Ellie is in the precarious stage where she still could really use an afternoon nap, but her little mind refuses to cooperate with her body. Being the youngest, it probably does not help that her siblings are content to play during their quiet time and she believes it is high time to do the same. Of course when she does not nap, she turns into Muffin from Bluey in the Sleepover episode1.
So to remedy this issue, I have taken to rocking her and reading Winnie the Pooh until she passes out in my arms and I delicately transfer her to her bed. This actually works surprisingly well and has turned out to be quite the enjoyable tradition for both of us. I get some snuggles and she gets a nap2.
Winnie the Pooh is truly a masterpiece. If you have not read these short stories in your adult years, this is your sign to do so. I’ve laughed and cried through these pages and sometimes find myself continuing to read outloud even though Ellie is clearly asleep. I came across this little paragraph which has not been able to leave my brain. It comes right after Pooh shares an idea that was inside his head and Rabbit and Piglet think it’s a wonderful idea much to Pooh’s great surprise.
“Pooh began to feel a little more comfortable, because when you are a bear of very little brain, and you think of things, you find sometimes that a thing which seemed very thingish inside you is quite different when it gets out into the open and has other people looking at it.”
I resonate so much with this sentiment. I, too, think of a great many things that typically feel very thingish rolling around inside my head. Most of the time, they just stay swirling in there like fall leaves tossed about until they reach the ground and wait for someone to come along and rake them up. Every once in a while, a puff of wind will come along and send them flying for me to reach out and grasp one wondering if this will be the next thing. Homeschool? Get chickens? Move to the mountains? Get a dog3? Write a book?
Writing, and posting that writing for other people to read, feels very thingish inside of me. At times I feel like it is the most ingenious idea I’ve had and my brain composes essays and humorous quips for all to read (this mainly happens right before I fall asleep at night). At other times it seems ridiculous. No one will read it and no one will care.
I do find that once a thing gets out in the open, I am able to see it with fresh eyes. For me, writing is taking all those swirling thoughts and putting them into words I can taste and hold on to. To make this life make a little more sense.
And maybe my words will help you see a different perspective. Or encourage you to make the space to create. Or just feel a little less alone. I’m hoping to write with no specific formula or structure. It might be what the Lord is teaching me right now. It could be a rant or a dabble in poetry (don’t hold your breath on that one). I’ll share what I am reading or maybe what books my kids have been loving. I’m always open to thoughts and suggestions and welcome your ideas and opinions!
So if you’ve been following along so far, I just want to say thank you for reading. I’m so grateful for you.
If you have no idea what I am talking about, this is an episode of Bluey where the little dog Muffin is transitioning out of his nap. He comes to spend the night with Bluey and Bingo and is delirious, silly and wild- perfect description of how Ellie acts when she misses a nap.
Back to the storyThis phase lasted for roughly a week. Now it only happens occasionally and I’m so sad about it.
Back to the storyThis one actually happened… We got a dog. Will report back soon.
Back to the story