The lessons we learn from our dads become part of the fabric of who we are in life.  Many of us are blessed to have a good and Godly heritage and for that we are thankful.

The men in our lives…Grandfathers, Fathers, Uncles, Husbands, Brothers, Friends and Co-Workers.  Each leaving their impression on our hearts.  Today is their day to be celebrated!

My creative space during a nap time art making session

 Many of us relate to the feeling of relief that happens when a fussy child finally falls into peaceful rest.  Many women run around like headless chickens while their babies are napping or having a quiet rest time. While this is effective for keeping up on the housework, it may not be the best use of these hushed moments.

When my boys were small, a wise women told me not to use nap time to accomplish work that can be done when the babes are awake.  Now, every mother reading this immediately thinks, “Okay. I understand that. That means I should fold the laundry and sweep the floors and prepare dinner. I certainly can’t do those things with littles underfoot.”  Guess what?  You CAN do those things when your children are up and with you. It might take a little longer and get broken up into small time chunks rather than being completed all at once, but even your infants gain joy from being included in the household tasks. What baby doesn’t like to play in a basket full of warm laundry? Or peek a boo with the cloth napkins?   If you start including them early, then as they get more capable, you will be ready to hand them real responsibility.

Back to the issue at hand:  You can use nap times to balance out the all-consuming role of mothering.

Here are some ideas to recharge while your babies are napping:

1.  Read a book that will challenge your mind and keep it fresh (maybe something outside the realm of mommy hood), such as a spiritual or literary classic.

2. Do a creative venture that you enjoy such as sewing, painting, writing, or gardening. Beware!  This can be frustrating because often times you start to get in a groove when little cries or the pitter patter of little feet interrupt your reverie. That’s okay!  Even ten minutes a week on a creative task can feed your mind and spirit, keeping them fresh. Tiny steps forward are still progress.   I was able to create often during the baby season by snatching these minutes. I was also able to find a small space to leave some of my supplies out, thereby maximizing those short time periods.

This collage was one for a friend that I completed in snippets and snatches of time over several weeks.

3. Study your Bible and gain wisdom from the Creator himself. I found that using audio bibles or some background music helped me stay awake during this time.

4. Call a friend for some encouragement during a quiet nap, enjoying an uninterrupted conversation.

5. Take a nap yourself!

I found that most days I felt too tired and drained to do anything creative. This often led me to turn on the mind-numbing television.   Here’s what I discovered- if I could just walk into the room that contained my creative supplies and sit there for a few minutes, I would often be inspired to continue a project and thus, end that nap time feeling revived. If I found that after a few minutes I was still not motivated, I would go take a nap. For me, this worked out to napping a few days each week and creating on the other days, while trying to limit the tv.  Overall, this routine brought stimulation to my mind and spirit in a way that enabled me to be fully engaged for the remainder of the day with my sons.

This set of blocks was a gift for my sister-in-law’s new baby, completed entirely during nap times.

How could  you use your nap times to recharge?