Sure, if you don't have children of your own, you've heard stories about missing nap time. The kids get ornery. They sleep at odd hours, throwing the routine off. They get cranky. They get difficult.
All of that is true. Those of you with kids don't need me to tell you.
What no one tells new parents, though, is how much nap time is necessary for the parents' psychological well-being.
My children aren't feeling so hot this weekend. The pediatrician (not The Doctor) says that it's a virus "going around." Nothing to do but wait it out.
So this morning, when the kids got ornery, I tried to roll with it, but my disposition soured as theirs did. By lunch time, I was frustrated and the children, particularly my son, were cranky. By cranky, I mean screaming a lot.
Then nap time comes and it's a lemon sorbet in the middle of the day, a palate cleanser. For a change, both kids nod off within ten minutes of each other.
I can eat. I can clean up. I can (gasp) lie down! For more than two minutes!
By the time they awake, I actually want to go do stuff with them again! I didn't even nap, but my disposition improves! It's magic!
Goes away by dinner, though. Easy come, easy go.
