All in all my daughter is an easy baby. We haven’t had a problem with food, or excessive crying, or any real health problems. She gives us kisses and babbles the cutest things (right now it’s hidada hinana hidada hinana) and we don’t have any issues EXCEPT the fact that she hates to take naps. She’s so flexible about everything else in her life, but miss the afternoon nap window and it’s no nap, no happy smiles all evening and a fitful night full of frequent wakings.
Our church service begins at 11:00, meaning we’re driving to church during her normal morning nap time, and finishes around 3:00 in the afternoon - a full hour after the end of the nap window. She will catch a ten minute snooze in the car on the way home and that’s the end of that. It’s made me dread Sundays and resent church and it makes me very tired every Monday.
We’re not going to forsake the gathering of believers, but we reached the conclusion this week that we’re going to have to leave at 1:00 or so regardless of the stage in the service or fellowship time. We can’t find a way around it, and we can’t keep on letting her suffer through this.
Melinda said,
March 31, 2008 at 9:31 pm
Cor! you aren’t the only one….sundays just mess everything up…intrudes on naps, massive amounts of stimulation, then company over or going over..a two minute cat nap in the car and we’re done….there’s NO way he will sleep…which makes for fussiness all day, and whiney evening and bad sleep…..I feel kind of bad too because it is our only visiting, social day, and everyone only sees fussy Lucas….but you know what?, everyone else I know with babies says the exact same thing….very tempting to skip all together if it wasn’t the most important time of the week….
a suburban housewife said,
March 31, 2008 at 9:42 pm
You’ll get no beef from me on this issue, but have you thought about keeping a Pack-n-play at the church/school/meeting place (smile)? Though I’m guessing since a pack-n-play has no warm parents inside, it’s a no-go?! Oh just give her to us for the night and don’t worry about it
Terri said,
March 31, 2008 at 10:28 pm
Ignore Suburban Housewife and give her to US!
Seriously though, it may seem tough now, but I’m sure little mac will work through her nap issues. In the meantime, you have to do what you feel works the best for everybody in your family. Mac may not think so, but she does need her nap if for no other reason than to have a sane and rested Mommy and Daddy.
Kristi-Anna said,
April 1, 2008 at 8:08 am
I think you must attend a New Testament church if you go that long!
LOL!
We didn’t suffer too much with haps on Sunday’s because we had regular church times, and were most often home by 12:30ish.
Does M. go to the nursery? Is there a dark area where she can nap? Our nursery has since been renovated, and we now have a nap room, complete with 2 pack ‘n plays, etc. There’s windows so you can see, but it is AMAZING for napping babies during church!!
Good luck with all the decisions regarding that nap thing… soon enuf, little Mac will adjust… altho at the time it may seem to take forever!!
The Gang's All Here! said,
April 1, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Been lurking for awhile now, can’t remember how I found you. But I enjoy checking in and reading your blog - you write well and I enjoy your stories.
First, let me say WOW - your church must be like the early church to go 4 hours! Makes for a long day for all, I’m sure.
Second, let me say that I well remember those days, when the day of rest and fellowship and communion with our church family was tempered with a cranky, out of sorts baby. Just remember, all the parents there are going through the same stuff - you aren’t alone!
I used to combat the Sunday grouchies with a purposefully lazy and low key Monday - we had two little ones real close together so for like three years, no one saw my face on Mondays! And all I targeted for that day was laundry. Mindless task, perfect for a brain-dead day
Amy Johnson said,
April 3, 2008 at 9:18 pm
I found you through Walking Faithfully, and I know how you feel. Our church issue though is more about me. I keep having periods of skipping Sunday School because my baby is such a distraction to me that I get frustrated and lose the proper mindset for good worship afterwards. (We don’t have nursery during SS) You just have to do what works best for your family and know that it’s just for a season.