Thursday, September 17, 2009

Who Is This For, You or Me?

Nap time in our house has gone the way of the dodo bird. It is extinct. Dead as a doornail. And it has been for some time.

We (I) tried in vain to have quiet time in her room. I hoped that she could play quietly while I got some things done around the house. Nope. It didn't work in the least. You see she can open her door and come downstairs by herself. So I would spend the hour taking her back upstairs repeatedly. Not the best use of my time.

Then we tried having her watch a video or show while I did other things. Somedays it worked fine. Somedays it didn't. She would get lonely. "Momma can you come here please. I miss you. I want you to watch with me. Please." So I'd come in and sit for a while and go back to whatever I was doing, only to have the whole thing start all over again.

So the next thing we tried has worked like a dream. I can't believe I didn't think of this before. When its time for quiet time, we both head to the couch with our blankets. I lay down first then she lays on top of me. We turn on a show and snuggle for a while. Then she will either lay with me, sit on the other couch or play quietly while watching her show. The most important thing is she is quiet. For a whole hour. Its perfect.

Now how can this be perfect, you ask. Isn't the point of quiet time for you to have some time to yourself? Yes it is. And I do get exactly what I need.

Because every day I fall asleep on the couch during quiet time. I get almost an hour of uninterrupted napping. And it is awesome.

7 comments:

tracey.becker1@gmail.com said...

BRILLIANT! My kids were all done napping between 2 and 3 1/2. It's a tough transition for all parties involved.

Anonymous said...

HA! I'm so glad I'm not the only one who did/does this.

Issa said...

AHahahhahaha...that is too awesome. Gah, i wish I could nap. I am genetically unable too.

EatPlayLove said...

so sad when naps go away. love your solution.

anymommy said...

Fantastic. I'm with Issa, I just can not nap, so not only are you brilliant, but I'm insanely jealous.

Christy said...

I love your idea - if nap times ever disappear here, that's what we're going to do too!

Kate Coveny Hood said...

I love that idea. But unfortunately, my non-napper is rowdy and he would never let me snooze. Or I'd wake up to find him gone, only to discovering him eating Vaseline upstairs...

I also love the image of you two snuggled up on the couch. My daughter will do that with me sometimes and I try to enjoy every second.