Frustration
August 21st, 2008
Yesterday afternoon I was sitting on the floor in a darkened bedroom at my Aunt Julie’s house, leaning uncomfortably against the side of a recliner. Annalie was lying on the bed on the other side of the chair. I wanted her to nap and had done everything I could think of to encourage her to drift off. She did not want to nap and was doing everything in her meager power to prevent herself from falling asleep. We had reached an impasse.
Now that Annalie is four years old she can get by without a nap most days. But there are still times when she needs the extra sleep, or when I need a break. Usually when I declare it to be a Nap Day, Annalie cooperates willingly enough. She might make some noise about not being tired but once we’ve read stories and I’ve tucked her in, she closes her eyes and goes to sleep.
Then there are days like yesterday. She was tired and really did need a nap, but we were at my aunt’s house and when we’re not at home it’s easier for Annalie to resist sleep. She was extra giggly and hyper and was yawning and rubbing her eyes when she wasn’t singing or flopping around on the bed. She did everything short of tap-dancing on the walls to keep herself awake.
Then there was the fact that yesterday I was tired. I desperately wanted to nap too but Annalie would not go to sleep. With every passing minute I grew more impatient and frustrated. And that’s how I ended up sitting on the floor on the other side of the recliner taking deep breaths. I was so close to losing my temper or crying or possibly running for the hills. I hate that feeling.
The stupid thing was—and I knew this even at the time—if I hadn’t been so tired I would have just read to her, sung her a song, and then left her alone with some books to look at and she probably would have been asleep in ten minutes. But when I’m tired I don’t think straight.
After an hour of epic struggle I declared a truce. I set up my laptop so she could watch the new Veggie Tales DVD and gave her strict instructions to watch quietly while I took a quick nap. Then my aunt came to the rescue (bless her!) and watched the movie with Annalie in another room so I could sleep.
Last night was more of the same. We did the usual away-from-home bedtime routine, and when Annalie hadn’t fallen asleep after I’d laid in bed with her for ten or fifteen minutes, I left the room hoping that would do the trick. But in the end, it took Annalie over an hour and a half to fall asleep in the dark bedroom with me sitting in the recliner with my laptop screen dimmed. I guess she just takes after me.
Yesterday’s sleep struggles are really just a blip on the radar. Usually Annalie goes to bed for naps and at night with much less drama, and in general Annalie and I have been having a great time lately spending time with friends and enjoying summer. I am laughing and rolling my eyes about the whole thing now. But yesterday, I was completely and utterly frustrated.
What’s frustrating you right now?
August 21st, 2008 at 11:08 am
I’m back on bed rest (developed an infection), and I have the most unreasonable boss ever who surely thinks that I planned all this (really! I didn’t!).
I’m working from home, ridiculously stressed out over this mean woman.
August 21st, 2008 at 11:29 am
What’s frustrating? That i am not female but that is besides the point… ahahaha.
I can relate to your afternoon nap story. What worked for me was lying in bed with my daughter and challenge her to ’see who sleeps the first’. Competitive as she was she would always win. If it was too hot or we were not at home and she couldn’t sleep I would play a game ‘to close your eyes and imagine the hundred best things you ever want to have’ (or make it 50 or 30 as 100 might be a lot depending on the age).
Now my son is only two and because I had some experience I wasn’t worried about the afternoon naps anymore. But guess what… we put him to bed, he turns his head one time after tucking in and away he is. Must be the present for being so patient all the years before…
August 21st, 2008 at 12:06 pm
My webcam is refusing to work. My very new webcam that I use for video phonecalls with my parents.
Will I actually have to read the manual? *sigh*
August 21st, 2008 at 12:16 pm
my kitchen NEVER stays clean
floors always need to be swept
food always needs to be cooked
there’s always laundry
but there’s never a break for Mommy…
August 21st, 2008 at 12:21 pm
that i’ve committed to things i think are important, but there are too many of them to do them all well. that my normally long-napped child woke up 1.5 hours early, and i wasted my potential naptime blogreading and putzing in the kitchen without actually getting the pasta salad made for tomorrow.
:) i so hear you on naps! the tired takes over the rational, and the frustration oozes out of every pore. thanks for sharing!
August 21st, 2008 at 12:38 pm
being stuck indoors for the past three days with this tropical storm business…
August 21st, 2008 at 1:03 pm
Oh, and also: The Child prefers to poop into freshly changed diapers, leaving me to change about one million diapers each day and to do the corresponding laundry. Hmpf.
August 21st, 2008 at 1:23 pm
Ditto on the tropical storm business. Our local authorities have never addressed serious drainage issues on our street and so we’re expecting serious flooding in our area as the worst of the storm crosses the region in the next few hours.
Also, my two very adorable puppies who have decided that house training is not really something they care participate in but chewing on everything is something they are ALL about.
August 21st, 2008 at 1:29 pm
Naps….I hear ya too. Brett hasn’t had one since he was 2 and Leo is giving them up already and he’s not even 3 yet. I haven’t had a decent night’s sleep in 4 years since the kids were born.
Also frustrating is that I live my life in the car these days playing taxi driver to my kids.
August 21st, 2008 at 2:09 pm
I am tooooo sleepy to get anything done and I had a good night’s sleep!
Sorry to hear about your frustrations :(
August 21st, 2008 at 2:51 pm
My boys were done napping at the age of 2, and Emily looks to be on the same path, if that makes you feel any better.
I find also that when we are away from home, they are out of their routine and don’t sleep as well.
Hugs to you!
August 21st, 2008 at 6:01 pm
I’ve been frustrated with people I work with lately - they are doing stupid things or giving me lectures when it’s not appropriate (or at least timely) - and when I get frustrated with them, I end up frustrated at myself because the things I’m annoyed with are so minor that I really don’t need to be wasting my energy being frustrated with the action or the person. I’m just wasting energy and focus when I should be working. I’ve been spending a lot of time at work meditating and praying for peace.
August 21st, 2008 at 6:16 pm
Naps… a distant memory. My oldest would take naps whenever she felt the need. My youngest resisted them from the time she turned one. *sigh*
I remember your pain…and I still feel it at times.
August 21st, 2008 at 7:40 pm
Frustration=too many students and not enough teachers. But it’s all good…everything should even out in a couple of weeks.
August 21st, 2008 at 8:07 pm
People don’t think. They follow the path of least resistance and stare at their feet. If they’d only consider their choices - or even just look up once in a while - my life would be easier.
August 22nd, 2008 at 6:09 am
my oh so hungry and grumpy baby
looks like it`s going to rain and i wanted to go to the playground with my miss biggie
August 22nd, 2008 at 8:49 am
We’ve had the stomach bug all week! Talk about frustrating!
August 22nd, 2008 at 9:10 am
I’m frustrated over having to choose between gas in my car or groceries. I really hate being self-employed.
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:37 pm
SLEEP. Either he doesn’t nap and I go nuts during the day or he sleeps poorly at night and I go crazy then. I’m so tired.