How Many Times Can I Type, "Really?" A Lot. Really.
I often joke that Alexis doesn't sleep. Mind you, it's not really all that much of a "joke" because she really doesn't and I REALLY REALLY wish she did. Like, REALLY. The kid frequently stays awake far later than any kid her age should, only to rise again bright and early and perky. She certainly has days when her refusal to sleep catches up with her and she evolves into a two-headed bratty monster, but generally she soldiers through it. Happy.
Yesterday was a typical day, one which made it seem like she might just be a robot. She was awake ridiculously early after having gone too bed insanely late. In theory that should have meant that she would take a nap, even if only a short one.
As we piled into the car on our way to a play date, I figured I would toss a few more ingredients into the Take a Nap Stew. I set the music just right. I explained to Alexis that if she took a nap, when she woke up she would get to play with her friends. I even made sure I took the least bumpy route possible.
She spent the entire trip telling me about how she was going to be good and take a nap. Lots of talking. No sleeping.
After several hours of playing hard and having way more fun than a kid should be allowed to have, I thought FOR SURE she would fall asleep in the car on the way home. I even made sure that it would be horribly inconvenient if she did by deciding to make a stop along the way.
She still didn't fall asleep.
Until we were less than 10 minutes from our house. At 7:00pm. When she still hadn't eaten dinner.
She was in a fantastic mood when I got her out of the car. And by "fantastic" I mean, have you seen my head? Because she bit it off and spit it out. I haven't been able to find it since.
Five packs of fruit snacks later, she recovered and then proceeded to stay up way past my bedtime.
Today could best be defined as lather, rinse, repeat. Only, there was no long car ride, so she wasn't presented an opportunity to take a pseudo-nap.
Which is probably why she ate dinner and then promptly disappeared behind the couch. I found her like this:
Anybody brave enough to come over and move her to her bed? Anybody? PLEASE?
And how great is my life that this is my biggest worry at the moment? I mean, really.
Reader Comments (15)
When my kids were babies, I loved it when they took a nap in the car. Now, it's more hassle than anything.
And really, that is a REALLY cute picture.
How cute is that?! I loathe that age where they are between religiously taking naps and giving them up completely (ie., Maren.) I can't tell you the number of times one of my kids has passed out somewhere other than their bedroom and I have been *this close* to just leaving them there for the night! The only thing that stops me is the 4 a.m. temper tantrum they would surely throw if they were to wake up in the middle of the living room floor.
And I would think for sure that scheduling a stop would mean instant nap! It certainly works that way around here!
that pic is cute... sometimes i schedule a bunch of errands on my day off to try to achieve a car nap. sometimes it works. Julia has suddenly stopped going to bed at 10-1030 and its now 11-1130!! part of it is my fault for working 12-9.... In 2 weeks it will be 1230-930 *sigh* she has slept in till 9-10am though. Im torn between forcing an adjustment and leaving it be so i can see her when i get home for more than 5 min. Usually when julia takes a nap, she will crawl on me, tim or the sofa to do it... I have gotten pretty skilled at moving her once he is sleeping too... lol
I swear my son waits until 5 minutes from home to fall asleep in the car! What good does that do?
Steph @ http://pleasestickitinthefridge.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">A Grande Life
ADORABLE.
Also: I can't believe she doesn't become a total monster after even one day of not sleeping. Maggie is ridiculous.
All I can offer is that "This too shall pass." My elder son was a craptastic sleeper until he was a little over 4. I had my younger son when my elder was just 4 and the first night home from the hospital, the two of them tagteamed me with the waking up business. He was a CRAP sleeper and just didn't sleep through. He also gave up nap by 3.5 yrs.
He'll be 5 in two weeks and he finally sleeps through now. His sleep has improved a lot. I always found with him that whenever he was approaching some big developmental thing his sleep got *really* bad. Usually when he was in the process of making some sort of mental leap. I know Alexis is approaching her birthday and he's probably rewiring that smarty pants brain of hers so that makes it worse. Always did for my kid.
I hope it gets better for you soon. I understand your frustration. I've been living on short sleep for 5 solid years and I am TIRED.
Aargh! I hate when they nap so late in the evening and then refuse to go to bed. I've often wondered what would happen if we just went to bed and left the kids unattended. Would they REALLY burn the house down, or is that just a myth?
I'm riding the "Morgan still takes a 2-3 hour nap each afternoon" train until I fall the frack off! She's in her room for about 4 hours, but she's not sleeping that first hour. I hear her talking and singing.
I've been blessed with an awesome sleeper. I'm hoping child #2 will also be. Which means he/she will not. Awesome.
And really? That picture is 32 shades of adorable.
please tell me you just let her sleep on the floor...
I remember those days sooo well. I love that pic!!
I hope you just covered her with a blanket and let her be. With any luck at all, when she woke up during the night she would be confused enough just to walk back to HER bed! :)
Apparently you don't need much sleep to function well yourself, because if I wasn't getting sleep I would probably be fired. Surely when she becomes a teenager she'll discover the joy of sleeping until noon. Of course, by then, your body will automatically wake at 6 am! : )
That picture is adorable!
Turns out the Energizer Bunny does need a rest every now and again, huh? Sweet little sleepy girl...
We're also at that point where the munchkin is starting to refuse naps. We were at a family gathering and I hadn't seen him for a little bit and got worried (seriously, no one was shreiking or leaping on me). I found him passed out under my brother-in-laws dining room table.
My boys love sleep! They are like their mama that way. But they have never fallen asleep like that, on the floor or some other place that isn't their bed in the house. In fact, they have to be super tired to even fall asleep in the car. Again... like their mama.