Saturday, July 25, 2009

Parenting is One Big Experiment

I was going through some pictures on the computer today and found this one of Addie as a newborn. I love this picture. It always makes me want to coo and revert to babytalk. I think this was taken in the first week when she was very jaundiced. I was still stunned that a 9 lb 6 oz baby could have come out of my body, and that said baby could hurt me so badly (nursing, incision, lack of sleep, etc.) My most burning question then was, "is she getting enough to eat?"

Now that same baby is going to be turning 5 in a few weeks. She's going off to Kindergarten this fall and is going to be a big kid. Now my most burning question is, "should I wean her off naps now so that not napping in Kindergarten will be easier?" They have a short "rest time" in Kindergarten, but my sister the teacher says that kids start to tease the kids who fall asleep during that time. I've got to think that tends to happen later in the year, but I don't know. This kid really needs her naps (unlike Lily who can pretty much take it or leave it).

I'm planning on adjusting her bedtime closer to the time school starts so that she's going to bed earlier at night. I know that the first couple of weeks will be tough anyway. Like so many parenting decisions, there is no right answer and we'll just have to feel our way through. Hopefully we'll make the right decisions on the big questions and use the wrong ones as teachable moments for next time.

3 comments:

ChupieandJ'smama (Janeen) said...

J. still naps too. I've been a little worried about it. He hasn't been doing it "daily" since June, but he still does. I've been making a point of not doing "nap time" unless I see that he really, really needs it but sometimes he just falls asleep. Like if we're in the car or if he's watching TV quietly. I'm hoping it'll work itself out for K in the fall. I know I didn't help you here, but I just wanted to say that you aren't alone in your decision.
I LOVE that picture. Pictures like that stir up emotions and make me want another little one around the house....If I wasn't going to be 40 in December....

Dana said...

I love that picture, too. Those cheeks just make me smile!

I don't think it would hurt to let her go a few days without a nap, just to experiment. She just might surprise you. AJ went from taking 2+ hour naps to nothing. At daycare this summer, they're letting him hang out with the 5-6 year olds while his class naps.

Syren said...

It's hard to believe that she was ever that little!