As we were leaving the zoo today, I stopped to wait on my friends to catch up. Two women pushing their children in strollers walked by and said, “Awe,” while looking at Kate. I smiled back at them, glanced down at Kate, and noticed her head was listing forward.
“Is she asleep?” I asked them frantically.
They nodded yes. I immediately reached down and viciously exuberantly poked her in the side and yelled, “Wake up!” Kate jumped up, startled, and frowned at me. The two women gave me a “don’t give the crazy lady anything sharp” look (which I tend to get A LOT) and scurried away.
Why did I not just let her sleep? Because nap time is for me. It’s the best part of my day. Kate naps, on average, two and a half hours. Sometimes I get THREE hours all to myself. I can read in the blissful silence, watch whatever I want on TV, or take a nap myself. It’s amazing. But when Kate fell asleep in her stroller, that meant her nap time just got shorter. I also knew she’d fall asleep on the way to lunch, which she did—even though I turned around and tapped her on the head to keep her awake, pulling a muscle in the process.
So now we’re home from lunch. I put Kate down for a nap. I’m writing this blog. She’s kicking the wall.
I hear ya! If Molly naps even for 5 minutes in the van or somewhere else, it is all over! I do everything I can to keep her awake till home. I get that look too
I just knew what was coming as soon as I read that her head was ‘listing forward’. Just wait until a good nap during the day means no sleeping at night! Yup, that is what is coming. I had to go into my daycare looking as haggard as I felt after dealing with yet another night where Katie was up until midnight or later because she was napping at daycare in the afternoon. I explained that Katie was STILL awake and going strong after midnight for the third day in a row, and when we have to get up as early as we do, Mama was way beyond sleep deprived. I begged her to not let Katie nap in the afternoon. That finally put an end to the afternoon nap. Thank goodness!
I never have any trouble getting Hanne to take a nap.
OMG… this is HILARIOUS. AND SO TRUE. Good for you. Keep that YOU time for yourself!