The twins take a nap every day. Sloane would really like to give up this idea of siesta, but her body just isn’t ready, yet. Some days, we do a reading lesson, or play a game, or work in the garden together. Other days, she hoards a pile of toys in a corner and immerses herself deep into imaginative play with complex plots and characters. Adding to our family through foster care has affected the entire family unit. The unknowns, triumphs, trauma, laughter, stress, behavior modification, anxiety, joys, and hurts are experienced by everyone, and for Sloane, they show up in her dramatic play and in her sleep habits.
Lately, she is going to bed late with the teens/tweens, and waking up at or just before 5am. By noon, we have an anxious and deliriously tired train wreck who is impulsively doing anything to keep herself awake. The only way to calm her down is to be with her. I’ve never had a child that needed so much of my presence to rest, but every time (2-3 times a year since birth), Sloane goes through a season of boycotting sleep, being with her is what helps her through it. So I’m here, blogging while she restlessly rolls and readjusts herself on the bed, making sure to be physically touching me at all times.
Basically, every day, after the twins settle for nap, I pull this little lady onto my bed next to me, and she anxiously flops around for anywhere from 3 minutes to 3 hours, until she falls asleep. If I leave before she falls asleep, she panics. Real panic.
Because if the whole 5am wake up call thing, I’m pretty exhausted, too, so this forced “rest” is welcome when she settles quickly. On other days, I run through a marathon of therapeutic tools and tactics and she always does cave to sleep, eventually. Sometimes, she finally gives in to sleep about 15 minutes before one of twins wakes up. “Triplets” are no joke when they sleep in shifts!
These are the days I feel both depleted of energy but am so filled with gratitude that I am able to stay home and be here with them and for them.
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