"Nap" Time, Not Just For Kids

When our daughter was about 2 years old, she stopped sleeping at nap time some days. I would still put her down because she would sleep 3-4 days, but would play in her crib the other days. Now that she is 4 she has completely stopped sleeping at nap time.

For awhile I contemplated letting her stay up all day, but then I thought, "are you crazy?!?"

I need some rest time too! If am sick, or tired from working the previous night, I get to rest for an hour. If I have some housework or bills I want to get done, I can do them in silence (almost, she likes to sing during rest time, or read books to her stuffed animals). Or, maybe I want to take a "lunch break" and read once a week while she is resting.

At first I felt guilty. Then I started talking to other parents and realized I am not alone, phew! I realized for everyone's sanity and mental health, these rest times are needed.

The funny thing is, on days when she doesn't have some quiet rest time in her room, you can tell. She starts to go crazy between 3-4pm. Even though she is not sleeping, she obviously needs some quite time too (even if she does not know it).

Now that she is 4, and not sleeping anymore, I no longer call it nap time. It is rest time. I even started leaving her lamp on so she can actually see her books. The nice thing is she goes to rest time easier now that I started doing this. No more fighting (usually, she is 4). 

So, to all the parents out there, or just anyone who works hard, take a break! Be it 30 minutes to read, 10 minutes to close your eyes, or 15 minutes to take a little walk, make sure to schedule a little "rest" time. We all need and deserve it!