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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

why does it always seem to be men who have afternoon naps?

60 replies

missmyoldname · 15/05/2011 14:40

My Dad will often have an afternoon nap in an armchair.
My DH will often have a sunday afternoon snooze on the sofa.
My FIL often catches some zzzzz's in his chair, of an afternoon.
BILs have been known to do same.

I was having a chat with friends and they said that their DH's also often have a weekend daytime nap.

Is this just a bloke thing? I have never known my DM, DSis, SIL, girl-friends to fall asleep in the afternoon??

AIBU in thinking this is just a man thing? And why?

OP posts:
GollyHolightly · 15/05/2011 14:42

I quite like an afternoon nap, but it has been said that I'm quite blokey in many areas of my life.

practicallyimperfect · 15/05/2011 14:42

Nope, I love naps. Before ds, I had them all the time. Dh never naps, doesn't get it.

Sleep rocks!

bibbitybobbityhat · 15/05/2011 14:43

Funny isn't it? My dh is the same. If he is at home, he has to have a 15/20 minute nap in the afternoon. Afaik he doesn't require this particular indulgence when he is at work Confused.

I sometimes sleep really badly at night and would love to catch up in the afternoon. I go up to bed, close the curtains, set my alarm for an hours time ... and almost never manage to drop off.

DottyDot · 15/05/2011 14:44

I love having afternoon naps - would have one every weekend if I could but tend to get one every couple of weeks or so. I fall asleep immediately (which I never can do at night) and have a really deep sleep for a couple of hours and wake up feeling amazing Grin

I look forward to being retired, when I will spend between 2pm - 4pm each day napping...

nethunsreject · 15/05/2011 14:44

nope, i'm the napper here too.

dh never sleeps during the day

BreakOutTheKaraoke · 15/05/2011 14:47

I love a good nap. Find myself getting grumpy about 2/3 o clock at work, sure if they introduced naptime it wouldn't be a problem.

usualsuspect · 15/05/2011 14:48

I wish I could sleep during the day ,but I just can't seem to nod off no matter how tired I am

dp on the other hand seems to be able to nap at any time

AuldAlliance · 15/05/2011 14:48

My DH does this, as did my Dad when we were younger, and both my grandfathers.
I put it down to their ability to entirely disconnect and switch off, because selfish buggers that they are they think that the practical details of running a home are not their responsibility.
I used to nap, especially when I lived in a very hot climate, but I cannot do so since having children. I am always aware of what there is to be done, and find it hard to just doze off while it remains undone. It's a sad, sorry symptom of sexism, IMO... ;)

saggarmakersbottomknocker · 15/05/2011 14:50

If I nap in the afternoon I feel like shite.

dh on the other hand can sleep on a clothes line and wakes up fine and dandy.

fedupandfifty · 15/05/2011 14:51

I love a good old nap too, and get one at around 2pm every afternoon during the week when I'm not working. It only lasts about 15 minutes, though, and ALWAYS in the middle of Doctors.

MumblingRagDoll · 15/05/2011 14:51

Napper here too! I had an hour after lunch today.

beckibicker · 15/05/2011 14:52

i cant nap anywhere, i wake up feeling 20 times worse

RitaMorgan · 15/05/2011 14:53

I usually have a morning nap rather than afternoon.

taylor74 · 15/05/2011 14:58

Well I'm a 36 yr old woman and I've always had a nap on a Saturday and sunday. So it's not a man thing mines a catch up on sleep thing x

Tee2072 · 15/05/2011 14:59

I nap on most Saturday and Sunday afternoons, in a bed. And sometimes Monday and Thursdays before I pick my son up from daycare. Depends on how shit I am feeling and how much sleep I get.

Of course I have several long term illness that make rest very important!

Shodan · 15/05/2011 15:00

I love naps.

FourFingeredKitkat · 15/05/2011 15:00

Nope, YABU naps are cool!

Avantia · 15/05/2011 15:03

I like naps in the afternoon but always something to do !

I must do it more often as DH does it !

Both my Mum and Dad used to nap in the afternoon.

ChishAndFips · 15/05/2011 15:07

I would love to have a nap, like my DH, FIL, BILs, all do but I have too much to do. I'd love to be able to switch off for 30 mins and pretend the kitchen doesn't need cleaning, lunches making, clothes ironing, offspring-homework-helping etc. I just can't relax properly with 'things' to be getting on with.

thenightsky · 15/05/2011 15:09

Jeremy Kyle on ITV2 in the afternoon and I'm out cold in 5 mins. Love a nap.

OppositeOfBlooming · 15/05/2011 15:15

Oh no, I love a good nap too. Often when dd's at preschool I'll have half an hour on the sofa. DH joins in when he's here. Now I'm pregnant and a bit cumbersome and worn out I have to have the odd half an hour here or there.

MIL is an Extreme Napper. You know she's comfortable around you when she naps in your house. You have her over for dinner and she has 20 minutes on the sofa before it's served. She also pulls over her car when driving home and has a quick sleep. It's an enviable skill.

JemAndTheHolograms · 15/05/2011 15:17

Well my DH is currently in bed having an afternoon nap. But then I didn't get up until 2pm because I was hungover Blush, so he deserves it.

Rosemallow · 15/05/2011 15:19

Naps, lie ins, time out to do something for themselves . . .
Hard work being the man of the house - only time I napped was when I was pregnant and dropped off without realising!

Was more than his life was worth to wake me up! Grin

OppositeOfBlooming · 15/05/2011 15:25

Well I get naps, lie-ins, time out etc. And I definitely have requisite female parts. Doubt it's anything to do with being a man/woman actually and more to do with the set up in your own house.

maighdlin · 15/05/2011 15:27

DH is always napping. he eats a quick sandwich in work then sleeps for the remaining 20 minutes, he will sleep anywhere.

I can't nap. feel worse when i wake up.

My mum though is queen of the naps. so i don't think it is just men. my dad will occasionally fall asleep but only if he is really tired and its only for a minute or two.