We’ve made it through all last week of being home without Sir Monkeypants, and it was a crazy, up and down week.

Some moments were so happy and fun that I felt like I had this Mom thing totally under control, and I felt sorry for for missing it.

Some moments were so horrible and frustrating that it was all I could do not to rush to the phone in tears, to beg Sir Monkeypants to come home. But I refrained.

I’ve learned that the success or failure of the day depends largely on how the Wee One naps. If I can get her to sleep on a regular schedule, then she’s happy, and I have a lot less stress. While she’s napping, I can spend time with the other two, which makes them happy too, and I can get the chores done around here that need doing to keep the house running.

When she doesn’t nap, I wind up frantically trying to rock her to sleep around 4, while I fret about the dinner that is not getting made, while a wound-up Captain and too-tired Gal (she’s been skipping her nap too much lately) are fighting and screaming and punching downstairs. Not good.

There’s hope, though. We made it through, and I feel confident that we’ll make it through this week as well. The Wee One adapted her schedule quite nicely to the kids’ school drop-offs and pick-ups, so thank heaven for that. Soon, she’ll be napping less often and will be able to hold it together better if we don’t quite get that last nap of the day in there. Each week is going to get easier and easier.

I think we’re gonna make it after all.