Baby Naps, Mommy Caffeinates

My baby daughter has put me back in that purgatory of child rearing when if she falls asleep in the car for one nanosecond she "counts" that teensy bit of shut eye as her nap.

But sometimes her carseat cat nap is a cause for a celebration... of the caffeinated, skim, double pump and extra shot kind!

The drive-through Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts in Montgomery County have saved my sanity AND my kids' sleep schedules as babies. 

Now some of you industrious individuals may know a secret to keeping your child awake with music and snacks and the sighting of wild game outdoors. Keeping her awake, you are able to (safely) speed home and deposit her in the crib.

Other, more saintly types, may simply go about their usual schedule, let the child nap in the car for a short while and patiently deal with the consequences. There, there you'll sweet coo and read The Runaway Bunny and stroke the missed-napper's hair, not minding that she's raging against you like Regan in The Exorcist.

But if you are a BAD MOMMY like me, you take the opportunity of your child's car seat droolfest to zone out in the quiet, listen to NPR or music other than Raffi, add unnecessary steps to your carbon footprint and head to the nearest corporate killer of independent commerce.

I know, I know. We should support local and independently-owned businesses. I do. They just haven't opened one with a window carved into the side yet. Hey Moms and Pops - business plan! Think about it.

I also know we should conserve gas and road time for a multitude of environmental reasons. I do. I'm into greening my parenting practices as much as possible - which is why I feel entitled to once in a while allow myself an overpriced latte without leaving my vehicle or my snoring darling.

Jessica writes about more constructive, fun ways for parents to spend time with their kids at A Parent in Silver Spring.com.