This incident was not one of my finer moments, but the story still brings laughter to many of my friends – one of whom brought it up the other day. Rehashing this moment recently, I figured it was good fodder for all of you tired moms out there.
It was a Thursday, and I was exhausted from a long week. With three kids in school, and juggling a new infant, I was getting sleep in less-than-three-hour stretches. You guys know how this goes… Night after night, month after month, it just all adds up. Sometimes you don’t even realize how exhausted you are, and other times you’re acutely aware. I knew I was beyond exhausted.
My “Book Club” had a meeting at a friend’s house in town that evening. Seeing as I had actually read 1/5 of the book this time, which was a major improvement over the month before and many of the other months for that matter, I really wanted to go. This book club does not require “reading” for membership, so I was looking forward to being with friends in the “real world” for the evening and a welcomed respite for my current reality of diaper changes, feedings, and nap schedules.
Justin had agreed to be home in time to be with the kids that evening so that I could attend. When he asked me what time he needed to be home from work so that I could leave for my meeting, I told him to be home at 5:30. Book Club didn’t start until 6:30, but I had some other plans in my mind for the hour preceding the meeting.
Upon leaving my house, I drove to the neighborhood where my friend was going to be hosting our evening get-together. I parked my car a couple of blocks away from her house, reclined my driver seat chair, and set an alarm on my phone for 45 minutes. I closed my eyes, relishing the quiet and alone time, and fully intending on a quick “car nap.” I quickly fell asleep, my cumulative sleeplessness catching up with me, and was drooling within minutes.
I woke up, likely only minutes later, to a loud rapping on my car window. Quickly coming to, I looked out my window, only to see a POLICE OFFICER standing next to my car. I quickly opened the driver side door, and greeted the officer. “Maam, are you okay?” he asked me, clearly concerned about my state. “There’s been a lot of theft in this neighborhood lately, so we’ve been patrolling, and a few people passing by your car were concerned something was wrong.”
I shrugged to the officer and explained that I was, in fact, okay, and was merely taking a nap. I told him I was exhausted from taking care of my baby and mothering my other three children, and explained my plan for my “car nap” on the way to my book club meeting. I honestly wasn’t sure if he felt sorry for me, or just thought I was crazy, as I talked him through the scenario. Regardless, he departed with a smile, telling me to “take care, and maybe next time take a nap at home.”
Ummmm….yeah. Right. We ALL know that naps are impossible to come by. Who has time for naps, anyway?!?! But the last place I know I could EVER sneak in a nap, even out of desperation, would be my own home. My kids are all over the place 24/7, and they are LOUD. There is no escaping for this Mama. And that is why, friends, you have to get it when you can. Even if your nap is in your car.
