Wisdom for Today

Don't think it's a good idea to be out to lunch with your toddler and after he refuses every food option put before him, allow him to drink 8 ounces of chocolate milk instead because 'he's gotta eat something!' This leads to a very wound-up child. The child might be so wound up that he won't settle down for a nap (despite yawning several times during the nap ritual) and furthermore it may cause him to mega-poop about 15 minutes after being put to bed, and then definitely refuse to nap. On the other hand, if you do make this mistake, and decide based on prior experience not to go in and change him right away but rather to leave him for a while to see if he will catch some winks anyway, do watch him on the video monitor and have a few laughs as he tells his stuffed bear to 'poo poo', sits him down on the bed, then picks him up and looks at the imaginary location of his nether-regions to see if he's followed orders. To observe this interaction, you may have to force your eyelids open because you yourself are laying down and having no problem at all settling down for a nap, if only your toddler would please, please fall asleep. After about an hour and a quarter, abandon all attempts for sleep and have a great afternoon. Toddlers are always in a great mood after skipping a nap because they are deviously minded and know that they've won a significant battle in the daily wars with mommy.