Break Time!
By Bronwyn in Adopting moms, Cape Town Moms Abroad, Expecting Moms, Moms, Stay-at-home moms, Toddlers, Working moms on 02 9th, 2010 | 2 responses
Break time at school: the one thing most children go to school for. Just when the day’s getting boring or long or you can’t fight the hunger any longer, the break bell goes and you’re free from the confines of the classroom. Now, what if second break was canceled? How would the children and teachers feel then? Ah, if it were canceled for one long first break, it could be possible.
I think you know where I’m heading with this…My darling boy has now moved from having only one nap in the day. At first I had the “first break being cancelled” feeling. He would sleep for an hour maybe and then would be tired for another nap at about 4: 30pm. Anyone putting their kid down at that time is in for a long evening. But after he slept for 2hours 45 min on his first “one nap day”- I’m thinking- wooooohooooo for one nap! That day I was able to put on a load of washing, dye my hair, shower and here’s the biggie: READ! Yes, for about 15 uninterrupted minutes, I read. Ah, the joy and I peace I felt at that time.
I’ve now come to know the joys of one nap in the day. My cherub sleeps anything from one hour to two and a half during the morning. During this time I do the most important things first that will create a smoother afternoon time. I cook because I find cooking time usually coincides with cranky time which creates crabby mom and a crying kid. By moving cooking early- I feel supper is less of a burden and we have a happier home. Next on my list is either hanging or taking down washing. There’s always washing. There are only three of us and yet I have to do two loads on some days just to make it through the week. Thereafter, I do various tasks that need to be done- but I do them quickly so that I can have some “Golden time”. This is the part where every inch of my body lets out an “ahhhhhhh” as I sink in a chair, fall on a bed or place my hands in the same position they are in now. I read somewhere that you will be more willing and able to survive the second leg of the day and actually enjoy it if you’ve had a moment. Most of the time I find it quite ironic that as I hit the good spot on the pillow where the drool has agreed to settle, I hear the ever-familiar movements of the cot. I always wait to hear whether my luck is in and maybe my boy will decide to hit the snooze button. Then I hear ” Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa, Maaaaa, Ma, Ma, Daaa, Daaad, Maaaam. This is usually followed by a hide and seek game. Funny how I seem to find my boy every time. I’m good!
Overall, one nap time is a good experience. The best part I have yet to mention: Not only is first break longer but school gets out early. With second break canceled, it means we can leave early. My cherub is eager to hit the sweat absorbent blanket and I get bumped up to “Platinum time”! YEAH!
I love this article so much. As a very sleep deprived mom of four, it spoke to me
Jesse still has two naps and they always seem very short to me!
We’ve been in the one nap routine for a long time now and I’m actually starting to consider cancelling it!!! He just sleeps too long in the afternoon which means he’s bouncing till 8h30pm! Yes, I could put him to bed earlier in the morning, but with two other big kids to pick up and shuttle around that’s not an option! So, my evil plan is to stop the afternoon sleep and hopefully (fingers crossed) he’ll go to bed around 6h30pm!!!! Wish me luck!!!