Nap Time? Really?

Having outgrown naps several months ago, Braydon is usually eating lunch and planning his next game right now. But as I am sitting at the computer, he is sound asleep in his bed "practicing for school".

When the preschool aid informed me that the kids have nap time everyday at noon, I knew I'd have to start preparing my son. I let him know that starting today we were going to lay down everyday at the same time, before lunch in an effort to practice for school. He is familiar with the term " practice for school" from the many attempts to get ready at a certain time everyday, use the restroom completely on his own and have quiet story time (verses our usual way of mommy reads a page then Bray asks a hundred questions).

After a snack and 20 minutes or so of music time, 12:00pm rolled around. "OK," I said "time to practice taking a nap for school." As I took a deep breath, not really believing this would work, the debate began. Braydon tried it all. "But I'm not tired," he whined before saying "I'm hungry and thirsty". After a glass of water and crackers, he lied down and huffed and puffed, begging me to lay down with him. I gave in and told him that in school all the kids will be laying down together and if I sat in with him while he fell asleep, he had to pretend I was another kid and he couldn't cuddle me. As the words came out of my mouth I felt sad and lonely myself, thinking he must feel the same. He grabbed his stuffed penguin and closed his eyes. Not 2 seconds later, they were open.

The leaf blowers in our apartment complex were at it again, the neighbor who's kitchen is next to the bedroom wall was making lunch and the lady upstairs was rushing around her living room. "I can't sleep with all this noise! Please make them stop!" Braydon demanded. At that moment I considered scheduling my classes around the preschool nap time and picking Bray up everyday for lunch instead. Deciding I'd better consider it before letting him get out of bed, I convinced him that I had no control over the surrounding noises. Then I struck a deal with my annoyed three year old. "All I ask is that you lay down with your eyes closed and be really quiet for 15 minutes. I will let you know when 15 minutes are over, then we can get up and make lunch together." He agreed and we both lied down. About 5 mins after that, Braydon fell asleep. A complete and utter shock! Perhaps practice nap time will be easier than I thought.