Love/Hate

Let me talk about my love/hate relationship with naps for a bit. I just came to terms with the fact that Maddie has pretty much out-grown her naps. Some kids nap till their 4 or 5, some have given them up way earlier then Maddie has, but still, it is a sad departure in our household.

I do however, make her stay in her room for 1 1/2 hrs. I put her in bed, after we watch Olivia on Nick Jr. after lunch, (hilarious cartoon, I think I would watch it even if Maddie wasn't around) and when I leave, as if I have no clue as to what she's up to, she gets up, pushes her rocking chair up to the light switch and turns the light on. Then proceeds to play with her toys. I have come to terms with that. As long as she stays in her room until I get her.

This new little schedule sounds great and all, except until the 6 O'clock hour comes upon us, and I would like to pull my hair out. Some days, she's good. Most days, its melt down city. Especially if we happen to go out for dinner. One day, we were eating a late diner at home, it was around 7:00 and Maddie was pouting for one reason or another. She put her elbows on the table amd leaned her chin on her palms and stuck her bottom lip way out. (were do they learn this stuff?) Brian and I ignored her. If she wanted to pout and not eat her diner, then that's the choice she makes right? So we went on talking. A few minutes later, I look over at Maddie and she was SOUND ASLEEP! What in the world? Brian picked her up and just put her to bed.

Now on the other hand, if she's had a busy day, mostly on Saturday mornings when Brian wears her out at the play ground, she'll take a nap, however, the 8 O'clock bed-time, comes to soon for her. Good luck to us if she'll go to bed then. And again, if she's asleep or not, I don't care, as long as shes in her bed at night. However, the night time routine lasts FOREVER. "I need my water", "I need my bear", "I need more hugs and kisses"etc... Its hard to put a stop to all that. After all, who can deny their child more water? Or hugs? What kind of mother would I be if I said NO to more hugs? I actually had to come up with an alternate to hugs, were I can stand at the doorway and blow kisses. The whole bed time routine can take up to an hour if we let it. And that's AFTER shes ALREADY in bed. Crazy kid.

So that's my love/hate relationship with naps these days. I love them and I hate them at the same time.