homeschool happy :: naptime

at our house at around 1 in the afternoon everything slows way down.  we read a storybook, go to the bathroom, gather a few books…or a journal…or some handwork…and quietly head to our rooms.  i take the baby and nurse him to sleep.  then i lay down to sleep myself.  usually i only lay down for a half hour or so, then i’m up again to enjoy the quiet and maybe a cup of tea. i can work in my journal, catch up on my poetry class, or read blogs or books.

getting this extra bit of sleep has been a key to the smooth postpartum transition i experienced with Joseph.  when Nicolas was born i had a 2 1/2 year old who often needed help falling asleep at naptime.  i would spend my afternoon going from one sad, sleepy child to the next.  that was anything but restful for me!  this time around, i have bigger kids who sleep or play quietly in their rooms or read.  that means that i can count on a little sleep in the middle of the day that will help me make it till Papa gets home.

Joseph still wakes up a few times at night, so it’s been 2 years since i had uninterrupted sleep.  taking a short nap adds a little bit of rest into my long days.  it re-energizes my introvert self and helps me to do my job better.