I've been fearing this day for a long time. Probably since I got pregnant with JJ.
I think it's time to let go of my nap.
I've always loved naps. Except maybe when I was a baby. (Payback, right mom?)
Since KK was born, I've been napping almost every afternoon with her. A glorious three-hour nap. When JJ arrived, he just joined in with us. And there we were, all three cuddled up in bed.
Now don't get all jealous, I don't actually sleep that entire time. But I do get to rest and catch up on some reading, lying between my two babies to ensure that one doesn't smother the other. No, I'm serious. It really could happen. One time I went to the bathroom and came back to find KK had thrown her leg over JJ's neck and all he did was make little moaning sounds in his sleep.
I thought KK would be the one to make me give up the naps. She's nearing three and we started thinking she might be able to trade in the nap for an earlier bedtime. But no nap makes for a VERY long day. And no nap seems to lead to more night terrors, which in turn leads to less sleep for me...which as we all know, is a VERY BAD THING.
As it turns out, it seems the kids got together when I was cooking supper one night and hatched a sinister plot: to sleep on alternating schedules. They are so sneaky those two. Now JJ naps before and after KK's nap, perhaps giving me a 30 second nap, which really is just a teaser, and probably worse than not napping at all.
What's a mommy to do? And if you're thinking I should get all my sleep at night....tried that! From day one, the kids had already worked out that KK would sleep early and get up early, and JJ would sleep late and wake up late, thereby reducing my sleep time to a maximum of 6 hours/night.
So on I go, continuously adjusting, adapting, figuring out. That, it seems, is what mommies do best!
Heehee, I love to nap too! Kind of hard to do at work but I do make sure to fit one in on sunday afternoons. The hardest thing was when Joseph switched from napping to early bedtime, now I relish that early bedtime. I like having that time with Jim in the evening, all boys asleep. I manage to get Joseph to lay down with me sunday afternoons, he needs a nap after a long week too! Andrew used to but I guess now at 6, he is too old to lay with mommy! It does seem like you are always adjusting doesn't it? Even now, with my boys sleeping through the night, I still don't get enough sleep. Getting the right amount of sleep is a constant battle it seems! Good luck!
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