Hey there, tiny tot. You’ve probably heard the advice, “Sleep when the baby sleeps.” But let’s be real—at just 4 months old, you might not have caught that one yet. Trust me, I’m your mom, and that’s the standard wisdom.
Now, this 32-minute attempt at napping you’ve been pulling off? That’s hardly conducive to any restful slumber for me. Unlike your dad, who can shut his eyes and drift into dreamland in seconds, I have a lot on my mind. Between pondering our meals for the next day, wondering how to remove that permanent marker from your sister’s drawings, and reflecting on my college years, I barely have one minute to catch a breather before you’re wide awake again. Yes, I studied English, but that’s your first lesson in time management.
Let’s forget about my napping for a moment. When you finally doze off, I have a list of things to tackle. The dog needs to go outside, I should probably shower, and those teethers and floors covered in spit-up? They need sanitizing. I also need to squeeze in a meal—not just cheese slices. Can we aim for 90 minutes? An hour, even?
I know every baby is unique, but your sister could nap for two hours anywhere, anytime. When we decided to have a second child, we kind of expected a repeat of that experience. “This will be a breeze!” we thought. Turns out, there’s a limit on the number of sleep-loving kids a parent can have—trust me, it’s in the rule book.
When the dark circles began to form under my eyes, well-meaning folks commented, “He should be on a routine by now.” “Just make him sleep,” they said. Sure, why didn’t I think of that? There’s got to be a way to extend those catnaps.
I read about white noise, so I set up a powerful fan in your room and downloaded an app that sounds like an airplane. Then I tried silence, turning everything off for a few days. You woke up at the sound of the garbage truck and the gentle meowing of a cat outside. Instead of a solid nap, we got 20 minutes.
Then I thought maybe you’d sleep better close to me, so I held you in my arms. But nope—32 minutes was all the closeness you wanted. I even tried motion by putting you in your car seat and driving around aimlessly, but we returned home just 32 minutes later.
Timing is key too. I’ve studied your little face, waiting for those eyelids to droop. “Don’t put him down too early,” they advise. “Don’t wait until he’s overtired.” I still haven’t cracked the code for your wakefulness window, but I can definitely predict when your sleepy eyes will snap back open. I’d bet on that every time.
Look, I get it—being a baby is tough. Your cozy womb is gone, you can’t quite control your head, and teething? A nightmare. I’m on your side, but I need more than a quick 32-minute break to recharge.
So, until you decide to lengthen those naps, I’ll be the one at the grocery store, rocking your stroller in a frenzy as we approach that crucial half-hour mark. I’ll avoid eye contact as you peek around the canopy, because once you see me, it’s game over.
And when you do flash that adorable smile, I’ll remind myself just how lucky I am to have you. It’s a good thing you’re so irresistibly cute when you’re awake!
For more insights on parenting and home insemination, check out this blog post on Cervical Insemination. If you’re looking for quality supplies for at-home insemination, take a look at Make a Mom’s BabyMaker Kit. For detailed information on fertility and assisted reproductive technology, visit the CDC’s excellent resource.
Summary
Navigating the world of parenting, especially when it comes to naps, can be a challenge. With a playful tone, this piece highlights the struggles of managing a 32-minute nap from a baby who seems to have other plans. From attempting various strategies to extend nap time to the reality of juggling tasks, it reflects the humorous yet exhausting journey of motherhood.
Leave a Reply