Lunch is just over and I am watching the clock. Minutes seem to be taking hours. I am very anxious for 1pm to arrive; nap time! Usually I’m pretty good at getting several children to sleep at the same time. Today I have two 3 yr olds and two 1 yr olds. I’ll walk you through how I accomplish the amazing, yes I did mean amazing, task of getting all four of these kids to sleep in the same room at the same time.
First, at the appropriate time, I mumble something about using the bathroom and head to my bedroom. There I quickly put together two pac n plays, one on each side of the room. Then sneakily I assemble blankie’s, binky's, loveys, favorite toys and any other necessary items needed for today’s modern child to fall asleep. Said items are placed in the assigned sleeping spot of each child.
Then, back with the kids I check each baby’s diaper and change if needed. Notice I have not said one thing about announcing that it is nap time yet. The element of surprise is in play for this maneuver to work. I ask three year olds if they would like a drink, handing said drink to each. They drink. I ask if a bathroom break would be desired, if the answer is no, I take them by the hands and walk to the bathroom anyway just in case.
Once back in the kitchen I look around to see if I am being watched. I think I have maintained the secrecy of my mission. I must move forward carefully. I once again use all my powers of sneakiness and warm two bottles of milk keeping them out of sight. Once warmed they are placed in each of the pac n plays. Now I am ready for the attack; I scoop up a baby in each arm and announce "it's nap time!" sounding way too happy so it comes out like a sing song. I take the babies and deposit them into the pack n plays. I return in mere seconds with the three yr olds, one by each hand, and help them up onto the bed. I lay down on one side. I tell them they must be very quiet and very still; don’t move a muscle. Any noise or movement could disturb the babies who are busy drinking their bottles and watching us with big eyes.
There is a cartoon playing on the TV with the sound off to draw their attention. I have also turned on my secret weapon against outside noises, a white noise machine. I lie still encouraging the kids to do the same. Once they are beginning to relax I turn off the TV. Now and then I need to touch one of them to remind them to be quiet and still too. It may seem that I have accomplished my goal, but not so. Right now is a very crucial time; one wrong move and I will be right back at the beginning with crying babies to boot. I must with all diligence summon the speck of energy I have left and….. not fall asleep. One snore and all could be lost……
I have done it again! I leave the room on tip toes and make my way to my recliner. Ahhh sweet victory is mine, and the peace and quiet that goes with it. I lean back and close my eyes……yup, you can call me Super Granny!
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I laughed out loud at this one! Yesterday, like many days, I had the 3 year old twin boys and year old granddaughter all day - almost identical situation to the 4 you took care of. I, too, watched the clock for that blessed 1 PM nap time! I also have a pac and play for the baby and the 3 year olds sleep in the "big bed"! I have learned the same "stealth moves" that you use! And when all is quiet I either collapse on the couch and watch my cats come out of hiding one at a time - (there's 6 of them so it's quite a show!) or I spend the time fixing dinner....By the way, your grand kids are adorable, and that recent photo of the little girl watching the rain? PRECIOUS!
ReplyDeleteNap time is very needed isn't it?! The most kids I have had here at 1 time without a helper was 7, 2 of them crawling. I played hide n seek with all but held 1 baby in each arm to keep them from being plowed down by older kids. That day I managed to keep both babies asleep at the same time with all the noise. Didn’t even try naps with other kids. It was a fun time but I was beat! That day I sent my husband a text and said you can call me Super Granny from now on!
DeleteYOUR AMAZING Connie! What a system! You really are super Granny! With my grandchildren AND yours! Thanks for all you do for them so my kids can work and not worry about their kids all day. Your the perfect Granny!! Love you and so do they!!
ReplyDeleteHave a happy baby day! Kim
Thanks Kim! Btw, Kim is my friend and we are co grandparents as my son married her daughter; they have 2 children now. I also watch Kim’s son’s 2 kids along with my own grandkids and they are 2 of the 4 extra children I have around here.
DeleteI did childcare almost 30 years ago, to stay home with my girls. Naptime was no real challenge due to my own secret weapon! BTW, I had two under 6mos,and two under 2yrs, at any given time. I had discovered a record (yes, the vinyl kind) of ocean surf. No music, no bouys, just waves against the shore. The hubs borrowed it thru 'inter-library loan' and then made a cassette tape of it for us to keep. Yes, I know that's not a good thing to, but we were pretty strapped for cash! Then, I got a cassette player with instant replay on it and popped the tape in. If the kids were throwing tantrums, off they went to 'quiet time with the ocean tape'. Almost instant soothing and often a needed nap to restore sanity for all. As for naptime, at the same time every day, they all laid down with the ocean tape and within 5 minutes every child was asleep...for as long as the tape played! Shortly after this discovery on my part, the stuffed bears with heartsounds came out in stores. Same kinda thang. Today, all that's needed is a CD of ocean sounds and a continuous play CD player. No matter how strenuous the protest, this will put any child to sleep...and you, if you don't get away from the sound!!!
ReplyDeleteBTW, this works on any one at any age! I use it to soothe myself after a difficult day. My youngest (over 30) still uses it at night. Both girls used it during their teenaged years, since 'go to your room and turn on the ocean tape' was the standard response to hysterical hormone fits and fights. They would wail all the way to their rooms when they didn't want to give up being angry, but they couldn't hold onto being mad after listening to the ocean tape. LOL
ReplyDeleteWe have a rain cd that my husband plays every night to get to sleep. I have been thinking of trying that with the kids except it has thunder too. We had a Yellowstone cd with nature sounds we picked up from a vaca there we loved. It does work!
DeleteYou ARE a Super Granny! I can't even imagine trying to get 4 little ones to nap in the same room! Nice Job!
ReplyDeleteAww gee whiz! Really it's just that I'm so desperate for a break at times I will go to great lenghts to have them all nap together.
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