Presenting the Present: Sleepovers and Slumber Parties

It's been  a grey day, cold and drizzly--the kind of day that makes a mom think of sleepover parties. What? Did I say that? We had a few when my son was in elementary school - but they were nothing like the ones I remember.

His were about one friend or his brother, having dinner and then hanging out playing Xbox or another computer game, maybe watching a scary movie and then staying up chatting. Not a bad evening.

But mine, oh. Mine. Four or five girls chattering, nattering, wheedling, trying to find out who liked who and for how long, eating in waves (dinner at 7, back downstairs at 11 when parents are going to bed to raid the fridge, then again at 2 a.m.)

We had so much to find out and so little time to do it. Sometimes there would be ghost stories, sometimes not, but there were always secrets, and they were great secrets, or at least they seemed great at the time.

By morning, breakfast came far too early and went quickly -- and then we were each picked up by our mom or dad and carted home. But the evening before -- when you stepped out of the car to go see your friends with the WHOLE night stretched out in front of you -- was full of promise to an eleven year old.

Middle school can be hell, but if you find the right peeps - and sometimes they are just friends you've known forever or summertime friends, the sleepovers can be absolute magic. I think it's because we had nothing else to worry about but the present moment. And who doesn't want that?

Unfortunately, there are no sleepovers right now because of the Coronavirus. But the day will come (hopefully soon) when you'll once again be begged by your tween (or younger son or daughter) to let her/him invite a friend or better yet, friends, to your place - and to go to friends' houses.

I know what you're thinking though, and I agree - sleepovers for parents are exhausting. But if you can just get plenty of snacks and fit out a room or two - and then hold your kid to the promise of cleaning up the next day -- you'll be doing something truly wonderful for your child, in my view. Because letting them spool out and spin in a controlled environment (as long as you trust the parents at the friends' houses) will bring something more than wonderful memories -- like a night of living fully in the present.

That's my take.

For more on sleepovers, I found these articles:

10 Tips for Hosting a Successful Sleepover

How to Host a Successful Slumber Party

Sleepover Slumber Party Ideas



Fifties Sleepover Party: roseoftimothywoods