The hidden blessings of parenthood

The other day I was exhausted. It was 100+ degrees and I had been out running errands. I got home very ready for a nap (Yeah, like that ever happens.) I knew I could get Tyler to sleep. So I started with him. We did our nap time routine and I laid him down in his crib. I turned on Peter Pan for Chloe and got her sippy cup so at least I knew she would be happy. I laid down on the couch to shut my eyes if for even a couple of minutes. That's when I heard Tyler cry. Usually, Ty is easy to get to sleep, so I got up grudgingly and tried again. And again right as I laid down he starts screaming. I know what you mom's are saying right now, "Just let him fuss for a while." I tell myself the same thing, but I after about five minutes, I have to get up to try again. This went on for about an hour and the last time I thought, Okay, if he gets up again, I'll give up my dream of getting a nap. So I laid him down and quickly tip-toed out of the room and quickly laid down on the couch. Chloe would lay down with me for a few minutes than get up again, but despite that, I finally dozed off. Ten minutes later the phone rings and I wake up quickly. I whisper to Chloe who was laying next to me at that point to stay there and I would be right back. I answer the phone and quickly hang up. That's when I noticed that Chloe was asleep. I can't remember the last time she snuggled up to me on her own and fall asleep with me. And even though it was only for a few minutes, I was really surprised. I found my self frustrated with the caller who interrupted my rare nap with Chloe. It was also rare that both kids were both asleep at the same
time for a nap So I left her and crawled in my own bed for a nap. I kid you not, 15 minutes later I wake up to Tyler crying. I couldn't believe that after all this time, I never was able to feel like I got enough rest for myself. Newton's law was in full force at my house that afternoon. So I dragged myself out of bed and got Tyler up. I could tell he was still really sleepy, so I was going to try to get him back to sleep. I held him in the rocker in their room. As I sat there and rocked Tyler, he snuggled right up to me not fully falling back to sleep. Tyler turned his head and looked up at me and that's when it hit me, ( I know, I'm slow). How lucky am I? I already know that I have two great kids, but it isn't very often that I get to cuddle with both of them calmly and separately. I suddenly felt very rested and relaxed. I sat there and rocked sleepy Ty for a long time. I got the think about what the future holds for both Chloe and Tyler and what I hoped for them and imagined what they would be like as they got older. A frustrating, tiring afternoon turned into such a blessing. I am so blessed to have such beautiful, healthy, children. A sweet, hard-working husband who loves us enough to make sure I can stay home and raise our children. When I finally did get up from rocking Tyler and Chloe woke up from her nap, I felt so much more rested and refreshed than I ever am after a rare nap.