In a perfect world, we would sleep when the baby sleeps. But for most mums, sleeping when the baby is sleeping rarely happens, thanks to the mountain of dirty laundry and stack of unanswered emails and texts. Not to mention the months of excessive coffee drinking that also prevent any daytime shut-eye from happening.
Because we can't sleep when the baby sleeps, in another perfect world we would spend naptime wisely - for example, ticking all of the above off our to-do lists - but that rarely happens either. You would think after 18 months as a mum I might have figured out how to put this precious time to good use. Unfortunately, I find myself wasting the silence, then vowing that the next naptime will be different. But it never is.
Here are 17 pointless things that I often do during naptime:
- Run a bath I don't end up getting in because I get sidetracked doing something pointless.
- Empty THAT kitchen drawer. (The one that has so much crap shoved in, it doesn't open or close properly.) Then shove it all back in the drawer again because I can't face the chaos.
- Go upstairs to stare in wonder at my sleeping child. (Several times during one naptime.)
- Think about how quickly she is growing up, then spend the next hour looking at all the baby pictures on my phone and laptop.
- Go upstairs (again) to take a picture of my sleeping child, then send it to my husband to let him know how long she has been sleeping for.
- Try to find a new TV series to start but end up watching an episode from a crap reality TV show that I have seen a million times before.
- Whilst bending down to pick up toys from under the sofa, find myself lying on the floor and staring at the ceiling wondering if I should try and sleep.
- File my nails in preparation to paint them but decide not to as that would definitely signal the end of naptime.
- Start sorting out my wardrobe but end up trying on clothes that I forgot I had, and promise to myself I will make more of an effort when it comes to choosing outfits.
- Attempt to reply to all the unanswered emails and texts I have, but end up with several drafts and nothing sent.
- Go to put a wash on and find there is a load already in the machine, so end up putting that on again because who knows how long it has been sitting there.
- Stare desperately at the contents of my fridge and kitchen cupboards, hoping if I look long enough something delicious will magically appear.
- Think about making dinner but remember I have nothing in.
- Check social media. For an entire naptime.
- Read online about naptime schedules.
- Wonder how long this particular nap will go on for.
- Vow that I will make better use of the next nap.
