My dad swears by his 15 minute power naps during the day, but he doesn’t like napping in bed or on the couch because it’s too comfortable and the sleep will ‘win.’ The system. Dad takes 15-minute power naps. During the day. Regular naps. But refuses to nap in bed or on couch. Too comfortable. The sleep will win—meaning if it’s too comfortable, he’ll sleep longer than 15 minutes. He’ll fall into deep sleep and not wake up when planned.
During family functions he will suddenly lay down on the floor and wrap himself around the nearest piece of furniture to pass it out for 15 minute increments. The method. During family functions. While family is gathered. Socializing. Eating. And dad will suddenly—no warning—lay down on the floor. Not go to bedroom. Not sit on couch. Lay on floor. Wrap himself around nearest piece of furniture—coffee table leg, chair leg, whatever’s nearby. And pass out. For 15 minutes exactly.
Nobody finds it unusual and we all just step over him. The family’s response. Nobody finds it unusual. This is normal dad behavior. Family doesn’t try to move him or wake him or question it. Just step over him. Continue the function. Dad sleeping on floor wrapped around furniture is just part of family gatherings.
Then he gets up and joins us again. The return. Fifteen minutes. Then dad gets up. Rejoins the family. Back to socializing. Refreshed from his power nap. Until he needs another one. Then he’ll lay down on floor again.
My dad swears by his 15 minute power naps during the day. The commitment. Dad believes in these naps. Swears by them. Relies on them. 15 minutes exactly. Multiple times a day probably. The way he maintains energy.
But he doesn’t like napping in bed or on the couch because it’s too comfortable and the sleep will ‘win.’ The reasoning. Won’t nap in bed—too comfortable. Won’t nap on couch—also too comfortable. Because if it’s too comfortable, the sleep will win. He’ll fall into deep sleep. Won’t wake up after 15 minutes. Will sleep for hours. So he deliberately makes it uncomfortable—floor, wrapped around furniture—so sleep can’t win. So he’ll wake up after exactly 15 minutes.
During family functions he will suddenly lay down on the floor and wrap himself around the nearest piece of furniture to pass it out for 15 minute increments. The practice. Family gathering. Everyone talking, eating, socializing. And dad suddenly—no announcement, no explanation—lays down on floor. Right there in the middle of family function. Wraps himself around nearest furniture. Coffee table. Chair. Whatever’s closest. And passes out. For 15 minutes. Then does it again later if needed. 15 minute increments.
Nobody finds it unusual and we all just step over him. The normalization. Family doesn’t react. Doesn’t find it strange. This is normal dad behavior. When dad lays on floor wrapped around furniture, family just steps over him. Continues conversations. Continues eating. Dad sleeping on floor is just part of family functions. Nobody questions it.
Then he gets up and joins us again. The conclusion. Fifteen minutes pass. Dad wakes up. Gets up from floor. Unwraps himself from furniture. Rejoins family. Back to socializing. Refreshed. Until next power nap. Then he’ll lay down again.
The photograph proves it—dad on floor. Wrapped around furniture leg or table. During family function. People visible in background. Dad sleeping on floor. Family stepping over him. Normal behavior in this household.
Dad swears by 15-minute power naps. But refuses to nap comfortably because sleep will win. So he lays on floor during family functions. Wraps himself around furniture. Passes out for 15 minutes. Family steps over him. Then he gets up and joins again. Nobody finds it unusual. This is just dad.