An insight

You know, as a parent you find several occasions during those first few years upon which you wonder "what is she thinking?" I'm not talking about the time she's throwing her dinner on the floor for the eightieth time (she's not hungry anymore) or throwing her bowl of dried strawberries on the floor (turns out she wanted JUICY aka fresh strawberries). I'm talking about those times when her face has that vacant look of someone who is on mental holiday, in outer space, daydreaming.

A few evenings ago we were coming home from the local buffet and Leila had one such look on her face. After a few minutes (and to my dismay, as I thought she may be falling asleep) she blurted out "I woke up, and I was all alone. Mama left me." A-ha! She must be thinking about nap time. For the past few weeks Leila's been waking up crying hysterically after an hour's nap (not long enough I might add). I see the problem in the toddler's mind. Mama rocks me in the chair, I have some milkies and snuggle... then I wake up and I am alone in a dark room and Mama is not there anymore. Perhaps this is the answer. I try to lovingly explain that I am just in the next room, and I have the baby monitor so I can hear her if she calls. I assure her that she is safe and I will come to her if she needs me. I also assert that it is okay, even desirable, to sleep alone sometimes (I don't know if she bought that one though). For the following three days, she actually slept a whole nap without waking and crying! Maybe I got through to her!