From My Window

Baby FOMO

By Jane Thibodeau Martin,

Every human baby is different, but one thing all babies do, whether human or animal, is sleep more than adults. It is probable the key reason for this is because their bodies and brains are growing and changing so quickly. There are few sights as charming as a sleeping horse foal, long legs sprawled out in the sun; a pile of snuggling and napping puppies or kittens, or a soundly sleeping human infant. The sleep-starved parents of a newborn are especially moved by the sight of the sleeping baby!

My adorable granddaughter, though, fights naps fiercely. Even at six months, she'd resist the call of the "sandman," despite rubbing her eyes, twisting her hair and struggling to keep her eyelids up. A normal daily nap total for her could be as little as one 30 minute nap, and some days she slept less than that. The grown-ups in her life joked that she suffered from "Baby FOMO" or "Fear Of Missing Out." It seemed she was just so interested in everything going on around her she was loathe to miss something fun by being asleep.

I enjoy the days when I am caring for her, but on some of them, I would have welcomed a 30 minute nap myself! But often Baby B shows no sign of being willing to capitulate to sleep, and since she isn't fussy or crabby, it doesn't seem her body really needs the rest. She may grow up to be one of those adults who thrives on six hours of sleep a night.

Imagine for a minute, that you are on the job on a particularly trying day. Or that you are hard at work at 2 a.m., your work shift being overnight. If a kind human who loved you offered to tuck you in for a 30 minute nap, how many of you would struggle and resist? To a working adult, with lots of responsibilities and a never-ending list of things to do, a nap would be an absolute luxury. Even 10 minutes in a recliner with your feet up would be most welcome.

As we age, more people do take daytime naps, partially because so many senior citizens have difficulty sleeping at night. Many of my older relatives go to bed relatively late but still wake up in the middle of the night and are unable to go back to sleep. Some get up and read, or watch some TV. While some of this is due to physical ailments causing discomfort, others say they just aren't sure why they wake up and can't fall back asleep for some time.

I saw a fascinating study by anthropologists documenting the lifestyles of people who live deep in the Amazon rainforest, relatively uncontacted by outside influences. These people live a subsidence lifestyle, in small villages. They make, grow, or hunt everything they need and do not have stores, doctors, electricity or anything else even most third world inhabitants have. Anthropologists studying these people began to monitor the sleep habits of the tribal members.

What they found was interesting. The tribal members had sleeping patterns that meant that there was little or no time that there was not some member of the tribe awake. The natural sleeping patterns of "teenage" tribal members, healthy adults, and seniors varied enough that there was a tribal member awake nearly the entire time of darkness. People living much as our earliest ancestors did display the same kinds of sleeping patterns we see now. And they live in a world without "screens," and some of the other factors currently blamed for sleeping difficulties.

When I was a young adult, I thought nothing of going out for the evening at 8 p.m. Now that is my normal bedtime, or at least the time I retire with a good book. It is safe to say that I no longer have any kind of FOMO at night.

There is nothing in the world better than a restful night's sleep. You come to this conclusion after you have a child, or you spend sleepless nights watching over a sick loved one, or forfeit sleep due to work requirements, natural disasters or illnesses resulting in insomnia. Most of us can "coast" through a day or two of poor sleep, but the impact becomes accumulative quickly if it extends longer than that. Lack of sleep literally makes us both physically and mentally ill.

So if someone says to me, "Hey, you look like you could use a nap! Go lie down for a while, I got this!" color me gone. FOMO won't prevent me from declining such an invitation.

You can reach me for commentary, alternative viewpoints or ideas at this e-mail address: Janiethibmartin@gmail.com.

