Wednesday, March 9, 2011

What to do, what to do



A few weeks ago, a choice was thrust upon me: Keep Emily's nap time or keep her bed time.  I tried both and instantly saw the advantages and disadvantages to either decision.

Once Ben quit his night/weekend job, I made the life altering decision of taking away her nap time.

It has been two weeks and I have already eaten forty times my weight in chocolate. I knew I enjoyed the quiet time while she slept, I just didn't realize it also kept me sane.

While this isn't the ultra positive (snicker snicker) post I try to write on Wednesdays, it is real.  And, heck, I'm not ashamed to admit I am this close to locking my little girl in her room for the whole day.  By 2 I have already texted Ben 1 million times asking him why I can't move her bedtime to 3.

Still, once 6 rolls around and we have tucked the babes in bed, I am glad I made the change.

At least until 9 am the next morning.

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12 comments:

  1. Nap decisions are so hard. What saved me when mine quit napping was having quiet activities planned out. Lots of watercoloring. And I told her to read books. Which meant she sat and looked at the pages. Four books today, baby, mama needs to close her eyes. But the early bedtime is delicious.

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  2. But soon she will be able to have a middle-of-the-day, non-sleeping quiet time! And that will be even awesomer than a nap! Probably! In the meantime, I will eat a piece of chocolate in solidarity.

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  3. Once my kids stop taking naps, I think I will seriously mourn and have a funeral for my lost "me" time. You must be stronger than me because I could never do it voluntarily.



    But sleeping from 6 p.m. to 9 a.m.???? Well, that's almost worth it!!!

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  4. I think you're a glutton for punishment! :)

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  5. So today I'm coming out of the closet and finally posting on all the websites I read but never comment on.



    I TOTALLY understand that struggle, and made the same choice. It's so hard giving up some of the joyful afternoon quietness, but to have a silent house at 7:30 is a dream come true. The only downside is that I am too tired at that point to do anything! Also, I always struggle with the choice of staying up and having some fun, or going to bed early just in case the kids are up all night coughing/peeing the bed/other Tom Foolery.



    I totally love your blog! Hope you don't mind me following along.

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  6. They sleep from 6pm to 9am? WOW. Totally worth it then :)

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  7. I fought my oldest for months and months about the nap thing. I did not want to give up my quiet afternoon time. But, as you say, her ransacking her room during "nap time" or staying up till midnight were not viable long-term options either. Finally, I gave in.



    And just as we were getting used to our quiet afternoons together while the boys slept, it all started again with my son. But I had learned my lesson (read: pick your battles) and immediately stopped his nap. Now? He sacks out right away at bedtime. And I do, too, because there's No. Break. All. Day.



    All this to say: Yes! I empathize!

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  8. Do you still make them have "quiet" time? That's what I used to do once they gave up naps...still do! ;)

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  9. My kids stopped napping at a very young age. It was the same thing you decided. If I let them sleep in the day they would not go to bed until late at night. God luck adjusting to less down time!

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  10. I am with Justine. I don't think my daughter has EVER slept that long. And she is five. I bet that time is so precious.

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  11. Those early bed times are the only things that saved me in certain periods of my mommy hood. Best of luck!

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  12. Sometimes when I babysit my niece, I wish she still took naps. LoL

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