Nap time:  Kelly is always so restless he keeps himself and anybody nearby awake.  I usually sit next to him which keeps him still and at least allows everyone nearby to go to sleep.  Today I sat down beside his pallet.  Kelly crossed his arms, “I’m not nappeding!”  He announced.

I said, “Okay,” and went about removing his shoes and tucking his blanket around him.

He turned to watch tv — Sesame Street.  “I’m not sleeping,” he said again.

“You don’t have to,”  I said while gently patting his back.

Within minutes the children on either side of him were asleep.  Kelly looked at each of them, then told me,  “I’m not sleeping!”

“All right,” I said.  I continued to pat his back.  Kelly settled in to watch Little Elmo learn to bowl.  I continued patting.

Kelly grabbed my hand and pulled.  He tucked my fingers under his cheek.  “Not nappeding,” he mumbled.

“I know,” I told him, and stroked his forehead with my other hand.  One …, two  …, three ….  ZzzzzNap!

Then I moved over and sat next to David, took his feet off the wall, removed his shoes and tucked his blanket around him.  He crossed his arms and glared at me.  “I not nap!” He insisted.

“You don’t have to,”  I said while gently patting his back ……