Recent stories, opinions and photos

Issue Date	Department	Headline
12-06-2018	Obituaries	Eldora L. Abel
12-06-2018	Obituaries	Gary D. Backman
12-06-2018	Obituaries	Kathy M. Chaltry
12-06-2018	Obituaries	Darlene L. Cruz
12-06-2018	Obituaries	Donald J.Dupont
12-06-2018	Obituaries	Thad O. Eack
12-06-2018	Obituaries	Germaine P. Fetterly
12-06-2018	Obituaries	Lorraine J. Garvey
12-06-2018	Obituaries	Ronnie L. Gehling
12-06-2018	Obituaries	Lorraine R. Gusick
12-06-2018	Obituaries	Melvin Dale Haffeman
12-06-2018	Obituaries	Gerald L. Heling
12-06-2018	Obituaries	Rosalee M. McKibben
12-06-2018	Obituaries	William D. Merritt
12-06-2018	Obituaries	John J. Moker
12-06-2018	Obituaries	Terry Lee Parrett
12-06-2018	Obituaries	David C. Polashek
12-06-2018	Obituaries	William J. Roddy
12-06-2018	Obituaries	Loretta M. Shehow
12-06-2018	Obituaries	Marian D. Stillman
12-06-2018	Obituaries	Amos Robert Van Vooren
12-06-2018	Obituaries	Carol J. Wesolowski
12-06-2018	Obituaries	Joseph H. Westberg
12-06-2018	Sports	Wausaukee off to Fast Start for 2018-19 Season
12-06-2018	Sports	Peshtigo Has Strong Week With Two Wins
12-06-2018	Sports	VanVooren Heads MONLPC Large Team
12-06-2018	Sports	Crivitz Leads Football & Volleyball All Conference Voting
12-06-2018	Perspectives	Country Cousin
12-06-2018	Perspectives	From our readers
12-06-2018	Perspectives	From My Window
12-06-2018	Community - Wausaukee	Town Of Wausaukee Adopts $474,754 Levy
12-06-2018	Community - Wausaukee	Wausaukee DAR Award Winner
12-06-2018	Community - Wausaukee	Wausaukee Red Hats To Meet Dec. 13
12-06-2018	Community - Crivitz	Netzel-Zenz Post Christmas Dinner
12-06-2018	Community - Crivitz	Crivitz Church Free Dinner
12-06-2018	Community - Crivitz	13 at Even Monday Cards
12-06-2018	Community - Crivitz	CAWC Meeting Dec. 13 at Wood's
12-06-2018	Community - Coleman	Pound Church Christmas Event
12-06-2018	Community - Coleman	Many Appear in Coleman Court
12-06-2018	Community - Coleman	Hillside At Pound Children's Musical
12-06-2018	Community - Coleman	Coleman Utilities To Meet Tues., Dec. 10
12-06-2018	Front Page	Sworn In
12-06-2018	Front Page	New Economic Development Job For County Is Possible
12-06-2018	Front Page	Town Of Peshtigo Hears Building Inspector Issues
12-06-2018	Front Page	City Officially Has Deed For Riverside Cemetery
12-06-2018	Front Page	Expect Medical Examiner To Be Named On Dec. 18
11-29-2018	Obituaries	Terry V. Anderson
11-29-2018	Obituaries	Beth A. Birr
11-29-2018	Obituaries	Sylvester A. Bellow
11-29-2018	Obituaries	Bernard Camber
11-29-2018	Obituaries	Clayton J. Clark
11-29-2018	Obituaries	Kenneth P. Coakley
11-29-2018	Obituaries	Kenneth L. Crawford, Sr.
11-29-2018	Obituaries	Herman F. Haag
11-29-2018	Obituaries	Alma M. Hermansen
11-29-2018	Obituaries	Madonna T. Lambert
11-29-2018	Obituaries	Herlene E. Lasley
11-29-2018	Obituaries	Wilford Lund
11-29-2018	Obituaries	Carole C. Moloney
11-29-2018	Obituaries	Marie H. Mueller
11-29-2018	Obituaries	Barbara A. Oehler
11-29-2018	Obituaries	Donald L. Phelps
11-29-2018	Obituaries	Hildegarde Mary Polfus
11-29-2018	Obituaries	Orion Reynebeau
11-29-2018	Obituaries	Jodi L. Schomer
11-29-2018	Obituaries	Wayne Schoepke, Sr.
11-29-2018	Obituaries	Michael F. Schroeder
11-29-2018	Obituaries	Walter Simonson
11-29-2018	Obituaries	Lucille S. Suennen
11-29-2018	Obituaries	Roger Suley
11-29-2018	Obituaries	Ruth L. Tenaglia
11-29-2018	Obituaries	Elsie P. Wallace
11-29-2018	Obituaries	Roger L. Williams
11-29-2018	Sports	DNR investigating The illegal shooting of Elk
11-29-2018	Sports	Thunder Back On Track With Two Wins Over Marquette
11-29-2018	Sports	Bulldogs Beat Chargers On Gullicksen Last Second Shot
11-29-2018	Sports	Marines Top Bulldogs In Double OT
11-29-2018	Perspectives	Country Cousin
11-29-2018	Perspectives	From My Window
11-29-2018	Community - Wausaukee	Spaces Available at Christmas in Park
11-29-2018	Community - Wausaukee	Athelstane FD Open House Successful
11-29-2018	Community - Wausaukee	Counseling Agency Gift Distribution
