Is it already time to say goodbye to naps?

Dear Logan,

Ever since last month's vacation, your brother's afternoon nap schedule has been way off.  There were days when he would nap from 3-5:30 p.m. (with me waking him up) and then he wouldn't sleep at night until close to 11 p.m.  Those nights totally drove me crazy.  On days that he didn't nap, our evenings were horrible.  He would be especially hard to deal with, and wouldn't listen to me or Daddy.  Those evenings usually coincided with our dinnertime, and that meal turned out to be pretty unpleasant at times.

This past week, he only napped today.  He almost napped on Monday on our way back from Happy Hollow, but because the ride was only 20 mins, he didn't start falling asleep until we almost arrived home.  By the time I stopped the car and got him inside the house, he's wide awake enough to get on my computer to watch videos.

He definitely didn't sleep on his first three days of school.  No surprise there.  Naps start at 1 p.m., and it's a little too early for him, though it's the same schedule as his old school.  At his old school, it took the magic touch of a particular teacher to get him to sleep.  Luckily I was able to get him to bed before 9 p.m., so he had at least 10 hours of sleep at night.


Afternoon naps are a break for Daddy and Mommy on the weekends.  Although he slept today, I am pretty sure he's just about to grow out of his naps.  I was hoping he can wait for another year or so, and just cut that nap when he goes to Kindergarten next year.  I guess no such luck.  All I wish is for his crankiness and disobedience to go away on days that he does not nap.


Love you,
Mommy

Aidan and his new preschool

Let's talk about Aidan for a minute while I am waiting for the doctors to come in for the rounds.

Today is Aidan's second week of his new preschool. First week was tough as he's not used to being in such a scheduled setting. He was running around, was difficult to get him to sit still during circle time or group activities. He's just so curious about everything and too excited. Of the 5 days he was there last week, he only napped one day. He was so tired after school that on his way back home, he slept through the whole trip, and even slept till 11:30 p.m. a couple nights. Poor guy, it's normally hard to get him to nap, now in a new environment, it's even tougher. Hopefully, this week will be a little easier.

Last Friday, the teacher asked if Aidan has been evaluated for Autism because he has such an obsession with doors and washing his hands. I told her that he hasn't and he is very interested in doors. But probably not washing hands, but just to be able to play with water. I don't think I can handle a child in the hospital, and another one with Autism. I think I will go crazy. However, even though I haven't worked with kids with Autism, with my experience working with adults with Autism and in the spectrum, I don't think Aidan is autistic. He is very touchy-feely, very sociable, has great eye contacts, definitely not monotone and is a very happy child. Aside from the obsession with doors, but then he's not just standing there and play with one door, he would go around and play with all the doors available. He's not obsessed with washing hands because at home, I have to drag him to wash his hands sometimes. He does like to play with water (provided it's not in his head or eyes). So, my unofficial, unprofessional diagnosis is, he's not autistic.