Audio Books

Samuel dislikes his afternoon rest time a great deal - undoubtedly thinking it is beneath him as a tall four year old boy - but I need afternoon rest time like I need water, and so he takes it.  And will continue to do so until Jesus returns or I suddenly become a very energetic person, whichever comes first.

To combat this (and the endless reasons-why-I-must-leave-my-room) I'm playing him books on tape.  I don't anticipate that he will fall asleep listening to them, but I don't expect sleep during rest time.  My only requirements are that he stay in his room, with the door closed, and not make huge stomping noises or dump out all of his puzzles or what have you.  Clara, at two, will still sleep, hallelujah.  She sleeps in her bedroom with a gate at the door since she is an escape artist and the thought of her being awake, unattended, and not locked away is a terrifying one.  She, of my two children, would be more likely to eat things from the garbage, or turn on all of the taps and plug the sink, or unlock the front door and wander off.  I don't trust her one little bit.

Anyway, the tapes, yes.  Cds, actually.  He's listening to Anne of Green Gables right now.  I remember audio books as having been very expensive but that was years ago and they're quite reasonable now.  I think Anne cost less than $20 and is unabridged and read like a play.

I'm really hoping that this occupies him well.  Ideally I think I'd love 2 whole hours of napping/quiet play/books on tape but right now we get about an hour.  I'm not worried about the new baby.  New babies tend to just sort of shuffle in wherever they're put.