Not so Sleeping Beauty

Little D is tired today.  I"ve come to this conclusion based on the following behaviors which are generally abnormal and evident to an overly-tired state:

1 - She yelled at me all the way to and from the gym because I did not comply with her request to watch a different movie.

2 - Upon leaving the gym when I refused to get her a muffin, she put the brakes on and refused to step through the door until I gently grabbed her hand which resulted in me dragging her in between very forceful stomps which were intended by her to exhibit her anger, but mostly resulted in slight embarrassment for me.

3 - Upon being threatened to be put down for a nap when we got home, she began to wail and sob uncontrollably.

4 - She stopped wailing upon seeing me put gum in my mouth and started whining - "I waaaant guuuuuum."  I told her I would be happy to give her some if she would just ask nicely with no whining.  She changed her tune to a grumpy one (rather than the whining one) and said. "I want GUM!"  Again, no gum from me, so she started crying.  FINALLY, she pulled herself together and asked nicely with a forced smile on her face.  

       

I decided at this point we were safe to stop by the grocery store.  

5 - When I tried to put in the cart she went stiff as a board and screamed that she didn't want to be in the cart.   I let her walk.  She was fine through out most of the grocery store experience, but then went completely boneless when I tried to put her in her car seat because she wanted to climb in herself.  

6 - She grumped at me for putting her juice in a straw cup, rather than a sippy cup.  

7 - She is unusually still and quiet this afternoon - yet refuses to fall asleep.  Even after an hour of lying on my bed.  

8 - Most requests are coming in the form of a whine.  ie:  "I neeeeeeeeed to go pooooottyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy."

So what's my point?!  My point is, I don't get it.  She is admittedly tired.  She looks as though she could fall asleep at any moment.  YET she won't.  She would rather be in a terrible mood, stomping around, yelling at me, than have a peaceful slumber in her ridiculously comfy bed.  I mean, really!  

If someone said to me, "You know, you look tired.  Why don't you go take a nap."  I would likely go into shock but then immediately take them up on the offer and wonder just how long I could milk it.  I would relish in the opportunity.  So what is it with kids and sleeping?

Every night Miss D announces at bed time, "I'm not tired," and then promptly falls asleep.  It's like they can't admit that they're tired because they fear they are going to certainly miss something when they close their eyes.  And honestly, I'm not that exciting and neither is my husband.  I mean sure, we're fun. We're charismatic.  We're super awesome parents.  (So they say!)  But really, watching me fold laundry is hardly something I would deem worth staying up for.  Little D is the exception to this rule at bed time. When she's done, she's done.  Lights out, she wants the door closed and if you do venture back into her room she will inform you that you are no longer welcome.  Perhaps it's because she's so exhausted due to her refusal to take a nap!  Apparently day time sleeping is off limits for her....UNLESS she is at her Kid's Day Out, where she has twice found it more than appropriate to take a little snooze at resting time.  Traitor!

Anyway, I just don't get it.  When does the whole thing shift from being a kid who acts like sleep is a punishment and an adult for whom it's the ultimate reward??  I'm thinking for me, it dates back to my first pregnancy.  I was so tired.  Every several minutes I just needed to close my eyes.  I was still working at the time, so I would sneak into empty, dark conference rooms and lay my head on the table.  I would nap in my car at lunch.  I'm fairly certain I fell asleep at my desk more than once and thankfully, as an event planner I had to do a lot of "errands" outside the office which allowed me to go home and sleep.   I believe from the moment I conceived Miss D I have been in a somewhat sleep deprived state.   That means I am due roughly seven year's worth of naps.   This must explain why so many older people nap all the time.

In the meantime I am grateful for my Keurig coffee maker which allows me to make a cup of coffee at a moment's notice when I have hit the wall.  I believe chocolate is a necessary boost to a tired afternoon and finally, I believe putting the kids to bed "early" is every mother's unmistaken right.