Your cart is currently empty!
Whatever You Do, Don’t Disturb My Sleeping Child!
You bet I’m that parent who is a total stickler for my kids’ sleep routines. My whole day revolves around their nap times, and I can’t stand being late for bedtime. If I get an invitation to something that coincides with naptime, I start to feel the heat rise within me, questioning why the universe can’t just align with my kids’ sleep schedules.
I’m only half-joking. The reality is that sticking to a consistent nap and bedtime is crucial for our family’s happiness. My kids flourish on their routines, and they need a solid amount of sleep daily—otherwise, they transform into little monsters. Some kids can skip a nap and just get a bit tired, but mine? They get even more hyper.
My kids are not the type to doze off amidst noise and activity. I’ve seen those magical children who can just curl up in a booth at a diner or snuggle into a corner at the park and fall asleep wherever. My kiddos, however, didn’t inherit that talent. They would never willingly go to sleep, and when I finally manage to coax them into dreamland, they require a dark, quiet space to stay asleep.
I know there’s a wealth of sleep advice out there suggesting that babies should learn to snooze through noise so they can sleep anywhere. Perhaps I should have tried that more when my children were younger. But maybe it’s just that my little ones are hyperactive and can’t filter out the world when they’re tired. Who knows? I’ve accepted that this is just how they are, so I roll with it.
And let’s be real, their sleep time is also my time. While they’re napping, I can either catch my breath or tackle my to-do list. I deserve that time, too. Being a parent is tough, and those rare breaks are sacred to me. I understand that life doesn’t stop just so my kids can sleep, and I’m generally flexible about it. But if it were up to me, nothing would disrupt their naptime.
I thought I’d become more easygoing as I gained experience in parenting, and while I have relaxed about many aspects over the years, I remain quite adamant about sleep schedules. My first child stopped napping by 2½, but my second is still enjoying his daily nap at 3½ (not a chance he’s giving that up).
Just yesterday, the utility company showed up to read the meter located in my son’s room. As soon as I heard the knock on the door—thank goodness we don’t have a working doorbell—I sprang into action. When I opened the door, I noticed it was a different technician than usual, the one who knows to come before naptime. This poor guy was dripping with sweat, but I had to politely decline entry because naptime is a sacred event in our home.
When I asked him to come back later due to my son sleeping, he chuckled and said, “No problem! Happens to me all the time. Kids need their naps!” I felt a wave of relief wash over me—maybe I’m not the only one who takes this seriously. I realized I’ve been carrying some unnecessary guilt about enforcing strict sleep rules, but I’m over that. My kids need their rest, I need them well-rested, and I need that precious time to get things done.
So here’s the deal, world: My son naps every day at 1 p.m. Please refrain from mowing the lawn right outside his window at that time. Avoid banging on my door loudly. And to my older child: Keep your nose in a book, game with headphones, or play outside. Just please don’t come racing to me yelling for a snack. Whisper, tiptoe, do whatever it takes to maintain silence.
Shh! The little one’s sleeping.
Wake him, and I’ll be not happy.
If you’re interested in more on this topic, check out this insightful post on intracervicalinsemination.com. And if you’re looking for reliable information on home insemination resources, Make a Mom is a great authority on that! For more details on pregnancy and fertility treatments, visit UCSF’s IVF page.
In summary, I’m a sleep schedule enforcer who values my children’s nap times as much as my own peace. While I’ve become more flexible in many areas, my commitment to their sleep routine remains rock solid, and I won’t let anything disturb that.