A Mommy Story

Yesterday was my day off. Last month on our anniversary, my dear husband gave me one of the best gifts ever: gift cards to get my hair cut, get a spa treatment, and get something to make me feel like my “old self” from Hot Topic.

So yesterday Aaron kept Cordy for the day. I got to sleep in, and then I went to the mall for my day off. Four hours later, my hair was styled, and my eyebrows waxed. I had a massage and a facial, too. I felt five years younger.

Oh yeah, I love my husband. I made the hairdresser jealous when I told her why the day was so special, and the lady who did my facial said she hopes her fiance will do that for her after they’re married. Aaron may not have known it, but I’ll bet he was glowing all day from everyone thinking so well of him.

And damn was that day off needed! Why you ask? What stress has entered my life that could warrant an entire day of pampering and rest? I’ll tell you:

Cordelia has not napped for the past week.

The week before, she resisted her naps but gave in most days. But the past seven days, any time she’s been put in her crib for a nap, she has sat there the entire time, playing with her blanket and talking to her feet.

No sleep. You can see the fatigue in her eyes, but her will is stronger. Near the end of the day, she sways back and forth as she walks, occasionally stumbling and falling over as if drunk. She’s tired, she’s grumpy, but she won’t give in.

The only time she gives in to sleep is when she’s in the car. While she’s never been good at napping in the car, she will now nod off for a few minutes – just long enough to keep from taking a proper nap.

She’s 18 months old. She dropped her second nap around 12 months, which is early but entirely in the “average” range. All of the “experts” say a toddler will continue with one nap at least until two years old, if not longer. Those filthy liars. It’s no wonder I cancelled my BabyCenter e-mail updates.

Truthfully, no one I know has a child who didn’t nap at this age. I’ve asked for advice, but our local friends and our relatives have never encountered this situation. She has to stay in her crib for a minimum of 45 min., even if she doesn’t sleep, so she is getting some down-time, but it’s obvious she needs the sleep.

This afternoon we went to an 80th birthday party for Aaron’s step-grandmother. She asked why Cordy was acting so cranky, and I told her it was because Cordy was trying to drop her nap. She looked at me, shocked, and said, “Well, you can’t let her do that.” I can’t let her do that? OK, short of drugging her, how can I keep her from it?

So now I turn to you, oh wise and knowing blogosphere. Has anyone encountered a child younger than two who has given up the last nap? Is there anything I can do? Will she go back to napping again, or is that golden time in the afternoon gone forever?

Sigh…of all of the developmental milestones for Cordy to be ahead of the curve on, why did it have to be napping?