The Disappearing Nap

If it takes you longer to put the child down, then the actual nap lasts, is it worth it?
I’ve been having some difficulty getting my two year old to nap lately, and I am beginning to ask myself this question.

Sleep is such a tricky subject with kids. Too much of it during the day and they won’t sleep at night, and not enough sleep and they are monsters all day. How do you win? Do you sacrifice the day and put up with a cranky bear all for the sake of some R and R in the evening? How do you choose?

On days that I really need to get stuff done, I just go for it and wrestle my boy into a nap. Sometimes this can take 20-30 minutes, but if it works, it’s well worth it. You’d be surprised how much you can get accomplished, without someone following you around undoing everything you’ve just done. The down side to this of course, is that bedtime will surely be a much more drawn out hassle including numerous trips to the bathroom, and an extremely “thirsty” toddler, I’m sure. But it’s the sacrifice we moms make. We have to choose—peace now, or peace later. For today, I choose peace now.

As for the rest of the week, I might just have to forgo the nap. Its premiere week you know.

photo credit: Docshatt

Marion Burgos is a stay at home mother of four children ages six, four, two and three months. She survives the chaos of her days by laughing and writing about the adventures with her four children. She is an imperfect, highly emotional and sometimes sarcastic mom, who finds comfort in the comradery of motherhood.