The end of another era...

Sigh. I fear the napping days in my household are coming to a close. BubTar has been a faithful napper since birth. He is five and a half. Yes, I know how lucky I am. KayTar is almost three and has been a faithful napper for the most part. Until recently.

Three out of five weekdays, they are no longer sleeping. Yesterday they napped. Today they are not. I am still putting them down, but they just aren't dozing off. On days like today I opt for quiet time in separate rooms. They lay down around 12:30, if they aren't asleep by 1:30-2, then we make the switch to quiet time. I pass out books or children's magazines and put music on for them in their respective rooms. Today BubTar is enjoying Christmas music and KayTar is dancing and singing to her old standby Laurie Berkner. I am still getting my break, but it just isn't the same as naptime.

Naptime can last for hours; one, two, sometimes even three hours of blissful solitude. Quiet time is limited. Conscious children are not quite as content as the unconscious variety. But at the same time, there is freedom in this new stage. If we have plans, we can opt out of nap and quiet time altogether without suffering too many consequences. Bedtime goes infinitely easier. We lay them down and they are out. On nights when KayTar naps, she lies in her bed until 11 or later, chatting and fussing. No nap night, she is out by 8:30 without a peep.

I wonder how much of this has to do with our recent vacation, our days have been slower and more restful, not much need for mid-day recuperation. Now that we are starting up again, I wonder if it will become necessary again. Regardless, I'll keep lying them down with opportunities to rest and modifying when it is clear nap isn't a happening thing. I'll just take cues from the wee ones. We'll see how it goes.

Speaking of vacation, now that we are back, we now have therapy all FIVE days per week. Monday through Friday, she has something every day. Deaf co-op, developmental therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech therapy. Sigh. It is all good. It is just so much for one small girlie. But we only have three months of these services left and I want her to have the full benefit from them. Today she was ready for her therapist to leave almost from the time she got there. We were working on paperwork, so she didn't even interact with her much, but she was very clingy while she was here. Before she arrived, KayTar was saying, "Want B (therapist)? Yes or no? NO!" over and over. During the session, she said, "Bye doctors." a few times, which is the first I've heard of that in a little while. I suppose starting back is going to be a bit tricky for her, but I hope she will find her groove and enjoy therapy again. It really is fun, it is just play guided towards a specific goal. Nothing frightening about it. Perhaps the continued vacation from doctors will ease her mind a bit, too. It was a good start, though, and she's happily talking about seeing M (therapist) tomorrow, and that is a good sign.

Ready or not, here I come!