For stay-at-home parents, the day is primarily segmented into two distinct periods: the pre-nap hustle and the post-nap calm. Nap time represents a rare, tranquil oasis amidst the chaos, offering a fleeting opportunity for personal time and perhaps a chance to be productive. Here are the seven phases of nap time that every stay-at-home mom can relate to:
- Elation: Finally, the little one is tucked into bed, lights dimmed. You’ve equipped him with a colossal sippy cup filled to the brim—no “wa-wa” requests for a while! Plus, with 61 pacifiers at his disposal, you feel confident he’ll stay occupied for at least an hour.
- Exhaustion: Time to collapse on the couch and scroll through your phone for a moment. You’ll get to the kitchen clean-up, laundry folding, and dinner prep—eventually.
- Hunger (45 minutes in): Mid-scroll through social media, reality hits—you forgot to eat lunch.
- Regret: That was a hefty lunch. You now need a quick lie-down to recover before tackling the kitchen, laundry, and dinner.
- Internet Abyss: An hour disappears as you find yourself engrossed in the latest online drama. One minute you’re reading about a kid arrested for bringing a clock to school; the next, you’re browsing West Elm for “entryway solutions.” Oh, and you think, “I need to order some diapers,” and then—
- Alarm: The first wail from the kid’s room jolts you upright, heart racing. You sit in silence, praying he’ll drift back to sleep so you can finally clean the kitchen, fold laundry, and prepare dinner.
- Chaos: You scramble to wash half the dishes at lightning speed, tossing clothes into drawers haphazardly. Dinner? That’s a thought for later. The little one is now fully awake and crying. Looks like it’s takeout burgers tonight.
And just like that, another precious nap time has come and gone. The kitchen remains a disaster, and socks peek out from the dresser drawers. Tomorrow, you promise yourself, will be different.
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