Naptime at the Stauffer House
Napping is quite the challenge around this household. Take for instance today. Ya gotta sleep when baby sleeps, right? Everybody knows that!
Violet didn’t sleep much this morning, so I concluded that she would probably sleep good at nap time. Well she went down early, like right after our early lunch. So get everybody else settled quick, this Mama needs a nap big time today! I laid down for a few minutes getting into that sleepy state only to get back up again to take needed measures to get the 2 year old to understand that Mama meant business when she said be quiet and go to sleep. Back to my room and under the covers, pillows adjusted just right, snuggled down for ten more minutes and whooops Violet must’ve just wanted a cat nap. Why, I thought she’d sleep long and hard for sure! I stand over her cradle hoping it is just a passing thought . . . 
Nope. Might as well get her up and feed her again, but first I try the swing cause I just fed her not long ago. Maybe that will take care of her . . .
Sittin’ in the rocker, rocking my baby, I hear a faint “Mama”. Calling up a reminder that, “No, Jaden, you may not get up yet. You have to sleep first”, I continue feeding Violet. Loraine peeps out from under her blanket house in the living room (I’d forgotten I let her nap there today) “Mom, you said I don’t need to take naps anymore.” “Yes, but you’re too tired from yesterday’s excursions, so you need to today.”
Ok, try swing again after feeding bottle, almost goes to sleep. I head back to bed . . . only to get all snuggled in nice when Violet decides that no, she really doesn’t want to sleep. I fling back the blankets and hit the floor once more. Okay, in the jumper you go and please be happy there!!!
Jeremiah comes upstairs hearing all these transactions. Wondering if it’s time to come up. “No. I’ll let you know. You are to stay in your spot till then. Understood?!?! ” Only reason I’m up is to take care of the baby. Japheth comes up to use bathroom and make sure he isn’t missing out on anything . . . Grrrrr . . . They just don’t get the point, do they?!?!
Finally, I let Loraine stop trying to sleep and just have quiet time. Now she’s over there reading a noisy book! Oh my . . . no wonder my hair is graying fast . . . cause this is just a typical naptime here at our house.
Enjoy your nap if you take one and if you don’t be thankful you don’t need on.
It’s all in the life of a mother . . .
December 2nd, 2009 at 2:32 pm
LOL!! Oh, Aimee…I so feel your pain. The WORST moments are those where you have full expectation that you are going to get your relaxation, and then thing after thing keeps interrupting and it is SO MADDENING!!! ARGGHH!!
It’s waaaayyyy easier if you don’t expect a rest or break or nap or whatever…but when things add up to point SO logically in that direction you can’t help but count those chickens before they hatch. 
December 2nd, 2009 at 11:23 pm
I can’t tell you how much I understand! I sometimes come to the conclusion that it is better not to even try to take a nap, because it is almost painful to have to get up just as soon as you start drifting off!