Were you raised in a family that offered real sleep support?

Yahoo

4 days ago

If you grew up in a house where sleeping in was met with slammed cupboards, sarcastic comments, or the vacuum turning on at 8 AM sharp, you might relate to Dana Joy Seigelstein's now-viral TikTok. In it, she asks a simple question:
'Do you come from a sleep-supportive family or a non-sleep-supportive family?'
For millions of viewers—6.7 million and counting—the question struck a nerve.
Seigelstein explains that she was lucky to grow up in a family that supported sleep, especially sleeping in. 'If I sleep until noon, I'll text my mom and she'll be like, 'Sounds like you really needed it,'' she says. 'But I know for a fact that there are families out there that would be like, 'Get your f*cking a** up and work.''
The comment section quickly filled with stories that were either heartbreakingly familiar or refreshingly affirming. One viewer, @Courtney, wrote, ''Oooooo look who's finally up. Good morning, or should I say good afternoon? I didn't know anyone could have a sleep-supportive family. That's cool.'
@Whatsaneffy shared, 'Napping still makes me anxious, and I live alone.'
Related: How screen time affects sleep—and why it matters for your child's mental health
Sleep shame is real—and many people grew up with it
Many families of past generations equated rest with laziness. Whether rooted in hustle culture, rigid schedules, or misunderstood ideas about discipline, the belief that sleep should be earned or limited left a lasting impact.
One TikTok commenter @Jess
summed it up: 'A nap was literally a crime in my house.'
For many, being raised in a non-sleep supportive household led to a complicated relationship with rest in adulthood: guilt around napping, anxiety over sleeping late, or internalized beliefs that rest equals weakness.
Today's parents are changing the script
In a cultural shift that feels both subtle and radical, many parents—especially moms—are now actively working to create rest-positive homes. These moms are allowing their kids to sleep in or take a nap and encouraging it.
This new wave of parenting is backed by science. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) emphasizes that adolescents need between 8–10 hours of sleep per night, and that sleep is critical for physical health, emotional regulation, attention, and academic performance.
Even for younger kids and toddlers, regular naps and adequate rest are essential to supporting brain development and emotional resilience.
Moms are giving their kids what they never had
Maybe that's why so many commenters on Dana Joy Seigelstein's video were celebrating how differently they're raising their kids.
'Just now realizing I came from a sleep supportive family and have been blessed my entire life ,'
wrote @Mac.
@Malai commented: 'My mom thinks a nap is the solution to everything (it is).'
And then there are the parents breaking the cycle:
'Came from a non supportive sleep family but made my own family a sleep supportive family,' shared @Momma Mia
.
Related: Why do women wake up feeling worse than men? The science (and inequity) of sleep and motherhood
How did your family talk about rest?
This viral moment is a look at how our childhood environments shape our most basic instincts: when to rest, when to push, when to let go. And it's a powerful reminder that today's parents are in a position to give their children the support many of them didn't receive.
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