to himself and the minute I try to get an errand done, konk, in the car. Oh no sir, you are going to Walmart and you are going to like it! :) Thanks for being a real mama, you make it fun! :)
cracking up here camille! thanks for keeping it real. you are an amazing mom!
First time here! You sum up what I've said for decades, now: If I had taken all the naps my mother wanted me to take when I was a kid, I wouldn't be THIS tired today!!!
Consider yourself followed, Camille. (in a totally non-stalker way)
Im so thankful when my kids dont nap because its just an extra 2 hours I get to spend with them.
ummmm no.
This is awesome! Youre great.
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