Nap time

Nap time, nap time, o precious sweet nap time, how sweet you are nap time.

Before I had kids, I knew about naps and schedules, but I can honestly say I had no idea how my world would completely revolve around NAPS. I often observed other moms that were a slave to their child's nap schedules and quite honestly chuckled about it. Now as a mom there are only a few things that could really stop us from being home for naps. I feel like I could be at the best social event in the world but at the tick of 12:45 I would scoop up my child and be off to make it home by 1pm. I have willingly missed Delaney's naps for only a few things, like doctors appointments and airplane rides. Other than that you could pretty much know where to find me from the hours of 1-3pm for...o... about the last 2.5 years.

A few times recently Delaney has decided not to take a nap at all (pretty rare) and I am shuddering inside because I know this is a bit of foreshadowing of the terrible, inevitable day when her NAPS DISAPPEAR. I am assuming this will probably happen right about when I get Garrett settled on a great daytime schedule where he is napping at 9 and 1. Then I'll be stuck at home with a rambunctious toddler who is no longer napping.

We will continue to do quiet time for a while because I just can't imagine not having that wonderful break in the middle of the day. Guilt persists in great amounts for mothers and I know I feel tons of it when I choose to do my own things when my kids are awake and alert (like get on the internet). By and large I don't do it too much so the guilt is minimal. But that precious moment where you put your kid down for a nap and close the door, well, there is not much better than that moment. It's like you can feel the freedom on your shoulders and you are for only a brief moment, a person who can make their own decisions. Then you look at your watch and have to make that important choice... what am I going to do with MY TIME today? Granted you are stuck to the house but you are free within it's walls. You can nap, shower, get on the computer, call a friend, read a book, or even better just lay on the couch and veg. And you don't have to feel one ounce of guilt. Sometimes it is enough to make we want to do a dance. Or sing a song. Nap time, nap time, o precious sweet nap time.

The time during said precious naps seems to fly by and I find myself checking in on my watch to see how much time is remaining. It's really amazing how much you can cram into a 2-hour period. Never has 2 hours seemed so wonderful. And then you hear it... a peep, a cry, a song, or the dreaded call of "MOMMY!". And you know your time is nearing an end. I find myself rushing around the house doing the last few things I wanted to do before my world is children-focused again.

Then again I envision a day when we can go on vacation and have the full day to plan an activity WITHOUT having to rush home in the middle of day. I imagine that will be liberating in its own right. But when do you get that ME time?!? I guess only after they have snuggled away with teddies, bunnies and blankies.

I am writing this blog entry during a wonderful nap by little Garrett. As of yet he has not settled into any kind of nap schedule and it doesn't seem to matter too much if I disrupt it or shuttle him around to and fro letting him cat nap here or there. But soon will come a time when he is napping (hopefully) at least 4 hours during the day and his awake hours are few and far between.

So here's a salute to infant and toddler nap time. Thank you for existing and letting this mom get a little bit of ME time, a little sanity, fun, relaxation, regrouping and zen energy. Nap time, nap time, o sweet precious nap time.