I am in mourning.

I think my 4-year-old has given up her afternoon nap. Please. Someone. Bring it back. I need it as much as she does.

I first got addicted to the nap when Addie was a newborn. Once she settled into a routine, she took two naps a day just like most babies. I napped, too, or just closed my eyes and tried to relax for a few minutes.

Later, Addie transitioned into one nap a day. I was working full-time then, so I only counted on the nap for her benefit, not mine.

Now that I have been a stay-at-home mom for almost a year, I have learned that nap time is the key to a successful day. It means fewer tantrums, less whining and attitude. It's also a delightful part of the day for me.

And so our routine has been the same for almost a year. After lunch, my 2-year-old and 4-year-old head to their bedrooms for a nap and I head to my own room to try and steal a 10-minute power nap. (Love the power nap!)

I had just about fallen asleep one day when my 4-year-old appeared at my bedside and had a most dreadful announcement.

'I don't want to take a nap anymore."

I thought I hadn't heard her right. She may not want to take a nap, but I sure do.

She explained that she just wasn't tired, but agreed to have some quiet time in her room playing.

Surely this was just an off day. But over the next few days, Addie was slowly giving up the nap. And frantically, I tried to save it.

I tried tiring her out more, making more trips to the park. I played with the timing a bit, hoping that pushing the nap forward or backward would make the difference. I promised we would make brownies if she took a nap. I even told her Mommy needed a nap and she had to help me by taking a nap, too.

No go.

I called friends at a rapid pace. When did their children give up the nap? One friend said at 2! OK. Thank goodness that didn't happen here. Another friend explained that she hardly mourned her son giving up his nap.

What is wrong here? I WANT THE NAP BACK.

I guess I never thought about what I would do when my child didn't nap in the afternoon. Maybe I even thought 8-year-olds napped. It's just that the nap is how I recharge each day. After my early wake-up call and nonstop playing and activities all morning, I need a few minutes to myself. Sometimes I don't even nap. I might send an e-mail or return a phone call that I couldn't do earlier with two kids screaming in the background.

Maybe I should feel lucky that the nap lasted this long.

According to "Toddler 411," a book written by Denise Fields and Dr. Ari Brown, age 4 is the magic number when naps start to drop off. Only 35 percent of 4-year-olds nap, and less than 20 percent of 5-year-olds continue to take naps, but not always on a daily basis.

"Children aren't good nappers one day and non-nappers the next," said Elizabeth Pantley, author of "The No-Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers & Preschoolers." "There will likely be a transition period of several months when your child clearly needs a nap some days, but is fine without one on others."

Pantley said to watch for signs that your child still needs a nap. Some of those signs include getting cranky as the day progresses, being easily aggravated later in the day or having an afternoon or early evening slump in energy, but getting a second wind later in the day.

I do have some options, Pantley said. I can schedule naps on busy, active days or just arrange naps when needed. I can keep the nap time, but not require sleep, only that my daughter rest. And I can move bedtime up by 30 minutes to an hour if Addie is cranky. Now that one I like.

It looks like I must accept the inevitable.

So long nap. It's been a good run.