On Naps
As Drake approaches age 5, and Guppy advances past 2, I’ve considered returning to the corporate world. There are many benefits: intellectual challenge, salary, healthcare, an excuse to get dressed in clothes that won’t get smeared with snot or drool, people to talk about Project Runway or Top Chef with, and not least, the ability to eat and go to the bathroom by myself.
Yet there is one aspect of stay-at-home-hood, one I’m fortunate to have, that I’m unwilling to give up: my afternoon nap. While Guppy naps, I lie down, read a chapter in my book, and take a short nap. Drake hasn’t napped in years, but he kindly plays quietly while I do this. More often than not, my nights are interrupted by the needs of one child or the other, so I began to nap after having kids out of need and desperation. I am still needy and desperate, but I nap by choice. I can tell it’s a healthy habit, like eating well and doing yoga, and scientific evidence continues to support naps, like this recent piece on power naps in Scientific American (link from The Morning News.)
When I was younger, I thought I couldn’t nap. I was always too busy and had too much to do. Such is the life of an anxious person. I don’t think I was incapable, though. I think napping is a skill, and I just needed more practice.
March 27th, 2008 at 11:54 pm
If I ever manage to get both boys down for a nap at the same time, I’m torn. Do I read a book, do I take a nap, do I clean? Well, cleaning never wins and the book vs. nap is half and half. I do love a great nap!
March 28th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
I am lucky that I get about 20 minutes for book and 20 for nap. If I have to choose, I usually go with the nap. I know Maslow said sleep wasn’t THE most important thing for survival, but I think it’s higher than he gave it credit for.