My children don't nap. They are three 1/2 and five. I want them in bed by seven, so I don't have them nap.
But, they do need some rest in the afternoons sometimes. I have had them rest and read books in their rooms. It lasts for a full half hour, sometimes longer. But, when I do this, my ears are on alert. I constantly wonder who might be secretly ripping apart books, coloring their body, emptying dish soap on the rug. The list is endless, although, for the record, only one of the list above has happened during "rest." And, to be completely honest, rest time is mostly for me.
My brilliant parenting solution: PBS. My children watch television while I rest on the couch. I can fall asleep before Caillou finished his first refrain.
The rules of the resty time show: certain children must rest during a program, or they go to time out. Yes, I threaten my children with time-out if they do not SIT and watch the television.
See? No awards.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
One: I lie.
There likely will never be 365 reasons. Er, or, there will likely not be 365 reasons ever written about.
Why do I do that? As a parent I find myself falling victim to hyperbole as well. It's really like that. I get an idea, a great idea like making cookies, and then images of Martha Stewart get mixed in with the concept and out of my mouth comes, "Guess what we're going to do today. We're going to make a real-live cookie shop. We're going to make tons of cookies and bring them to neighbors as presents. Won't that be fun?" Squeals of delight are emitted from a certian five and three year old.
Great. Except, enter reality. A. We have no ingredients. B. We need to clean the dishes in the kitchen. C. It's lunchtime after school and kids are tired. D. Did I mention we don't even have the ingredients?
The kitchen gets cleaned. We get to the grocery store. Dinner is made. As we get ready for bed, kids ask about the cookies.
I lie again. We're going to have to do that fun game tomorrow.
That was a week ago.
See? No awards.
Why do I do that? As a parent I find myself falling victim to hyperbole as well. It's really like that. I get an idea, a great idea like making cookies, and then images of Martha Stewart get mixed in with the concept and out of my mouth comes, "Guess what we're going to do today. We're going to make a real-live cookie shop. We're going to make tons of cookies and bring them to neighbors as presents. Won't that be fun?" Squeals of delight are emitted from a certian five and three year old.
Great. Except, enter reality. A. We have no ingredients. B. We need to clean the dishes in the kitchen. C. It's lunchtime after school and kids are tired. D. Did I mention we don't even have the ingredients?
The kitchen gets cleaned. We get to the grocery store. Dinner is made. As we get ready for bed, kids ask about the cookies.
I lie again. We're going to have to do that fun game tomorrow.
That was a week ago.
See? No awards.
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