Naptime

Hayley is barely two.  She still needs naps.  I still need her to need naps.  See exhibits A and B below:


But she won’t admit it.  She fights the nap war every single day.  Lately, however, she’s become a little more resigned and logical about the inevitable.  This was our conversation one day last week.
We eat lunch, take Corinne to kindergarten, read a story—the usual routine.  “Hayley,” I ask, “now what time is it?”
“Naptime!” she exclaims.
I carry her up the stairs while she tells me that she wants exactly 3 blankets in her bed.  I put her in her crib and cover her up with the right number of blankets.
“Mom—I’m going to be crying soon,” she informs me.
“Why are you going to cry?” I ask.
“Because you’re going to leave.”
“You’re right, I am going to leave your room.  But I’ll be downstairs and I’ll come and get you when you wake up.  Good night, Hayley.”
“Okay, good night, Mom.”
I leave the room and close the door as the crying begins in full force.  Between sobs she is saying, “I. Don’t. Want. To. Take. A. Nap.”
I go downstairs and jump right into project mode.  In a few minutes, all is quiet.  She’s sound asleep.
I love that girl.  She knows a nap is required but has to warn me that she’s really not as grown up as she often acts and that sometimes she feels like crying.  It’s so much easier to handle when she has prepared me first.