Naps, Naps, Always Naps

I am a nap Nazi.

But truly.  The only reason I am writing these words is because my 1, 2.5, and 4-year-olds are all asleep, napping.

Mind you, I am nice about it.  They can bring stuffed animals, age-appropriate books, and occasionally the small toy to bed.  The younger two fall asleep every time anyway.  The oldest one--sometimes yes and sometimes no.

If he doesn't fall asleep, I let him get up after an hour.  If he starts to get restless half an hour in, I bring him more books.

At this point, he knows that if he yells and wakes up his little sister, he loses a privilege (the book he's reading, the water cup, the decorative sheet ...).  And yes, he's woken her up that way a couple times, which made for a few miserable afternoons and evenings.  But once the system was established ... ah, bliss.

And the fact that he knows he has "quiet time" every day means that when he's sick ... or has a growth spurt ... or when the weather gets colder and the days darker ... when he's learning a lot mentally and emotionally ... when we had a busy morning with friends or errands ... Whatever it is, if he needs the nap, he gets it, because he's already in the right place and circumstances for it.  And that--aside from the parental silence consideration--is why you Never Give Up the Nap.

Right now, he is sick, and it's definitely turning autumnal at last., so he falls asleep even with plenty of books in his bed.  But that cold weather, hat weather--the kids have been loving it, and so have I.  We are all a little more hibernatory this time of year.  I don't think he'd sleep this much, even sick, if it were spring.  But here we are.

More reasons to love fall!

Now, to warm up that cup of coffee again ...