Shoes and Shocks
For a long time, I couldn't figure it out. Every time I would send Alexis to school sporting a new pair of shoes, she would return home with them completely ruined. I knew the black rubber mulch was responsible for the dirt and grime, but I didn't understand the wear. Lots of wear.
Then one day, I got my answer. As I stood peering through the kitchen window, I watched my baby girl grow up right before my eyes. She sat on her swing, stuck out her legs, pulled the chains with her arms, and pumped her way up high. Back and forth she swung without a single person assisting her. When she was done, she pointed her little toes down at the ground and scraped the fronts of her shoes to stop.
All. by. herself.
She's growing up right before our eyes.
So, it should have come as no surprise when Alexis started trying to give up her daily nap. I don't really understand why kids can't learn to appreciate that which I covet, but whatever. She doesn't want to nap. That's all there is to it.
On the weekends, it's no big thing. Weekdays, however, are a whole other issue. You see, while she may be convinced she's done with naps, SHE'S NOT READY TO BE DONE. Not. at. all. I don't know how she's managing to stay awake during her school's designated nap hour, but I suspect it involves whispering, peer pressure, and a couple of super cute accomplices. Even that doesn't really bother me. It's what happens when I pick her up from school that is the problem.
She falls asleep.
In the car.
At 6:30pm.
Every day.
Those four sentences thrown together into a giant pot and cooked up over a low flame are the exact recipe for disaster. We can't let her finish out the nap because then she can't fall asleep at bedtime. We can't wake her up because OMG! THE MONSTER! Never wake a sleeping child. Someone WILL get hurt.
I'm going to stop buying the kid new shoes and instead save my money for a new car seat. It's going to be a car seat equipped with an electrical system that allows me to shock the kid if she tries to fall asleep in the car.
Bzzzzzt.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Reader Comments (28)
I'll send you E. She refuses to let MJ sleep in the car, even if I'm yelling at her to leave her alone. It's all "MJ! MJ! MJ! Wake up! MJ! MJ! HEEEEYYYYY!! MJ!" Add in some reaching across and pulling on her coat and the poor kid never gets to sleep.
I'll even include her car seat.
Ooooh! I thought of a better idea! You just need something to fascinate Alexis in the backseat. Something small, that can be annoyed, and fits in it's own smaller car seat . . .
I have to agree with Jayna . . . add some of that peer pressure to the back seat and you won't have to worry about those 6:30 naps! We were in this phase not that long ago with Cooper, and are nearing it again with Maren . . . you are damned if you do and damned if you don't!
The toddler of our household is trying to give up his nap and I'm VERY sad. I NEED that nap more than he does, trust me....
Oooh No naps mean cranky pants! I remember those years. Good luck with that! I do happen to agree with @Jayna though. ;)You need back up, and that is ONE way to do it. :)
Make her get a job - that's a surefire way to want to sleep mid-day.
Sorry to the other posts, but my Baby Girl STILL falls asleep, even WITH the baby-sized (and older brother sized) peer pressure. (You're welcome). Sometimes watching a new video will keep her interest long enough for her to stay awake, but it's over an hour round-trip to pick up her brother. And it's every day. So I can't exactly AFFORD to use this on a daily basis...
You could easily work your way through the Disney library from day care to home. I would pause the movie when you get out and make sure she doesn't watch the rest until the NEXT day. (This is assuming you have a portable DVD player or some such doo-hickey). Just my suggestion...
If you find a zapping carseat, I'll take two. We're going through this exact thing at our house right now and it BLOWS.
I hear you on the nap thing! If my little guy falls asleep on the way home from daycare - look out. I have to fight the urge just to put him straight into bed at 6:00 PM.
Bzzzt. hehe.
My child gave up the nap completely once she started at pre-school. We are actually happy about it because she actually falls asleep now in like 10-15 minutes, instead of the 1-2 HOURS it used to take.
BUT... we had to move her bedtime up to 6:30, which means moving her dinner time up to 5:30. This only works because my husband has an early in-early out schedule and picks her up from school before 4:00.
I have no idea how a person would handle it if they couldn't pick the child up early. Good luck to you!
My cousin is fond of saying that childhood is wasted on children. All they want is to grow up and learn independence, and all adults want is to nap daily and have someone do things for us.