11-29-2018	Community - Crivitz	Legion Christmas Dinner Dec. 19th
11-29-2018	Community - Crivitz	CCE Thanks CPR Providers
11-29-2018	Community - Crivitz	Crivitz Library Bake Sale Dec. 7
11-29-2018	Community - Crivitz	Free Dinner at Crivitz Church
11-29-2018	Community - Coleman	Coleman Elementary Lists Perfect Attendance
11-29-2018	Community - Coleman	Coleman Middle School Quarter Honors, Perfect Attendance Listed
11-29-2018	Community - Coleman	Students Named to Coleman High School 1st Quarter Honor Roll
11-29-2018	Community - Coleman	Perfect Attendance Announced for Coleman High School Students
11-29-2018	Front Page	Christmas Season
11-29-2018	Front Page	Cut Wausaukee Tax Rate By 60 Cents Per $1,000
11-29-2018	Front Page	Former Coach Faces Trial On Sexual Contact Charges
11-29-2018	Front Page	Four Hangar Owners Suing Over Airport Lease Terms
11-29-2018	Front Page	Marinette Menominee Make Top 20 For $500,000 Grant
11-21-2018	Obituaries	Mary A. Biernasz
11-21-2018	Obituaries	Francis A. Bowan
11-21-2018	Obituaries	Dolores M. Zuleger-Boyer
11-21-2018	Obituaries	Charles Burcham
11-21-2018	Obituaries	Catherine M. Cudnohoski
11-21-2018	Obituaries	Martha K. Dennis
11-21-2018	Obituaries	James Drewel
11-21-2018	Obituaries	Joan V. Dzekute
11-21-2018	Obituaries	Robert B. Froehlich
11-21-2018	Obituaries	Joseph F. Hudak
11-21-2018	Obituaries	Marian M. Jones
11-21-2018	Obituaries	Dorthy Knuth
11-21-2018	Obituaries	Stephanie Newell
11-21-2018	Obituaries	Lorraine A. Schmidt
11-21-2018	Sports	Mary A. Thomsen
11-21-2018	Obituaries	Milton A. Verhagen
11-21-2018	Obituaries	Halina Zienkiewicz
11-21-2018	Sports	Peshtigo's VanVooren To Run for Div.1 Marquette University
11-21-2018	Sports	Area Girls Look Tough in Early Non-Conference Play
11-21-2018	Sports	7 WIAA Football Titles Claimed in Madison
11-21-2018	Sports	Thunder Suffer First Loss of the Season on UP Road Trip
11-21-2018	Perspectives	Country Cousin
11-21-2018	Perspectives	From My Window
11-21-2018	Perspectives	From our readers
11-21-2018	Community - Wausaukee	Wausaukee Blood Drive is Nov. 27th
11-21-2018	Community - Wausaukee	Red Hats Party is Dec. 13th
11-21-2018	Community - Wausaukee	Library Cookie Walk Dec. 1st
11-21-2018	Community - Wausaukee	Collect 768 Gift Boxes for Children
11-21-2018	Community - Crivitz	Free Dinner at Crivitz Nov. 22
11-21-2018	Community - Crivitz	Crivitz High School Lists Honor Roll
11-21-2018	Community - Crivitz	15 at Monday Even Cards
11-21-2018	Community - Crivitz	Crivitz Junior High Honor Roll Listed
11-21-2018	Community - Coleman	Pound Christmas Parade Dec. 8th
11-21-2018	Community - Coleman	Living Waters Give Random Food Bags
11-21-2018	Community - Coleman	Equity Bean Bags League Meeting
11-21-2018	Community - Coleman	Bazaar, Craft Sale Dec. 1
11-21-2018	Front Page	Fire Destroys Duplex in Downtown Crivitz
11-21-2018	Front Page	Peshtigo Property Tax Rate Again $4.965 Per $1,000
11-21-2018	Front Page	Coleman Board Okays Up To $14,298,000 For Renovations
11-21-2018	Front Page	Four-Wheeler, Motorcycle Events May Come To Town of Stephenson
11-21-2018	Front Page	Navy Commissions USS Sioux City LCS
11-15-2018	Front Page	Veterans Honored at Peshtigo School Program
11-15-2018	Front Page	Allman Tapped For Evers Transition Team
11-15-2018		County Board Okays Self Insurance Proposals
11-15-2018	Front Page	New Federal Suit Filed Against Back Forty Mine
11-15-2018	Front Page	City Hires Ryan Nemetz As New Police Officer
11-15-2018	Sports	Offensive Explosion Leads to 3 M&M Thunder Wins
11-15-2018	Sports	WIAA to Crown Seven State Football Champions This Week
11-15-2018	Sports	Girls Basketball Season Begins With STAA Win
11-15-2018	Sports	Wisconsin State Park System to Launch New Campsite Reservations
11-15-2018	Sports	Gruszynski/Behnke Receive WVCA Honorable Mention
11-15-2018	Community - Coleman	417 Veterans, Guests Served
11-15-2018	Community - Coleman	School Vacation Nov. 19 Week
11-15-2018	Community - Coleman	Coleman School Pre-K Screening
11-15-2018	Community - Coleman	9 Teams in FCS Chili Cook-Off