Being a mom is hard. Being a sick mom is even harder. Last month I wrote about how to “mom” while suffering with fatigue. This month I’m going along with that by talking about the magical “rest time.”
Anyone with children knows that nap time isn’t just for the child. It’s also valuable time for the parent to rest and reset. The problem is that kids don’t take naps forever. Your child will grow out of napping. (Until they are old enough to recognize that naps are heavenly gifts.)
Luckily, even when a child outgrows nap time, you can still have a rest time. This is what rest time looks like in my home:
Rest Time
At 1:00 I give my daughter a “last drink,” she picks one extra toy and then we continue with the routine. (A quick aside, there are a few things she always sleeps with. These things are: a Minnie Mouse doll, a bunny lovey, a small sloth stuffed animal, a cat stuffed animal, a crocheted purple baby blanket, and a blue flowered fitted crib sheet. It’s an astounding list, I know.)
We then sing a few church songs, always ending with the same song “I am a child of God.” During this song I put her in her bed, tuck her in, and back out of the room while alternating between singing and saying “good night, you’re welcome.” (I don’t know what the “you’re welcome” is for. I just know that if she says it, and I don’t say it back she gets upset.)
She usually stays in there for close to an hour and I use the time to shower, read, or eat candy. I then get her up and we resume the day.
So that’s our rest routine, quirks and all. Let me tell you some of the reasons why you should consider implementing a rest time with all kids.
Kids need the break
Rest time allows a child to reset physically, emotionally, and mentally. (Source) It’s exhausting to be learning and taking in stimuli constantly. This break helps a child’s brain to solidify what they are learning and be ready for more. It also helps them to practice relaxing. This relaxation improves memory and improves attention span. (Source)
Mom needs the break
Last week I mentioned caregiver fatigue. This is something moms need to watch out for as well! (Source) It’s also imperative to reduce stress/relax as much as possible when you have a chronic illness. As I’ve mentioned before, stress results in inflammation which results in relapses and flares.
Routines are powerful
This third item is merely a plug for the value of keeping the nap/rest routine. Having a routine helps children feel more confident, feel in control, and to feel more secure. (Source) Routines are also really helpful for parents with chronic conditions because it makes it easier/actually possible to schedule when to exercise or do other things to manage your condition.
Conclusion
I’m sure there are more reasons that I haven’t come upon. I also have to say that our routine is definitely not perfectly implemented. Yesterday during rest time Lily got us to come into her room 3 different times to bring her things, fix her blanket, or fix her bracelet. The truth is that parenthood is messy and all you can do is your best.
