January 29, 2014

SO WHAT! Wednesday

Life After I DewThis week I'm saying SO WHAT if...

Kendall has given up naps.  I dreaded the day that she gave up naps. I heard so many people say that their child gave them up around 2, 2.5, and definitely by 3.  Then my mom would remind me that I took a nap until I went to kindergarten.  And I was hopeful again.

Now she hasn't given them up 100% so perhaps it's easy for me to say.  She will take a nap about twice a week, I'd say.  It's like she fights it, fights it, fights it and then her little body just can't take it anymore and on that fourth day she just passes out.  On the floor.  On the couch.  At the kitchen table.  In the car.  Wherever. And I let her sleep wherever she lies {lays? I never know}.

Truth be told it's not SO bad.  I mean, sure, I miss my quiet afternoons.  Afternoon was when I'd get on the treadmill, take a shower, put laundry away, catch up on the DVR, read/write some blogs, and I do miss that time to myself.  But now I get quiet time with my big girl.

Since having James I have felt guilty for not having as much time for Kendall.  I mean for the past 3 years it's been all Kendall, all the time.  Now I feel like I'm constantly saying, "hang on I'm feeding James" or "when I'm done changing James".  It's all about James, all the time.  Which I think is normal and natural, as he's a baby and very dependent on me still, but it doesn't make it any easier on my mom heart.

So nap time {for James} is my time with Kendall now.  If she doesn't fall asleep somewhere random I use that time to do something special with just her.  Yesterday we painted her fingernails and toenails and cuddled in my bed and watched a movie.  There were lots of laughs and hugs and kisses.  It was so nice.

So yeah, giving up that me time stinks but having that special time with my #1 girl is totally worth it.  Giving up naps isn't so bad, right?

*If this link up looks a bit different than what you expected or what you're used to please check out last weeks post, here.







10 comments:

  1. So glad you had some special time with Kendall. It's always so hard when the second one needs all of our attention. Mine are now 5 and 3. It's gets much easier once the baby stage is over. I did not link up last week and didn't see the new format. I love it! I'll remember for next week!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Very good plus to this. I did the same thing with my older son. He gave up naps right before my little one was born and we would use that time for something for just us to do. Now though that my little one has given up his nap at almost 3 I don't have the same feelings. LOL no little one left that I need to use this time way from for. We are trying to implement some quiet time still so that we both can get things done. He is a great helper so we've been crafting, baking, blogging (he is a great helper picking out pictures ;)). Good luck and enjoy your girlie time.

    ReplyDelete
  3. When I worked in day care in the older rooms I used to hate it when the kids got too old for naps. I totally needed that time to recharge. But then again, there were 20 of them, so it was a bit more chaotic. We just did the whole, "you don't have to sleep, but you do have to sit on your mat quietly and read or color". Glad you are finding this time gives you some extra QT with your little girl.

    ReplyDelete
  4. My girl gave up naps a few months ago. I was surprised because she wasn't even two and she just didn't want to nap anymore. Now, every once in a while, I will find her asleep somewhere in the house and it's always way too late and then she has a hard time at bed time. But I do enjoy my time with her without the naps too now that the little guy demands so much attention.

    ReplyDelete
  5. It is my husband who has given up naps in the afternoon now! How can I get him to take them again so I can have some me time? :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. I am finding myself enjoying some alone time with my 2 year old, now that I have a 3 week old. I do it when the baby is napping. I'm not ready for her to give up those naps just yet! :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. I'm dreading the day when my daughter gives up naps. She's going through a rebellious streak right now and won't fall asleep for a nap in the house most days, so I drive around until she falls asleep. I'm definitely someone who needs that alone/quiet time to recharge and be myself. I'm sure you miss it, despite the sweet time you have to spend with Kendall!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Boomer never really gave up naps. She still would take one everyday if someone let her :) Glad you're finding your Kendall times though.

    ReplyDelete
  9. What a cute blog. New follower http://myawsomesouthernlife.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  10. How old is James now? Is he on a consistent nap schedule? I am sort of dreading when #2 (12 weeks old) will require a consistent nap schedule because I hate being a slave to it, lol. With #1 (5.5 yrs -full day kindergarten) I would rush home from where ever we were to assure she got a good nap. :( Insert whine, "I don't wanna"

    ReplyDelete