The Sleep Wars: A Ramble
The battle with naps continues. Today it was a peaceful attempt, lay him down gently, get out quick, shut the door, crap did I make eye contact? Crap I did. He's still looking at me. Shoot, pretend it didn't happen and back away from the door.
And the fussing begins.
20 minutes later, he gave in. And is now sleeping. VICTORY!
We're having some weird timing issues. I think because we're almost ready for one nap a day. But he can't quite make it through the morning without a nap, but if he sleeps for a good clip in the AM, then his PM nap is nonexistent, (MUTINY!) and then he has a hard time making it to bedtime. Which, around here, is 7PM.
Cue the "GASP! 7 PM? Oh my, so early?"
I can do the 7PM bedtime because I stay home. Most working families are not able to do the 7PM bedtime because, well, they don't get to pick up junior until 6, then they have to have dinner, and hello, they want to spend some time with their darling before they ship him off to sleep.
So many people do not understand our early bedtime. They look at me like I have two heads. I get asked "when do you have dinner?" all the time. Well, Grady eats at 5:30. He sits in his chair at the table while I cook dinner, Lewis is home at 6ish, we eat around then, than we both go give Grady a bath and it's off to bed time.
Other days, if I'm not feeling it, Lewis makes dinner while I'm getting Grady to sleep. I am not ashamed to admit that this happens often. Or that I call my husband at 4PM and say "I can't do it. Please bring home take out."
But no, we don't go out to eat dinner anymore. And yes, it sort of makes me feel old that I'm often ready for dinner at 5:30.
Somebody was talking the other day about naps and how they were never going to keep a house super quiet just because a baby was sleeping. I remember thinking like that too. But, when it's you, and it's been 6 months since you've had more than 4 hours of sleep, you will do anything - and I do mean anything - to get your rest. And if junior needs the house to be still as tombs to get a 45 minute nap in, and that means you get a 45 minute nap in, you will do it.
That McDonald's commercial with the dad driving in circles through the drive through wasn't created in a vacuum.
Not to mention, exerting your will over your kids will is kind of an exorcise in futility. The kid has needs, wants ... and from an early age he will find a way to let you know that, no he does not want to sleep, yes he would like to eat again, and no, he does not really care at all if it's 3AM and yes, he realizes he ate just two hours ago, but he's HUNGRY NOW AND YOU ARE HIS MOTHER SO TAKE CARE OF IT NOW!
Aw, memories. The thing I wish I had realized, that I wish I had really understood, and known in my bones, is that it is all a phase. All of it. From the diaper size to the crying jags to the night feedings to the toys they play with ... it's all a phase. And it all passes.
Nap is still going ... score one for mommy!
And the fussing begins.
20 minutes later, he gave in. And is now sleeping. VICTORY!
We're having some weird timing issues. I think because we're almost ready for one nap a day. But he can't quite make it through the morning without a nap, but if he sleeps for a good clip in the AM, then his PM nap is nonexistent, (MUTINY!) and then he has a hard time making it to bedtime. Which, around here, is 7PM.
Cue the "GASP! 7 PM? Oh my, so early?"
I can do the 7PM bedtime because I stay home. Most working families are not able to do the 7PM bedtime because, well, they don't get to pick up junior until 6, then they have to have dinner, and hello, they want to spend some time with their darling before they ship him off to sleep.
So many people do not understand our early bedtime. They look at me like I have two heads. I get asked "when do you have dinner?" all the time. Well, Grady eats at 5:30. He sits in his chair at the table while I cook dinner, Lewis is home at 6ish, we eat around then, than we both go give Grady a bath and it's off to bed time.
Other days, if I'm not feeling it, Lewis makes dinner while I'm getting Grady to sleep. I am not ashamed to admit that this happens often. Or that I call my husband at 4PM and say "I can't do it. Please bring home take out."
But no, we don't go out to eat dinner anymore. And yes, it sort of makes me feel old that I'm often ready for dinner at 5:30.
Somebody was talking the other day about naps and how they were never going to keep a house super quiet just because a baby was sleeping. I remember thinking like that too. But, when it's you, and it's been 6 months since you've had more than 4 hours of sleep, you will do anything - and I do mean anything - to get your rest. And if junior needs the house to be still as tombs to get a 45 minute nap in, and that means you get a 45 minute nap in, you will do it.
That McDonald's commercial with the dad driving in circles through the drive through wasn't created in a vacuum.
Not to mention, exerting your will over your kids will is kind of an exorcise in futility. The kid has needs, wants ... and from an early age he will find a way to let you know that, no he does not want to sleep, yes he would like to eat again, and no, he does not really care at all if it's 3AM and yes, he realizes he ate just two hours ago, but he's HUNGRY NOW AND YOU ARE HIS MOTHER SO TAKE CARE OF IT NOW!
Aw, memories. The thing I wish I had realized, that I wish I had really understood, and known in my bones, is that it is all a phase. All of it. From the diaper size to the crying jags to the night feedings to the toys they play with ... it's all a phase. And it all passes.
Nap is still going ... score one for mommy!
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