Maybe you could let Alexis drive home while you napped in the car. She's smart, she'll figure it out.
Peanut will scam his way out of naptime and then pass out on the 2 minute ride home from daycare and be out for the night. What kills me is that he'll do this 3-4 days in a row. This leaves me with only my 1/2 hour getting him dressed and to daycare in the morning to hang out with him. Not fair.
Ten gold stars for The Mommy. Y'all saying to have a second kid are SO NOT MY FRIENDS. I like how you're all "Solve this with #2!" without acknowledging that #2 would join Alexis in plotting my demise. He or she would likely come up with new ways to take me down. Then there would be TWO OF THEM doing it.
I'll take the shocking car seat instead, thankyouverymuch. ;-)
Another child is NEVER a solution!! LOL Sure, they're cute, but definitely not a solution ;)
I dread the day Maggie starts fighting her nap. She is SUCH a good napper now, for nearly 10 months she catnapped for 20 minute spans, but for the past year, she's been consistent with 2-3 hour naps every day (or at least, every day she's home with me. I have no clue what happens at school.)
I wish you luck on this one. argh
Put her car seat on the roof of your car. I bet she can't sleep in the freezing cold. It might bring on other problems, but you can deal with them later.
OMG. When I worked daycare a million years ago, parents would ask me to make sure their kids got naps. Others would ask me to make sure their kids didn't sleep. And it was always the opposite of what the kids really wanted or seemed to need. Gah. But we did our best to accommodate. I'm guessing you've already spoken with the school staff?
I was thinking no need for a shocking car seat, just slip something uncomfortable under the padding. Think the princess and the pea.
@Flea--No, I haven't, but only because I know they won't be able to force the issue. If the kid doesn't want to sleep, she doesn't want to sleep. If I can't make her do it one-on-one, I highly doubt they can when there are 20+ other kids in the room.
Besides, there are upsides to not having to schedule your days around nap time. I just need her to stop falling asleep during the 15 minute drive home and we'll be golden.
Hmm, maybe time for a booster. Somthing that's not so comfy cozy. Something that when she nods her little head, it will be snapped back to attention by the slightest car bump.
The only way I can get Dylan NOT to sleep on the way home from school is to give him juice to drink, and put on LOUD tunes he will want to sing to. Even then, sometimes it is impossible. When they want to sleep you pretty much can't stop them. I feel your pain.
I remember wondering the same thing about Laura's shoes and then watching her swing and having the same feeling.
The trick would be to figure out how you can take a nap during the day, huh?
Bribe her. Make a sticker chart and put it (and some stickers) in the car. When she gets in the car, give her the chart to hold. WHen you pull into your driveway, let her put the sticker on. You can reward her each night the first week. Once a week thereafter. Rewards are up to you. (Or maybe Alexis.) Keep talking about different rewards on the way home to remind her what she's playing for and make sure she stays awake!
HAHAHAHA!!! Shock her if she falls asleep. Hehehe. That is a hoot!
BB isn't napping either. I am dying.
freezing cold blowing air from a ROLLED DOWN window is kinda "electrifying"
NOT THAT I KNOW THIS.
;)
Converse tennis shoes w/ the reinforced toes. That's what she needs. And, I could totally see her rockin' 'em.
@Katie--This child is not bribe-able. Really. I made a deal with her in July that if she stayed in her bed ten nights she could get the car for her dollhouse that she wants SOOOO bad. She still hasn't done it. In fact, when she climbs in our bed at 2 in the morning, she usually says, "I don't want the car." Little snot.
@Supahmommy--The kid is an eskimo and just about always has the windows down. It's part of her plot to drive me insane before I'm 35.
@Lainey--That's exactly what she's been wearing lately! Ever since I figured out what was going on, the dressy shoes have been kicked to the curb. It's all Converse (or knock-offs) all the time. I lurve them.
Oh the elusive afternoon nap! I don't get to enjoy it during the day because he's at the sitters or with his dad. But on the weekends...I want my naps back! Because, yes, on the way home from the sitters he tries to do the whole nap thing too! I can very much relate to that!
this post amuses me because it's just like my daughter. shes' 3, refuses to nap at school and is a terror when she comes home!!