(Sophia climbing the play structure at the Damascus Park)So after a couple of unsuccessful, consecutive days of trying to get Sophia down for a nap, I was under the impression that she had possibly grown out of needing a nap. Boy, was I wrong. Sunday Sophia had her first big melt down after going a week without having a solid nap. She fell asleep in the car for probably 20 minutes or so a few days throughout last week, but never had a good block of rest, as far as a nap goes. Well after the tantrum Sunday, I decided whether she wants to take naps or not, she WILL be taking a nap everyday, because she does need it. Sophia is such a busy little girl and often has a hard time unwinding and transitioning from activity to rest. I also realized I was not doing my job by waring her out, so to speak, and she needed more physical and mental activity in the morning in order for her to be tired by nap time. Coloring, painting and playing in the backyard weren't going to cut it. She needed to go for long walks, play at the park and interact with others to stimulate her enough to be ready for a nap by the afternoon. Sophia is also very much a routine child and needs to have consistency and a sense of what is going to come next in her day. So, I have started reading her a book, both before nap time and bed time, so she knows it's time to unwind and get ready for bed. Another process I have begun using is when it's about time to change from one activity to the next or stop what she's doing, I will give her 5 minute countdowns, letting her know she has 10 minutes, 5 minutes, 1 minute left. She seem to be responding positively to this and it allows her to emotionally prepare herself on how she is going to respond when it comes time to stop. Before she would feel blindsided, as if to say, "but I'm having so much fun! Why do we have to stop right now?" She still has her moments of defiance and tries to sweet talk me by putting her hands together like she's praying, raises her shoulders and says in a high pitched sweet voice, "paweeez mom." Honestly it's hard not to laugh, because it's so cute, but I'm learning to hold my ground and not give in. Because if she knows she can get her way that time, she can do it every time. It is amazing to me how incredibly smart she is at such a young age! She is most certainly an analytical thinker and it's very obvious the wheels in her head are constantly turning. I guess I didn't realize the independent two's (or terrible two's as many people call them, although I don't believe they are terrible, just discovering and curious about life) came in waves. For example, one month Sophia will be calm for the most part, listen fairly well, and nap time and bedtime are a breeze. The next month rolls around and its a chore to try to get her to bed or get her to listen to anything we ask. But like anything it's a process and just as she is learning, so are we. We are learning patience, understanding, and living in the moment. Sophia may try my patience all day long, but the moment we sit in the rocking chair together and she brushes her hand across my cheek and says in a soft voice, "Ohhh, momma, I lubb you." All the tension and stress of the day melt away and I realize the little angel laying in my arms and God reminds me what an amazingly precious blessing she is. That's when I say to myself, I would have a million tough days with her, then none at all!
