I lay Kiki down for her usual mid-morning nap, even though she doesn’t seem tired. I shower while I listen to her babble in her room. I think, “How will I ever shower once she gives up her morning nap for good?”
Her talking fades, quiet ensues, and I linger through the process of dressing. Ten to fifteen minutes later, I hear a shriek, then another, then a “MAAAAAAAA-MEEEEEEEEEEEE! MAAAAAAAA-MEEEEEEEEEEEE!”
I wait a few minutes, knowing she had not and will not nap this morning. Ahh, the all too familiar dance – two naps are too many- one nap’s too few.
Our day continues, and I notice her heavy eyes before lunch. I rush through the meal and attempt an earlier naptime for Bunder and her. Alas, I’m the only one sensing this urgency. Bunder and Kiki conspire against me.
Can’t you just see them – whispering in the corner? Bunder saying something like, “Hey, Kiki! You know what would make Mom really crazy? Let’s run around acting wild, screaming from room to room, and when she calls us or asks us to do something, let’s ignore her. When we sense she’s finally had enough and she picks us up to put us in bed, let’s kick and scream some more and flail our arms accidentally hitting her in the face.”
I can see Kiki listening to her big brother’s words, nodding her little head, and solemnly agreeing to the plan.
All right, maybe my imagination has the best of me, but haven’t you ever thought your children were hatching a secret plot to destroy your last shred of sanity?
By the time I place Kiki in her bed, she shows all the warning signs of being overtired. She fusses a lot before falling asleep, sleeps for only an hour, and wakes like a big, Mama Grizzly, unBEARably crabby. (Stupid pun – I couldn’t resist – too much Dr. Seuss these days).
Nothing makes her happy: no binky, no cup of milk, no lovey, no dancing on my hip. She cries and cries. I take her temperature. She cries some more because I won’t let her eat the thermometer. I begin to dread the clock. “How am I going to make it the rest of the day?” I think.
I wake Bunder a little early, usher him to the bathroom, dress him, shoe them both amid protests, and head outside for a walk.
Instantly, everyone’s running and laughing. Mother Nature is one of my favorite besties. Spring is pretty awesome, too. Thank God for sunshine and warm weather and flowers!
Mother Ruckus 