Good Bye, Nap Time

Recently I've experienced the loss of a dear friend, nap time. Through

the years we've had our differences, such as leaving me for a week 

long vacation without any notice, but it would always return, usually 

penitent for the chaos its absence caused. A few weeks ago, both of my 

older children decided, whether independently or collaboratively I don't 

know, that nap time was a thing of the past. I had managed for quite a 

few months to get all three to nap in the afternoon at the same time, 

ensuring a couple hours of serenity, time to work on writing, sneak a 

scoop or two of chocolate ice cream, catch up on a TV show that my 

husband wouldn't watch, attempt a workout, or make a valiant effort 

with the mountains of laundry waiting for me in the basement. 

I feel unbalanced in adjusting to this new world of constant play. The 

children have responded to bleary eyed afternoons in different ways. 

My eldest (5) turns into a 17 year old with the attitude to match, and 

my 3 year old, despite being as tough as a mini linebacker, emotionally 

wilts like any unfortunate plant condemned to my house. And so late 

afternoons have been quite a challenge.  

The balancing act called motherhood is a constant learning process.

Nap time used to be instrumental in aiding that balance, and now

my equilibrium is recalibrating itself. I find myself searching for 

strategies that will bring order to afternoon chaos. The TV has

been on much more than I'd like lately. 

Yesterday I ordered the sleep deprived sweeties to their room with 

the instructions that they are to either look at books or play with 

puzzles. 30 seconds later I heard banging, pounding and screaming. 

I marched up and found them wrestling each other down to the 

ground. In itself not bad, but my 3 year old has gotten in trouble at pre-

school for not being gentle enough with his classmates, so rough 

housing is not allowed for right now. I had to put on a tough demeanor, 

put them to the tasks I had instructed, and amazingly they were quiet 

until dinner was ready. Again I'm reminded that I need to be the mom 

that is best for my children, not the funnest or the coolest, just the best 

for them. 

Although I feel nap time abandoned me without warning (or maybe 

I had ignored the warning signs in denial), I need to stop mourning

its departure and move on. I love the motto of the animated movie

Meet the Robinsons, "Keep moving forward." With God's grace,

that's exactly what I'll do!