My two year old has recently began a nap strike. I don't understand why she would forego one of the greatest pleasures of my life. I love sleep. My inability to sleep past 8:00 a.m. is one aspect of parenting that is most frustrating.
Daily, I plead with her, "Quinn, do you want to take a nap?"
She grins, not even looking up from her flutter of activity, "no."
Fifteen to twenty minutes later, "Quinn, it's time to take a nap."
Now I have insulted her. "NO!!" Her brow is furrowed and she storms off murmuring something in her native toddler speak.
So, I wait. She has found a bag of clothes she and her sister have outgrown. She puts the over-sized shirts on and wears the pants on her head. I feign terror, "Oh no, it's the silly monster!" She finds it hilarious, pulling off her disguise revealing herself. We sing. She tells me to shush. She is the star of this show. Finally, I see her begin tire. She is fussy. She grabs a paci and blanket and wants to be held. So we rock. And rock. Until finally she surrenders. Outside it is raining softly and the wind chimes play a beautiful tune. I would probably be this successful more often if I wouldn't push. Another metaphor for so many things. Don't push, just surrender, and enjoy the meanwhile.
No comments:
Post a Comment